Referee's Guide to Basketball Australia FIBA Rules 2026

From 1 October 2026 technical fouls (Art. 36) are split into two categories by nature and severity:

• Category 1 counts towards game disqualification. Player examples: disrespectful dealing or communication with referees, table officials or opponents; language or gestures likely to offend or incite spectators; baiting, taunting or provoking an opponent; obstructing an opponent's vision by waving a hand near their eyes; excessive swinging of elbows without contact; faking being fouled.
• Category 2 does not count towards game disqualification. Player examples: delaying the game (for example deliberately touching the ball after it passes through the basket, or preventing a throw-in or free throw being taken promptly, or coming on court late to start a half); hanging on the ring so the player's weight is supported by it (unless grasping it momentarily after a dunk or preventing injury); goaltending on the last free throw by a defensive player.
• Any technical foul by a person on the team bench is category 1.

Disqualification: a player after two category 1 technical fouls (or two flagrant, or one of each). A head coach after two category 1 technical fouls ('C') for personal unsportsmanlike behaviour, or three category 1 technical fouls arising from the bench ('B' or 'BD'), or a combination as set out in Article 36.2.4.

Penalty: the opponents get 1 free throw, administered immediately, then play resumes with a throw-in for the team that had control (or was entitled to the ball) from the place nearest where the ball was when play stopped. A player's technical foul counts as a team foul; a bench category 1 technical is charged to the head coach and does not.

Referees may prevent technical fouls with warnings, or overlook minor, obviously unintentional infractions with no direct effect on the game, unless the same infraction is repeated after a warning.

Source: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026, Article 36 (https://assets.fiba.basketball/image/upload/documents-corporate-fiba-official-rules-2026-v1-1.pdf)

A disruptive foul (Art. 37) is a player's illegal contact with an opponent that does not rise to the level of a flagrant foul, and that disrupts the flow of the game and places the opponent at a disadvantage. The criteria are:

• Unnecessary contact by a defensive player, not legitimately attempting to play the ball, to stop the offensive team's progress in transition (until the offensive player starts the act of shooting).
• Unnecessary contact by a defensive player anywhere on the court, not legitimately attempting to play the ball, to stop the game clock and/or shot clock at the end of a quarter or overtime.
• Illegal contact from behind or laterally on an opponent progressing towards the opponent's basket with no opponents between the player and the basket, who is in control of the ball, attempting to gain control, or has had the ball released on a pass to them (until the act of shooting starts).

Referees must interpret disruptive fouls consistently throughout the game and judge only the action.

Penalty: charged against the offender and counted as a team foul. Free throw(s) go to the fouled player (2 if not shooting; the goal plus 1 if shooting and successful; 2 or 3 if shooting and unsuccessful), then a throw-in from the throw-in line in the team's frontcourt, opposite the scorer's table.

Source: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026, Article 37 (https://assets.fiba.basketball/image/upload/documents-corporate-fiba-official-rules-2026-v1-1.pdf)

Since 1 October 2026 the flagrant foul (Art. 38) replaces the old unsportsmanlike foul for serious contact. It is a player's illegal contact that violates the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play and, by its nature or severity, exceeds the limits of a personal or disruptive foul. The criteria are:

• Not a legitimate basketball play against an opponent, with or without a ball.
• A reckless, violent or dangerous act that causes or may cause injury to an opponent.
• Excessive, hard contact in an effort to play the ball or an opponent.

Referees must interpret flagrant fouls consistently throughout the game and judge only the action.

Penalty: charged against the offender and counted as a team foul. Free throw(s) go to the fouled player (2 if not shooting; the goal plus 1 if shooting and successful; 2 or 3 if shooting and unsuccessful), then a throw-in from the throw-in line in the team's frontcourt, opposite the scorer's table.

Disqualification: a player is disqualified when charged with two flagrant fouls, two category 1 technical fouls, or one flagrant foul and one category 1 technical foul.

Source: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026, Article 38 (https://assets.fiba.basketball/image/upload/documents-corporate-fiba-official-rules-2026-v1-1.pdf)

Disqualifying foul (Art. 39): any flagrant unsportsmanlike action by players, substitutes, head coaches, assistant coaches, excluded players and accompanying delegation members.

