Today, basketball is one of the major sports in the United States. Like baseball, basketball is also one of the most loved sports by Boston Sports Fans. Two major objectives of basketball are; shooting the ball into the loop and scoring as many points as possible. A defensive team can always commit a foul while the offensive team tries to score some points.
Loose ball foul, flagrant foul, offensive foul, and personal foul are a few common fouls that a player can commit while playing basketball. But how exactly do these fouls work and what penalties do they attract? Read further to discover everything you need to know about how basketball fouling works.
What are the different types of fouls?
In basketball, a foul is any action done against an offensive or defensive player that mostly results in unnecessary contact. Today, there are different types of fouls and all of them fall under two categories; offensive or defensive fouls. Irrespective of the foul that a player or team commits, there’s always a penalty in place. The severity of the penalty, however, depends on the type of foul committed.
1. Personal foul
A personal foul in basketball is specific to a certain player. This foul can occur in different ways; the common actions are pushing, blocking, or striking a player when shooting. Committing a foul against a shooting player can always lead to a free throw attempt.
It’s simple; let’s assume player A was violated when trying to make a three-point shot. The player or shooter will receive three free throws. If player A was making a two-point shot when the foul happened, two free throws will be awarded.
2. Loose ball foul
Loose ball foul is another common type of basketball foul. Before talking about this foul, what exactly does “loose ball” mean in basketball?
A loose ball simply means that a live ball is never in possession of either team. A loose ball can happen when a ball bounces off the rim to a location where players aren’t positioned to make a rebound. While trying to reach the ball, player A makes illegal contact, such as blocking, or screens, with player B. In this case, a loose ball foul is called, which could lead to free throws or possession of the ball by the fouled player.
You can learn more about the loose ball foul on the official Lost In Boston Sports website.
3. Offensive fouls
Another type of basketball foul you should know about is the offensive foul. Unlike the loose ball foul, offensive fouls are specific to offensive players. Players often commit this foul even though their teams possess the ball. Illegal ball screens and charging are two actions that often lead to offensive fouls.
4. Flagrant fouls
Unlike a loose ball foul, a flagrant foul is a type of personal foul that can potentially lead to an injury for a player. Of course, flagrant fouls often attract heavier penalties. Suspension, fines, and immediate ejection are the three most common penalties for this type of foul.
