What is a disruptive foul, and what is the penalty?

A disruptive foul (Art. 37) is new in 2026. It is a player's illegal contact with an opponent that doesn't reach the level of a flagrant foul, but disrupts the flow of the game and puts the opponent at a disadvantage. It covers the tactical fouls that used to be called unsportsmanlike.

Criteria:

• Stopping a transition: unnecessary contact by a defender who is not legitimately trying to play the ball directly, to stop the offensive team's progress in transition. This applies until the offensive player starts the act of shooting.
• Stopping the clock at the end of a period: unnecessary contact by a defender anywhere on the court, not legitimately trying to play the ball, to stop the game clock or shot clock at the end of a quarter or overtime.
• From behind or the side on a breakaway: illegal contact from behind or laterally on an opponent heading for the basket with no opponent between them and the basket, while that player controls the ball, is trying to gain control, or has a pass released to them. This applies until the act of shooting starts.

Penalty:

• Charged to the offender. It counts as a team foul but does not count towards game disqualification.
• Free throws to the fouled player: 2 if not shooting; if shooting, the goal counts plus 1 free throw, or 2 or 3 free throws if the shot missed.
• Then a throw-in from the throw-in line in the team's frontcourt, opposite the scorer's table, with the shot clock reset to 14 seconds.