Traveling (basketball)

In basketball, traveling (travelling in Commonwealth English) is a violation of the rules that occurs when a player holding the ball moves one or both of his feet illegally. Most commonly, a player travels by illegally moving his or her pivot foot or taking two or more steps without dribbling the ball. A similar rule with the same name exists in the related sport of netball.

Traveling is sometimes also called "walking" or "steps" or "ducing" or "carrying," predominantly in a streetball atmosphere.

In basketball

Definitions

NCAA

Section 72. Traveling^[1]

Art. 1. A player who catches the ball with both feet on the playing court may pivot, using either foot. When one foot is lifted, the other is the pivot foot.

Art. 2. A player who catches the ball while moving or dribbling may stop and establish a pivot foot as follows:

a. When both feet are off the playing court and the player lands:

1. Simultaneously on both feet, either may be the pivot foot;

2. On one foot followed by the other, the first foot to touch shall be the pivot foot;

3. On one foot, the player may jump off that foot and simultaneously land on both; neither foot can be the pivot foot.

b. When one foot is on the playing court:

1. That foot shall be the pivot foot when the other foot touches in a step;

2. The player may jump off that foot and simultaneously land on both; neither foot can then be the pivot foot.

Art. 3. After coming to a stop and establishing the pivot foot:

a. The pivot foot may be lifted, but not returned to the playing court, before the ball is released on a pass or try for goal;64 Rule 4 / definitions

b. The pivot foot shall not be lifted before the ball is released to start a dribble.

Art. 4. After coming to a stop when neither foot can be the pivot foot:

a. One or both feet may be lifted, but may not be returned to the playing court, before the ball is released on a pass or try for goal;

b. Neither foot shall be lifted, before the ball is released, to start a dribble.

Art. 5. It is traveling when a player falls to the playing court while holding the ball without maintaining a pivot foot.

NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations)

The NFHS traveling rule is almost identical to the NCAA rule, with an additional article clarifying restrictions regarding a player holding the ball while on the floor.

NBA

For the 2009-10 season, the NBA modified its rule regarding traveling to update antiquated language. The rule still allows for only two steps.^[2]

FIBA

The FIBA rule is similar to the NCAA rule but it has two minor differences.

First, there is no paragraph 4.a of Section 72. Therefore, it is a violation if the player after coming to a stop and establishing the pivot foot lifts it before the other foot without a dribble.

Second, when player falling, lying or sitting on the floor:
• It is legal when a player falls and slides on the floor while holding the ball or, while lying or sitting on the floor, gains control of the ball.
• It is a violation if the player then rolls or attempts to stand up while holding the ball.

Penalty

The ball becomes dead and a throw-in is awarded to the opposing team out of bounds nearest the point where the violation took place under NCAA and NFHS rules.^[3] Under NBA rules, the ball is awarded to the opposing team at the nearest spot but no closer to the baseline than the free throw line extended.^[4]

Examples

• Any action where the pivot foot is lifted and returned to the floor, or dragged along the floor.
• Lifting the pivot foot, taking multiple steps, or shuffling the feet before starting a dribble. See example videos.
• While holding the ball, jumping and returning to the floor without releasing the ball.
• While holding the ball on the floor, attempting to roll over or stand up.
• NCAA and NFHS only: Falling to the floor while holding the ball, even if it was caught while airborne.^[5][6][7][8]

Clarifications

• It is impossible to travel while dribbling.^[9] The height of the dribble or number of steps taken per dribble is irrelevant.^[10]
• It is impossible to travel during a throw-in.^[11] While there are space restrictions for a throw-in, the thrower is not required to maintain a pivot foot or observe any of the other restrictions of the traveling rule. A referee who signals traveling on a throw-in violation is in error.
• A player must have control of the ball to travel. For instance, a player who bobbles a pass may well take several steps legally—the traveling rule is not in effect until he has secured control of the ball.^[12]
• A player who dives and catches a loose ball on the floor may legally slide as far as his momentum carries him. This is not a travel.^[13][14][15] However, once he stops he may not roll over or attempt to stand.
• Lifting the pivot foot alone does not constitute a travel; a player may pass, shoot, or request a timeout in that position. It is a travel once the foot is returned to the floor, or if a dribble is started.
• In the NBA, a player who attempts a field goal may not be the first to touch the ball if it fails to touch the backboard, basket ring or another player. However, according to High School (NFHS) and College (NCAA) rules, there is no traveling violation as long as the official judges it to be an attempted shot.^[16]

In netball

Netball rules do not permit players to let their landing foot touch the ground again if it is lifted at all while in possession of the ball, so players can take 1.5 steps while holding the ball. Pivoting does not count as a step.^[17] Players are entitled to balance on the other foot if the landing foot is lifted. An infraction of this rule is usually called travelling (or steps) as in basketball.

IFNA Rule 14.3 states:

A player in possession of the ball may not:-

(i) drag or slide the landing foot;

(ii) hop on either foot;

(iii) jump from both feet and land on both feet unless the ball has been released before landing.

A free pass is awarded to the opposing team where the infringement occurred.

References

• "2009 NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Rules" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved August 2008. 
• National Federation of State High School Associations (2009). Basketball Rules Book. 
• National Federation of State High School Associations (2009). Basketball Case Book. 
• "Official Rules of the NBA 2009-2010" (PDF). Retrieved December 13, 2009.