Free throw

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In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court (the free throw line; informally known as the "charity stripe" or foul line), and are generally awarded after a foul by the opposing team. James Henry holds the record for most free throws made in a row by hitting 450.

Each free throw is worth one point, and normally more than one is awarded. The importance of free throws is nevertheless sometimes underestimated; games have been known to be decided on them, especially if the score was close. Teams who could have sealed the game on free throws can finish with a narrow win or even a loss because of failure behind the line.

Free throws normally can be made at a high percentage. In the NBA, most players make 70-80% of their attempts. Some good shooters (e.g. Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Ray Allen) can make 90%, while notoriously poor shooters (e.g. Shaquille O'Neal, Ben Wallace, Adonal Foyle, Antoine Walker) make 50% or even less. Interestingly, the taller you are the easier it should be to shoot free throws. ^[1]

Contents 1 When free throws are awarded 2 Procedure 3 Free Throws Awarded (NBA) 4 Notes 5 External links

[edit] When free throws are awarded

There are several situations when free throws can be awarded:

The first and most common is when a player is fouled while in the act of shooting. If the foul causes the player to miss the shot, he or she receives two or three free throws depending on whether or not the shot was taken in front or behind the three-point line. If, despite the foul, the player still makes the attempted shot, the number of free throws is reduced to one, and the basket counts. This is known as a three-point or four-point play, depending on the value of the made basket, and happens more frequently (though still uncommon as a whole) during a drive to the basket. Commentators sometimes refer to a successful three-point play as "a three-pointer the old fashioned way" or "a three-pointer the hard way" because before the advent of the three-point shot, this was the only way to earn three points on one play. It is quite rare for a player to be fouled while shooting a three pointer (especially at the college level) because most teams take great care not to since it is greatly frowned upon when it does happen.

The second is when the fouling team is in the team foul penalty situation. This happens when, in a single period, a team commits more than a set number of fouls (four in international and NBA). Even if a player is not in the act of shooting, two free throws are awarded no matter when or where the foul occurs. An exception is when the foul occurs while the offensive player is shooting, in which case it is treated like a normal shooting foul.

The team foul penalty situation is slightly different in U.S. collegiate basketball. Once a team has committed more than six fouls in a period, the fouled player shoots a one-and-one (commonly known as one and a bonus), in which the player must make the first free throw in order to get a chance to shoot a second. Starting with the tenth foul in a period, two free throws are awarded. Free throws are not awarded for player control fouls (most often charging fouls), even if the team fouled is in the bonus. The number of fouls that trigger a penalty is higher in college basketball because the periods are longer—two 20-minute halves, as opposed to quarters of 10 minutes in FIBA play or 12 minutes in the NBA. As in professional play, a foul in the act of shooting is treated as a normal shooting foul.

If a player is injured upon being fouled and cannot shoot free throws, the offensive team may designate any player from the bench to shoot in the place of the injured player. Otherwise, the fouled player must shoot his/her own foul shots.

If a player, coach, or team staff (e.g. doctor, statistician) shows poor sportsmanship like extensive arguing with a referee, that person gets charged with a technical foul. If the technical foul was by a player on court, the opposing team is awarded one free throw. If it was by a coach or other person on the team bench, the opponents get awarded two free throws. In NCAA basketball, all technical fouls result in two free throws. The opposing team may choose any player who is currently on the court to shoot the free throws, and is then awarded possession of the ball after the free throws. Since there is no opportunity for a rebound, these free throws are shot with no players on the lane.

Finally, if a referee deems that a foul is extremely aggressive or did not show an attempt to play the ball, he or she can call a more severe foul known as an unsportsmanlike foul in international play, a flagrant foul in the NBA and an intentional foul in NCAA basketball. This foul is charged against the player, and the opponent gets two free throws and possession of the ball afterwards. Unlike technical fouls, the player fouled must shoot the awarded free throws.

Fouls "off the ball" (fouls that do not occur on the shooter or near the ball) are handled like the second case above in most situations. Many times defenders hold their opponent to avoid them from catching an in-bound pass or fight through screens and thus are called for fouls. These fouls are almost always treated as normal personal fouls. In the NBA, when there are only 2 minutes left on the clock of either half, off-ball fouls when the fouling team is over the limit are rewarded with one free throw and possession of the ball. It is therefore common for a losing team to purposely foul players such as Ben Wallace or Shaquille O'Neal, a dominant player but a terrible foul shooter, up until the 2 minute mark, and then play intense defense for the rest of the game (see Hack-a-Shaq). In international games this does not apply.

[edit] Procedure

Free throws are organized in procession. The shooter takes his place behind the free throw line (4.5 metres or 15 feet from the basket). All other players must stand in their correct places until the ball leaves the shooter's hands:

Three people from the defensive team and two people from the shooting team line up along the sides of the restricted area (keyhole, paint, lane). These players are usually the ones that rebound the ball. Three line up on one side and two on the other. A defensive player always takes the place closest to the basket.

The remaining four players, two from each team, must remain behind the three point line and the free throw line extended (an imaginary line extended from the free throw line in both directions to the sidelines).

Leaving their designated places before the ball leaves the shooter's hands, interfering with the ball, and (for the defensive team only) attempting to put off the shooter, are all violations. In addition, the shooter must release the ball within five seconds (ten in the NBA as well as all other levels of basketball in the USA) and must not step on or over the free throw line until the ball touches the ring. A violation by the shooter cancels the free throw; a violation by the defensive team results in a substitute free throw if the shooter missed; a violation by the offensive team or a shot that completely misses the ring results in the loss of possession to the defensive team (only if it is on the last free throw).

Under FIBA rules, if the shooter does not commit a violation, and the ball goes in the basket, the attempt is automatically successful, regardless of violations committed by the non-shooter.

[edit] Free Throws Awarded (NBA)

Personal Foul

Offensive

Loose Ball

Defensive

Clear Path 1 Free throw and possession2

Flagrant 2 Free throws and possession2

No Penalty1 Loss of possession2

Penalty1 2 Free Throws

No Penalty1 Loss of possession2

Penalty1 2 Free Throws

Shooting

Non-shooting

Shot made 1 Free Throw

Shot missed

No Penalty1 Throw-in2

Penalty1 2 Free Throws

Technical Foul 1 Free Throw

2 point attempt 2 Free Throws

3 point attempt 3 Free Throws

¹ Penalty applies to fouls in excess of four in a regulation period or in excess of three in an overtime period. If a team has not committed its foul quota by the two minute mark of a period, it shall be allowed one foul before the penalty applies. Offensive fouls do not count toward this total.
² Defensive fouls committed during a throw-in prior to the ball being released result in two free throws regardless of the penalty situation.

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• NBA Rule Number 9: Free Throw
• NBA Rule Number 12: Fouls and Penalties