• The offender must go to and remain in the team's dressing room for the rest of the game, or leave the building.
• Contact foul: free throw(s) go to the fouled player (2 if not shooting; the goal plus 1 if shooting and successful; 2 or 3 if shooting and unsuccessful). Non-contact foul: 2 free throws to any opponent the head coach designates. Then a throw-in from the throw-in line in the team's frontcourt.
• A disqualified head coach is replaced by the first assistant coach on the scoresheet, or the captain if none is entered.
• Anyone guilty of flagrant acts of aggression on opponents or referees shall be disqualified, and the crew chief must report the incident to the organising body.

Fighting (Art. 40):

• Substitutes, excluded players or delegation members who leave the team bench area during a fight, or a situation that may lead to one, are disqualified.
• Only the head coach and first assistant coach may leave the bench area to help the referees restore order, and they are not disqualified if they do. If they leave and neither assist nor attempt to assist, they are disqualified.
• Whatever the number disqualified for leaving the bench, a single technical foul ('B') is charged against the head coach.

Source: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026, Articles 39 to 41 (https://assets.fiba.basketball/image/upload/documents-corporate-fiba-official-rules-2026-v1-1.pdf)

• Personal foul (Art. 34): a player's illegal contact with an opponent, whether the ball is live or dead. Against a player not in the act of shooting, play resumes with a throw-in for the non-offending team from the place nearest the infraction.
• Shooting fouls: if the shot is successful the goal counts and there is 1 additional free throw. If an unsuccessful 2-point shot, 2 free throws. If an unsuccessful 3-point shot, 3 free throws.
• Throw-in foul: a defensive foul on an opponent about to receive a throw-in when the game clock shows 2:00 or less in the fourth quarter and each overtime. The fouled player gets only 1 free throw, then the non-offending team throws in.
• Team fouls (Art. 42): a team is in the team foul penalty situation after 4 team fouls in a quarter. Further player personal fouls on a player not in the act of shooting are penalised by 2 free throws instead of a throw-in. Team fouls in each overtime count as fourth-quarter fouls.
• Exception: a personal foul by a player of the team in control of the live ball (or entitled to it) is penalised by a throw-in for the opponents.
• Five fouls (Art. 41): a player who has committed 5 fouls must be informed by a referee and must leave the game immediately.
• Double foul (Art. 35): two opponents committing contact fouls on each other at approximately the same time. Both are charged and no free throws are awarded.

Source: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026, Articles 34, 35, 41 and 42 (https://assets.fiba.basketball/image/upload/documents-corporate-fiba-official-rules-2026-v1-1.pdf)

The penalty for a violation is a throw-in for the opponents from the place nearest the infraction, except from directly behind the backboard, unless the rules say otherwise (Article 22).

• 3 seconds (Art. 26): a player may not remain in the opponents' restricted area for more than 3 consecutive seconds while their team controls a live ball in the frontcourt and the game clock is running. Allowances apply for a player attempting to leave, or in the area when a shot is leaving the hand(s).
• Closely guarded (Art. 27): a player holding a live ball with an opponent in an active legal guarding position within 1 m must pass, shoot or dribble within 5 seconds.
• 8 seconds (Art. 28): a team must get the ball into its frontcourt within 8 seconds of gaining control in the backcourt.
• Shot clock (Art. 29): a team must attempt a shot within 24 seconds. If the signal sounds while the ball is in the air and the ball enters the basket or touches the ring, no violation has occurred.
• Backcourt (Art. 30): a team in control in its frontcourt may not cause the ball to be illegally returned to its backcourt.
• Travelling (Art. 25): illegal movement of one or both feet beyond the limits in the article while holding a live ball. A player catching the ball while progressing, or at the end of a dribble, may take two steps in coming to a stop, passing or shooting.
• Double dribble (Art. 24): a player may not dribble a second time after the first dribble has ended, unless control was lost to a shot, an opponent's touch, or a pass or fumble touching another player.

