Illegal Defense Basketball

Illegal defense in basketball can refer to a defensive alignment that is against the rules or making illegal contact with an offensive player (foul). In this article, we’ll discuss each form of illegal defense and how the defensive team is penalized for committing an infraction. Let’s get started.

Illegal Defensive Alignments

While man-to-man defense (each defensive player is assigned an opposing player to guard throughout the game) is the most popular method used to prevent the offense from scoring, teams also utilize zone defense from time to time (players are assigned an area of the court to protect rather than an individual opponent).

Zone defense used to be forbidden in the NBA, however it was legalized prior to the 2001-2002 season. Despite this rule change, zone defenses are rarely used at the professional level because it is easy for defensive players to find themselves in illegal positions that result in a lane violation.

Lane violations, otherwise known as “defensive three seconds,” occur when a defensive player is caught standing in the painted area without actively guarding an opposing player. When a referee stops play to call a three-second violation, the team on offense is given a foul shot followed by possession of the ball.

Illegal Contact

Illegal contact, also known as a “foul,” occurs when an offensive or defensive player makes contact with an opposing player such that they are unable to finish a play. Some of the more common types of fouls are outlined below:

• Shooting Foul: a defensive player hits an offensive player or knocks them to the ground on a shot attempt (two free throws are awarded to the shooter)
• Loose Ball Foul: an opposing player is grabbed or knocked to the ground while trying to gain possession of the ball (possession of the ball is granted to that player’s team)
• Intentional Foul: a member of the defense intentionally contacts an opposing player to induce a foul call and preserve time (two free throws are awarded to the player that was fouled)
• Flagrant Foul: contact that is deemed excessive or extremely rough (results in two free throws followed by possession of the ball for the offense)
• Moving Screen: an offensive player is caught moving while trying to impede the progress of a teammate’s defender (loss of possession)
• Charge: the shooter barrels into a stationary defender on a shot attempt, knocking the defender out of position (loss of possession)
• Blocking Foul: a defender “cuts off” an offensive player that is attempting a shot, causing the player run into the defender (two free throws awarded on a shot attempt, possession of the ball granted when the offensive player is not shooting)

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