Flagrant Foul in Basketball: Basic Information Explained

What is a flagrant foul in basketball

A flagrant foul is an infraction that occurs during a basketball game when one particular player commits illegal contact against an opposing player that is deemed to be unnecessary and/or excessive.

Furthermore, there are generally two types of flagrant fouls, which are commonly known as flagrant 1 foul and flagrant 2 foul.

What is notable information about the flagrant 1 foul

Flagrant 1 foul general definition

Within the rules of the NBA and WNBA, the flagrant 1 foul, which is also referred to as flagrant foul penalty 1, occurs when a player commits illegal contact against an opposing player, with or without possession of the basketball, that is deemed to be unnecessary but not excessive.

Additionally, according to the current rules of NCAA men’s college basketball, a flagrant 1 foul is a personal foul that is determined to be unwarranted and/or unnecessary but the foul is not based solely and specifically on the severity of the offending player’s action.

Flagrant 1 foul general criteria

In terms of general criteria, flagrant 1 fouls usually include reckless contact that could potentially result in minor injury but typically not major injury, when committed against an opponent.

For example, let’s say that a defensive player attempts to block the shot of an offensive player but as that occurs, the hand and/or arm of the defender makes contact with the offensive player’s head area.

As a result, that illegal contact could have potentially caused injury or general harm to the offensive player.

However, because that same defender attempted to make a legitimate play on the ball in reference to attempting to block the shot, the referee would most likely judge the illegal contact as a flagrant 1 foul as opposed to a flagrant 2 foul.

Flagrant 1 foul general penalties

Personal foul charged to offending player

The player who commits the flagrant 1 foul would receive a personal foul, which would also be added to that player’s total number of personal fouls.

Team foul increased by 1

In addition to the personal foul charged to the player who committed the flagrant 1 foul, the total number of team fouls would increase by 1.

From there, if that team accumulates the requisite number of team fouls, then that could trigger the bonus or penalty situation.

Player who was target of the flagrant 1 foul awarded two free throws

The player who was the target of the flagrant 1 foul would have an opportunity to attempt two free throws.

Team of player who was the target of the flagrant 1 foul receives ball at the sideline

The offended team of the player who was the target of the flagrant 1 foul would receive the ball on the sideline for an inbound pass opportunity.

Player who committed two flagrant 1 fouls would be ejected

When a player only receives one flagrant 1 foul, this action does not necessarily lead to disqualification or ejection.

However, if a player receives two flagrant 1 fouls in the same game, then that action results in an automatic ejection.

What is notable information about the flagrant 2 foul

Flagrant 2 foul general definition

Within the rules of the NBA and WNBA, the flagrant 2 foul, which is also referred to as flagrant foul penalty 2, occurs when a player commits illegal contact against an opposing player, with or without possession of the basketball, that is deemed to be unnecessary and excessive.

Additionally, according to the current rules of NCAA men’s college basketball, a flagrant 2 foul is a personal foul comprising illegal contact that is deemed to be not only excessive but also severe and/or dangerous while the ball is live.

Flagrant 2 foul general criteria

In terms of general criteria, flagrant 2 fouls usually include hard contact, especially to an opponent’s head area, and/or contact that is so extreme, it could potentially lead to major injury against an opponent.

For example, if a defensive player deliberately winds up their arm before making contact with an opposing offensive player’s head area, then that action could be deemed as a flagrant 2 foul.

This is even more of a factor if the defensive player was not trying to make a legitimate play on the ball as it relates to blocking the shot of the offensive player or at least contesting it.

Also, within the NBA as well as men’s college basketball, any deliberate contact to an opponent’s groin area would be ruled as a flagrant 2 foul.

Flagrant 2 foul general penalties

Personal foul charged to offending player

The player who commits the flagrant 2 foul would receive a personal foul, which would also be added to that player’s total number of personal fouls.

Team foul increased by 1

In addition to the personal foul charged to the player who committed the flagrant 2 foul, the total number of team fouls would increase by 1.

