Basketball Shooting Fouls
Not all fouls are created equal in basketball. Each foul is different and comes with a unique set of consequences for the team that commits it. A personal foul is called on any player who makes illegal physical contact with another player on the court.
In this tutorial, we'll learn what happens when a player commits a personal foul on the player that is shooting. These are called shooting fouls.
Shooting Foul Definition
When a defensive player makes illegal physical contact with a player shooting the ball, they will be called for a shooting foul. Defensive players are not allowed to initiate contact with the shooter or obstruct their landing after a shot. Shooting fouls always result in free throws for the other team, regardless of whether the team is in a penalty situation or not. Shooting fouls count towards a team's foul count and the player's individual foul count. Fouling too many times can result in a player fouling out.
Types of Shooting Fouls
There are two different times when shooting fouls occur: during three-point shots and two-point shots.
Shooting Fouls During Three-Point Shots
If a defensive player fouls a shooter from beyond the three-point line, the other team is awarded three free throws, one for each point they could have made if the shot went in the net.
Even if the player misses the shot, they still get three free throws.
Shooting Fouls During Two Point Shots
If a defensive player fouls a shooter from on or inside the three-point line, the other team is awarded two free throws, one for each point they could have made if the shot went in the net.
Even if the player misses the shot, they still get two free throws.
And-One
“And-one” is a slang term in basketball that describes when the shooter makes the shot while they are simultaneously being fouled by a defensive player. It's called an and-one because the team gets points for making the shot in addition to an opportunity to get another point at the free throw line. If a player makes the shot when fouled, they will only receive one additional free throw.
FAQ
When do basketball players get three free throws?
A basketball player can get three free throws if they are fouled by the defense while taking a three-point shot. In this situation, the defender essentially took away the chance of scoring three points, so the shooting player gets a chance to make those three points back with free throws. Even if they made the original shot, they would still get one additional free throw if they are fouled, allowing for a possible four-point play.
How many fouls can a player commit before being ejected?
Individual players are only allowed to commit a certain number of personal fouls before “fouling out” or being removed from the game. Committing shooting fouls adds to this count. In the NBA, once players commit 6 fouls, they will be ejected from the game and cannot play for the rest of the game. For high school and college basketball, the number of fouls allowed for each player is 5.
What constitutes a shooting foul in basketball?
In basketball, a shooting foul occurs when a defensive player makes illegal physical contact with a player shooting the ball. This includes initiating contact with the shooter’s arms, legs, or body, pushing the shooter, or obstructing their landing. However, if the shooter is the one who initiates the contact with a defender, a shooting foul has not occurred.