Violations

Traveling — moving your pivot foot illegally or taking steps without dribbling. Once you stop, one foot becomes your pivot foot; it can spin in place but can't slide or lift before you release a dribble, pass, or shot.

Double dribble — dribbling, stopping, then dribbling again; or dribbling with two hands at once.

Carrying (palming) — the hand rotates under the ball and pauses mid-dribble. Referees look for the ball coming to rest in your hand.

Basketball uses clocks to force action:

• Shot clock — the offense must hit the rim with a shot attempt before it expires (24 seconds in the NBA/FIBA, 30 in college). Fail and it's a turnover.

• 10 seconds (8 in the NBA) — the time allowed to advance the ball past half-court.

• 3 seconds — an offensive player can't stand in the key for more than 3 seconds at a time.

• 5 seconds — to inbound the ball, and (in some leagues) when closely guarded while holding it.

Backcourt violation — once the offense crosses half-court, they can't bring the ball back across. The half-court line becomes an extra defender.

Out of bounds — touching a boundary line, or being the last to touch a ball that goes out.

Goaltending — blocking a shot after it starts falling toward the rim, or touching it above the cylinder. The shot counts. Kicked ball — intentionally striking the ball with a foot stops play.

All violations share the same penalty: the other team gets the ball. No free throws — that's what separates violations from fouls.