Basketball is a very fast and dynamic sport in which, as the name of the sport itself says, the goal is to score a basket. For one team not to reach easy points, it is necessary to defend itself from the opponent in the right way. Sometimes it can be done following the rules, and sometimes it is not possible, so the players commit violations.

Basketball is a game of contact, but sometimes those contacts go beyond the framework of basketball rules, so the referee rules a foul in those situations. In the NBA and Europe, there are different criteria for awarding fouls. In Europe, hand contact is almost not allowed at all.

If you lean your palm on the opponent's back in most situations, you will be awarded a foul. In Europe, the defense of the feet is being forced, while the referees in the NBA are not so strict.

Number of fouls in NBA

Many coaches will say that defending titles wins. Some teams are able to play a fantastic defense without being forced to commit fouls. On the other hand, the player is sometimes forced to commit a foul in order to stop the opponent from scoring, while sometimes the players play an over-aggressive defense and inadvertently commit a foul.

Players use too strong contacts and in these situations, a foul is awarded. Every player in the NBA can commit five fouls while still being on the field. After the player commits a sixth foul he must leave the game. In Europe, the situation is different because players leave the field after five fou

ls. Every team in the NBA can commit five fouls in one quarter without consequences.

It is then said that the game team fulfilled the bonus. Each subsequent foul is penalized with two free throws. In Europe, each team can make four fouls in the quarter, and then each subsequent foul is penalized with two free throws.

Types of fouls in NBA

As we mentioned, in order for a player to stop his opponent, he sometimes has to commit a foul. In most situations, the player does it unintentionally because he overdoes it with aggression, and sometimes the player commits an intentional foul. Every foul on a shot is penalized with free throws.

Depending on whether the foul was in the shot for two or three points, the player will get two or three free throws. Each foul after a team commits five fouls is penalized with free throws. All these fouls are treated as ordinary fouls. A player may commit a foul in the defensive phase or on the other side of the court when his team is in an offensive action.

A foul can also be awarded to a player for unsportsmanlike conduct, whether verbal or physical and then the player is awarded a technical foul. A player can sometimes be awarded a so-called flagrant foul when a player has inflicted or could have inflicted a serious injury on his opponent with a certain contact.

All these fouls are punishable by free throws, but players can also experience more serious consequences, which include exclusion, suspension, and a fine.

Personal fouls

Any contact that a player makes without complying with basketball rules is characterized by the referee as a personal foul. Each player can commit six fouls and then have to leave the field.

Players generally commit fouls because their aggression is at a level that exceeds basketball rules. Basketball players usually make fouls by pushing, blocking, or touching a player during his shot, after which the player over whom the foul was committed shoots two or three throws.

If a player commits a foul on a shot without his opponent hitting that shot, he will have an additional free throw.

Flagrant fouls

This type of foul is awarded to a player who, during a certain offensive action against an opponent who is in the defense phase, makes contact that the referee assessed as very dangerous for the player.

These are mostly contacts where the player could have been seriously injured. In addition to the fact that a player over whom this type of foul is committed can experience serious consequences, a player who commits a flagrant foul also faces certain consequences.

A player who commits such a foul may be suspended from the game immediately. In addition, a player who commits a flagrant foul may be suspended or fined. There are two types of fouls.

The first type of flagrant fouls are the so-called unnecessary contacts. In that case, the opponent gets a free throw and possession of the ball. As for the other type of flagrant fouls, this type of fouls implies that the player in the attack made unnecessary contact and used excessive force.

Usually, in situations where a flagrant foul referee is suspected, a replay is watched to determine if the offense committed was indeed a flagrant foul. If it is confirmed after the recording that the player made a flagrant foul, he immediately leaves the field and will most likely be fined.

Players who often commit such fouls generally receive a suspension of one or more games.

Offensive fouls in NBA

In addition to the fact that a player can make a foul by defending his basket from the opponent, he can also make a foul on the other side of the field when his team is in the attacking phase. In this way, in addition to defensive fouls, players can also make offensive fouls. When we talk about this type of fouls, we can distinguish two types of offensive fouls.

These are charging and illegal ball screens. When it comes to the first type of offensive fouls, it concerns a player who in the attack phase makes improper contact with an opposing player who positioned himself in an adequate way, which means that he did not move at the moment when the player ran into him.

When a defensive player is not positioned correctly, that is, if he moved in contact with another player, then the referee considers that foul to be defensive.

As for the second type of fouls or illegal ball screens, this type of foul is awarded when a player, usually in the center position or power forward, improperly blocks his player to free up space towards the basket so that he can score points without major problems.

This type of foul is awarded when the player who creates the block makes an unnecessary movement with his hands or body. Players who are in the defensive phase often know how to simulate contact to award an opponent a foul in the attack. Such a situation is called flopping and then the player is penalized with a technical foul.

Technical fouls in NBA

The last type of fouls we will mention are technical fouls. The referee awards this type of foul in situations where there is a verbal or physical conflict between the players. In addition, this type of foul can be obtained by coaches when they do not behave adequately.

Usually, coaches get this type of foul when they enter into a discussion with the referee because they are not happy with their decisions. When a player or coach is penalized with this foul, the opposing team gets a free throw and possession of the ball. If any player or coach earns two technical fouls in one match, he is automatically excluded and must leave the field. Players or coaches who often make technical fouls may be fined or suspended for several games.

Tactical Fouls 

When a player commits any of the types of fouls mentioned, he violates the rules of basketball, but for a player to commit a foul does not have to be a bad thing at all. Fouls can often be part of a strategy. A team's game can be ruined by relentlessly chopping the game when fouls are committed. In that way, the opposing team loses rhythm and that can create nervousness due to which the players will not make the right decisions.

The legendary generation of Detroit Pistons known by the nickname “Bad Guys” had special tactics to guard Michael Jordan. He was not allowed to walk to the basket but the Detroit guys would commit fierce fouls so Michael had to earn points on the free-throw line. Frequent and strong fouls can lead to nervousness, so players can easily miss a lot of free throws.

Some teams may know that a player is shooting badly for a free-kick. Coaches can also tactically make a technical foul as this could energetically underpin their team or referees possibly change the criteria.

Final words 

NBA players have the right to commit six fouls in one game, after which they must leave the field. They can commit unintentional fouls, intentional fouls, unsportsmanlike fouls, technical fouls, flagrant fouls. When a team commits five fouls thereafter each foul is penalized with two free throws for the opponent. When a player is fouled on a shot, he also takes free throws, two or three depending on which shot he is fouled. A foul can be in attack or defense, and most fouls are punished with a certain color of free throws. Some fouls such as flagrant or technical fouls may result in players being suspended, suspended, or fined.