How do you 'foul' in basketball?

Answer 1

A foul in Basketball can range from two different kinds: offensive and defensive fouls, as well as technical fouls. Offensive fouls are fouls when you are on the offensive end, like pushing someone to the side to shoot or pushing slapping someone on the arm to get to the basket. Defensive fouls are the same, but on the defensive end. Technical fouls are called when you do something improper in basketball. For instance, yelling at the referee, throwing the basketball in the stands, and yelling at other players will result in technical fouls.

There are offensive and defensive fouls in basketball. A defensive foul occurs when a defender makes contact with the player in possession. An offensive foul occurs when the player with the ball makes contact with a defender who's arms are inside his body.

If an offensive player runs into a defensive player whose position is established (both feet are planted) or the offensive player drops his shoulder or pushes off with his arm, then the contact is deemed an offensive foul (foul against the offensive player) and is usually called a "charge."

Flagrant fouls occur when one player grabs another and pulls him down, or a player is injured as a result of a hard foul.

Technical fouls include defensive three-second penalties and, at the discretion of the official, when a player or coach exhibits unsportsmanlike conduct.

By definition a foul is "when one player gains an illegal advantage over another through physical contact". In layman's terms, physical contact between two players is not illegal. However, if that contact creates an advantage (as in a shot was affected or a player could not move freely to another position on the court) then it is deemed a foul.

If you are Thomas Robinson from the University of Kansas apparently all you have to do to be called for a foul is be on the court.

Answer 2

Illegal contact. And the fouled player would have to shoot free throws if the foul happened during the act of shooting.