Rules
Traveling explained
Understand traveling, the gather, pivot foot, legal stops, and common examples with a plain-language guide for new basketball players.
Beginner guide collection
Rules and Basketball IQ
Understand traveling, positions, spacing, decisions, and how the game fits together.
Choose your next answer
12 practical guides in this collection
Start with the question that matches your next practice or game. Each guide gives you a quick answer, common mistakes, and a drill you can score.
Basketball IQ
Basketball positions 1-5
Learn the five traditional basketball positions, what each role does on offense and defense, and how modern teams share responsibilities.
Basketball IQ
Basketball spacing for beginners
Learn basketball spacing with five basic floor spots, passing lanes, drive reactions, and simple rules that stop a beginner offense from crowding.
Basketball IQ
Use triple-threat position
Learn basketball triple-threat position, catch footwork, ball protection, reading the defender, and choosing to pass, shoot, or drive.
Rules
What is a double dribble?
Learn what a double dribble is, when a dribble ends, common examples, legal exceptions, and how beginners can avoid the violation.
Rules
3x3 rules for beginners
Learn 3x3 basketball rules for beginners: team size, scoring, check balls, clearing the arc, shot clock, fouls, substitutions, and a simple first game.
Rules
Basketball fouls explained
Understand common basketball fouls, shooting fouls, offensive fouls, team fouls, technical fouls, legal guarding position, and beginner examples.
Rules
Basketball court lines explained
Learn the basketball court's sidelines, baselines, center line, lane, free-throw line, three-point arc, restricted area, and inbound spots.
Basketball IQ
Man defense vs. zone defense
Compare man-to-man and zone basketball defense, learn basic responsibilities, communication, strengths, mistakes, and simple beginner practice.
Basketball IQ
Pick-and-roll basics
Learn the basketball pick and roll with legal screening position, ball-handler setup, the roll, spacing, and three simple beginner reads.
Basketball IQ
Cut without the basketball
Learn basketball cuts for beginners, including basket cuts, backdoor cuts, V-cuts, timing, spacing, showing a target, and clearing out.
Basketball IQ
Transition offense and defense
Learn what to do when basketball possession changes: sprint lanes, advance the ball, protect the basket, stop the ball, match up, and communicate.