Rule No. 4: Definitions
| I: Basket/Backboard | II: Blocking | III: Dribble |
| IV: Fouls | V: Free Throw | VI: Frontcourt/Backcourt |
| VII: Held Ball | VIII: Pivot | IX: Traveling |
| X: Screen | XI: Field Goal Attempt | XII: Throw In |
| XIII: Last Minute | XIV: Disconcertion of Free Throw Shooter | XV: Live Ball |
a. A team's basket consists of the basket ring and net through which its players try to shoot the ball. The visiting team has the choice of baskets for the first half. The basket selected by the visiting team when it first enters onto the court shall be its basket for the first half.
b. The teams change baskets for the second half. All overtime periods are considered extensions of the second half.
c. Five sides of the backboard (front, two sides, bottom and top) are considered in play when contacted by the basketball. The back of the backboard is out-of-play.
Blocking is illegal personal contact which impedes the progress of an opponent.
A dribble is movement of the ball, caused by a player in control, who throws or taps the ball into the air or to the floor.
a. The dribble ends when the dribbler:
(1) Touches the ball simultaneously with both hands
(2) Permits the ball to come to rest while she is in control of it
(3) Tries for a field goal
(4) Throws a pass
(5) Touches the ball more than once while dribbling, before it touches the floor
(6) Loses control
(7) Allows the ball to become dead
a. A personal foul is illegal physical contact which occurs with an opponent after the ball has become live.
b. A technical foul is the penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct or violations by team members on the floor or seated on the bench. It may be assessed for illegal contact which occurs with an opponent before the ball becomes live.
c. A double foul is a situation in which two opponents commit personal or technical fouls against each other at approximately the same time.
d. An offensive foul is illegal contact, committed by an offensive player, after the ball is live.
e. A loose ball foul is illegal contact, after the ball is live, when team possession does not exist.
f. An elbow foul is making contact with the elbow in an unsportsmanlike manner.
g. A flagrant foul is unnecessary and/or excessive contact committed by a player against an opponent.
h. An away-from-the-play foul is illegal contact by the defense in the last minute of the game, which occurs
(1) deliberately away from the immediate area of the ball, and/or
(2) prior to the ball being released on a throw-in.
A free throw is the privilege given a player to score one point by an unhindered attempt for the goal from a position directly behind the free throw line. This attempt must be made within 10 seconds.
Section VI-Frontcourt/Backcourt
a. A team's frontcourt consists of that part of the court between its endline and the nearer edge of the midcourt line, including the basket and inbounds part of the backboard.
b. A team's backcourt consists of the entire midcourt line and the rest of the court to include the opponent's basket and inbounds part of the backboard.
c. A ball which is in contact with a player or with the court is in the backcourt if either the ball or the player is touching the backcourt. It is in the frontcourt if neither the ball nor the player is touching the backcourt.
d. A ball which is not in contact with a player or the court retains the same status as when it was last in contact with a player or the court.
Exception: Rule 4-Section VI-f.
e. The team on the offense must bring the ball across the midcourt line within 10 seconds. No additional 10 second count is permitted in the backcourt.
Exception: (1) kicked ball,
(2) punched ball,
(3) technical foul on the defensive team,
(4) delay of game warning on the defensive team or
(5) infection control.
f. The ball is considered in the frontcourt once it has broken the plane of the midcourt line and not in player control.
g. The defensive team has no "frontcourt/backcourt."
A held ball occurs when two opponents have one or both hands firmly on the ball.
a. A pivot takes place when a player, who is holding the ball, steps once or more than once in any direction with the same foot, with the other foot (pivot foot) in contact with the floor.
b. If the player wishes to dribble after a pivot, the ball must be out of her hand before the pivot foot is raised off the floor.
c. If the player raises her pivot off the floor, she must pass or attempt a field goal. If she fails to follow these guidelines, she has committed a traveling violation.
Traveling is progressing in any direction while in possession of the ball, which is in excess of prescribed limits as noted in Rule 4->Section VIII and Rule 10-Section XIV.
A screen is the legal action of a player who, without causing undue contact, delays or prevents an opponent from reaching a desired position.
A field goal attempt is a player's attempt to shoot the ball into her basket for a field goal. The attempt starts when the player begins the motion which habitually precedes the actual shot. It continues until the shooting effort ceases and she returns to a normal floor position. The term is also used to include the movement of the ball in flight until it has become dead or has been touched by a player.
A throw-in is a method of putting the ball in play from out-of-bounds in accordance with Rule 8-Section III. The throw-in begins when the ball is at the disposal of the team or player entitled to it, and ends when the ball is released by the thrower-in.
When the game clock shows 1:00, the game is considered to be in the one-minute period.
Section XIV-Disconcertion of Free Throw Shooter
Disconcertion of the free throw shooter is any of the following:
a. During multiple free throw attempts which are not going to remain in play, an opponent may not, while located on the lane lines, be allowed to raise her arms above her head.
b. During any free throw attempt, an opponent who is in the visual field of the free throw shooter, may not
(1) wave her arms,
(2) make a sudden dash upcourt,
(3) talk to the free throw shooter, or
(4) talk loudly to a teammate or coach.
A live ball commences when the ball is placed at the disposal of a free throw shooter, or thrower-in or is tossed by an official on a jump ball. A live ball becomes alive when it is released or legally tapped.
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