Source: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026, Articles 22 to 30 (https://assets.fiba.basketball/image/upload/documents-corporate-fiba-official-rules-2026-v1-1.pdf)

Goaltending (Article 31)

• On a shot for a goal: a player touches the ball while it is completely above the level of the ring and it is on its downward flight to the basket, or after it has touched the backboard.
• On a free throw: a player touches the ball while it is in flight to the basket and before it touches the ring.
• The restrictions apply until the ball no longer has the possibility to enter the basket or has touched the ring.

Basket interference includes:

• Touching the basket or backboard while the ball is in contact with the ring, after a shot or the last free throw.
• Reaching through the basket from below and touching the ball.
• A defensive player touching the ball or basket while the ball is within the basket.
• Causing the basket to vibrate, or grasping it, so the ball takes an unnatural bounce or change of direction.
• Grasping the basket and playing the ball.

Goaltending by a defensive player on the last free throw: the offensive team is awarded 1 point, followed by a category 2 technical foul penalty against the defensive player (Article 36.2.1).

Source: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026, Article 31 (https://assets.fiba.basketball/image/upload/documents-corporate-fiba-official-rules-2026-v1-1.pdf)

Under Article 47 the crew chief must:

• Inspect and approve all equipment, designate the official game clock, shot clock and stopwatch, and identify the table officials.
• Select the game ball from at least 2 used balls provided by the home team.
• Not permit any player to wear objects that may cause injury.
• Administer a jump ball at the start of the first quarter and an alternating possession throw-in at the start of all other quarters and overtimes.
• Have the power to stop a game when conditions warrant it, and to determine that a team shall forfeit.
• Make the final decision when the referees disagree, and decide on any point not specifically covered by the rules.
• Examine, approve and sign the scoresheet at the end of playing time. The referees' power starts when they arrive on the court 20 minutes before the scheduled start and ends when the game clock signal sounds for the end of the game as approved by the crew chief.
• Enter any forfeit or disqualifying foul on the reverse of the scoresheet, and send a detailed report to the organising body where required.

Referees are a crew chief and 1 or 2 umpires. Umpires cannot disregard or question each other's decisions (Article 48.7).

Source: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026, Articles 46 to 48 (https://assets.fiba.basketball/image/upload/documents-corporate-fiba-official-rules-2026-v1-1.pdf)

Where the Instant Replay System (IRS) is used (Appendix F):

• The crew chief decides whether a review is used, and starts it as fast as possible after gathering information from the other referees and table officials. The crew chief and at least the umpire who made the call take part.
• The referees must show their initial decision on court. It can be corrected only if the review gives clear and conclusive visual evidence.
• The review happens before time-outs or substitutions are administered or the game resumes.
• Any time: whether a goal was a 2 or 3-point shot, the number of free throws after a foul on a shooter, whether a personal, disruptive, flagrant or disqualifying foul met its criteria, correctable errors, clock malfunctions, the free-throw shooter, and involvement in violence.
• Last 2:00 of the fourth quarter and each overtime: whether a goal was released before the shot clock sounded, and whether the thrower-in still held the ball when a defensive foul occurred on a throw-in.
• New in 2026: goaltending or basket interference after a foul can be reviewed at any point in the game.
• Head coach's challenge: where the IRS is used, the head coach may ask the nearest referee to verify a decision with the IRS. The head coach is granted only one challenge in a game.

Source: FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026, Appendix F (https://assets.fiba.basketball/image/upload/documents-corporate-fiba-official-rules-2026-v1-1.pdf)

Basketball Australia launched a nationally aligned officiating pathway and curriculum in February 2026, built with the state and territory bodies.

• Framework: FTEM-O (Foundation, Talent, Elite, Mastery - Officiating). It runs from entry-level community officiating to elite international performance and includes C1 to C3 community grades.
• Courses: The release includes new online courses for referees, referee coaches, scoretable officials and Technical Officials Program Managers. Accreditation runs through etrainU, with on-court practical learning afterwards.
• Where you can go: Referees can aim for local association, state, national or international competition, or stay at the local level.
• Other roles: Scoretable official, statistician, officials coach, technical commissioner and delegate, and Technical Officials Program Manager (TOPM).

Sources: https://www.play.aus.basketball/officials/pathways, https://www.play.aus.basketball/officials/referee and https://www.australia.basketball/news/4455898/basketball-australia-celebrates-release-of-state-and-territory-collaborated-officiating-curriculums