From there, if that team accumulates the requisite number of team fouls, then that could activate the bonus or penalty situation.

Player who was target of the flagrant 2 foul awarded two free throws

The player who was the target of the flagrant 2 foul would have an opportunity to attempt two free throws.

Team of player who was the target of the flagrant 2 foul receives ball at the sideline

The offended team of the player who was the target of the flagrant 2 foul would receive the ball on the sideline for an inbound pass opportunity.

Player who committed the flagrant 2 foul gets ejected

When a player gets assessed one flagrant 2 foul, then that leads to an automatic ejection.

What is additional information to consider about the flagrant foul

Flagrant foul could be intentional or unintentional

A player on the court could intentionally or unintentionally commit illegal contact that could result in a flagrant foul assessment.

Nevertheless, the biggest emphasis in determining if a foul is flagrant is generally based on the severity and excessive nature of the illegal contact.

Flagrant foul in relation to technical foul

Technical foul general definition

A technical foul is a penalty that is assessed to a player, coach, or bench personnel during a basketball game, usually because of unwarranted conduct that is generally considered to be disrespectful, particularly towards other players and/or officials, or due to other infractions that are not necessarily based on conduct.

Flagrant foul similarities with technical foul

One particular similarity between the flagrant foul and technical foul is the unwarranted conduct displayed by the violating player, which could also be considered unsportsmanlike.

Basically, if a player commits illegal contact with an opponent that is determined to be flagrant, then that behavior could also be judged as unsportsmanlike, similar to undesirable conduct exhibited by a player who would receive a technical foul.

Another similarity between the flagrant foul and technical foul is the possibility of a player getting ejected from the game.

Generally speaking, if a player receives two technical fouls, then that would result in automatic ejection.

Similarly, if a player gets charged with two flagrant 1 fouls or one flagrant 2 foul, then that would also lead to an ejection.

Flagrant foul and fouling out

If a player receives a flagrant 1 foul, which also causes that player to reach the maximum number of allowable personal fouls, then that player could foul out of the game.

When that happens, the result would be disqualification from continuing in the game but it is still possible for that player to remain seated on the bench.

However, let’s say that a player receives a flagrant 2 foul and at the same time, that player fouled out by accumulating their maximum number of allowable personal fouls.

Afterwards, not only is the player disqualified but that player would have to immediately leave the playing court and sit in the team’s dressing/locker room for the remainder of the game.

Flagrant foul can be assessed when the ball is alive or dead

In general, a flagrant foul can be assessed regardless if the ball is alive or dead.

The ball is considered alive when it is legally tapped by one of the participants of a jump ball scenario, or it is released by a player executing an inbound pass, or it is released by a player shooting a free throw that will remain in play.

Conversely, the ball is generally considered dead when a referee blows the whistle or time on the game clock has expired to signify the end of a period.

Also, the ball is typically dead when there is a free throw will not remain in play or there is a successful field goal or successful free throw that will remain in play until an opponent gains possession of the ball for an inbound pass.

Flagrant foul in relation to player injury

Within the rules of the NBA and WNBA, there is an exception that could occur when a player has the opportunity to attempt the two free throws but cannot due to injury caused by a flagrant 1 foul.

Essentially, if the player who was the target of the flagrant 1 foul is not able to attempt the free throws because of injury, then that player’s coach will be able to bring a substitute player into the game.

Immediately afterwards, the coach will then be able to select any player in the game to attempt the two free throws.

Furthermore, the substitute player cannot be replaced until the ball is legally touched by any player on the court, except in the event of a personal/technical foul, change of possession, granted timeout, or the administration of infection control.

What’s more, within the rules of the NBA and WNBA, if medical determination requires the injured player to undergo a concussion evaluation, then that player may or may not be able to return into the game, depending on the results of that evaluation.

Nonetheless, when a player is not able to attempt the two free throws due to injury caused by the flagrant 1 foul, that same player cannot enter into the game again if there is no medical determination to undergo a concussion evaluation.

Related: Official Rules – WNBA