RULE NO. 12—TECHNICAL FOULS
Section I—Illegal Defenses
a. Illegal defenses which violate the rules and accepted guidelines set forth are not permitted in the NBA.
b. When the offensive team is in its backcourt with the ball, no illegal defense violation may occur.
1. Penalties for Illegal Defenses.
On the first violation, the 24-second clock is reset to 24. On the second and succeeding violations, the clock is reset to 24 and one free throw (technical) is attempted. When a violation occurs during the last 24 seconds of any period (including overtime), regardless of the number of prior offenses, one free throw is awarded for the violation. (On all violations, the ball is awarded to the offended team out-of-bounds at the free throw line extended on either side of the court).
EXCEPTION: If a field goal attempt is simultaneous with a whistle for an illegal violation, and that attempt is successful, the basket shall count and the violation is nullified.
2. Guidelines for Defensive Coverage
a. Weakside defenders may be in a defensive position within the “outside lane” with no time limit, and within the “inside lane” for 2.9 seconds. The defensive player must re-establish a position with both feet out of the “inside lane” to be considered as having legally cleared the restricted area.
b. When a defensive player is guarding an offensive player who is adjacent (posted-up) to the 3-second lane, the defensive player may be within the “inside lane” area with no time limitations.
An offensive player shall be ruled as “posted-up” when he is within 3' of the free throw lane line. Hash mark on the baseline denotes the 3' area.
c. An offensive player without the ball may not be double-teamed from the weakside. Only the player with the ball may be double-teamed by a weakside defensive player.
Weakside and strongside restrictions shall extend from the baseline to the midcourt line.
d. When an offensive player, with or without the ball, takes a position above the foul line, the defensive player may be no farther (toward the baseline) than the “middle defensive area.” Defensive player(s) may enter and re-enter the “lower defensive area” as many times as desired, so long as he does not exceed 2.9 seconds.
e. When a weakside offensive player is above the free throw line extended, his defensive man may be no lower than the “middle defensive area” extended for more than 2.9 seconds.
When a weakside offensive player is below the free throw line extended, his defensive man must vacate the “inside lane” unless his man is positioned adjacent (posted up) to the 3-second lane extended.
When an offensive player, weakside or strongside, is above the tip-of-circle extended, his defender may, legally, be no lower than the free throw line extended (upper defensive area).
If an offensive player, weakside or strongside, relocates to a position above the tip-of-circle extended, his defender must assume a legal position above the free throw line.
He must follow a direct path to the ball and/or to the offensive player described above.
If the offensive player passes the ball, prior to the double-team being established, the defender must re-establish a legal position immediately.
A defender, weakside or strongside, may double-team the offensive player with the ball at any time.
When a strongside offensive player is above the free throw line extended “upper defensive area,” his defensive man may be no lower than the “middle defensive area” for more than 2.9 seconds.
When an offensive player on the strongside is below the free throw line extended “middle defensive area,” his defender must take a position below the free throw line extended immediately or double-team the ball as soon as the ball crosses midcourt. There is no 2.9 time limit.
If the offensive player relocates to a position above the free throw line extended, his defender may take a similar position no farther than one defensive area away within 2.9 seconds.
In all of the situations above, a defensive player may always aggressively double-team the ball regardless of his previous position on the floor.
f. A defensive player must follow his weakside offensive man, switch to another man at an area of intersection, or double-team the ball. There is no 2.9-second time limit on this play. A defensive player must execute one of those three options or he is guilty of an illegal defense immediately.
g. A defensive player must follow his strongside offensive man, switch to another man at an area of intersection, or double-team the ball. There is a 2.9 second time limit on this play which commences when the defensive player reaches the weakside and “opens up.”
h. A double team is when two or more defenders aggressively pursue a player with the ball to a position close enough for a held ball to occur.
Failure to comply with paragraphs (a) through (h) above will result in an Illegal Defense violation.
