What is general information about fouling out in basketball
Basic definition
Foul out is a general term commonly used to describe a situation that happens when a player reaches the maximum number of allowable fouls and as a result, that same player would usually be disqualified from continuing to compete in the game.
In other words, depending on how one looks at it, the player is out of fouls to keep participating in the game or the player is required to get out of the game because they have accumulated the limited number of permissible fouls that is available to them.
Maximum number of allowable fouls prior to fouling out can vary
It should also be noted that the maximum number of permissible fouls can vary depending on the rules within the league of competition.
As an example, within the rules of NFHS high school basketball, NCAA men’s and women’s college basketball, as well as FIBA competitive leagues, players are allowed five personal fouls before fouling out.
On the other hand, within the rules of the NBA and WNBA, players will typically foul out upon reaching six personal fouls.
Substitution after a player fouls out of the game
After a player fouls out of the game, a substitution player from the team’s bench will usually replace them.
It is important to note as well that the substitute player will not just check into the game.
Instead, the sub will first go to the scorer’s table and wait to be beckoned into the game by the referee.
At the same time, the player who fouled out of the game and is disqualified will typically sit on the team’s bench for the rest of the game.
It should be mentioned as well that there is a difference between being simply disqualified and being ejected from the game.
When a player is disqualified from the game such as from fouling out, the player effectively becomes bench personnel and can watch the game from the team’s bench area.
On the other hand though, when a player is ejected from the game, not only is the player disqualified but that player will have to immediately leave the playing court and sit in the team’s dressing/locker room for the rest of the game.
Interestingly enough, within the rules of the NBA and WNBA, if a player is ejected from the game, they also have the option to “leave the building.”
NBA/WNBA player fouls out but a substitute is not available
Within the NBA and WNBA rules, when a player receives their sixth personal foul, this typically results in that player fouling out and becoming disqualified to continue participating in the game, as previously stated.
However, if a substitute player is not available to replace the player with six fouls, primarily because all possible substitutes have also fouled out and have been disqualified from the game, then that same player with six fouls shall remain in the game.
Furthermore, a technical foul will be assessed against that player’s team and any subsequent personal fouls from that player, including offensive fouls, will result in a technical foul.
This rule would also apply to any other players on the court who receive their sixth personal foul as well.
Additionally, if there are only five eligible players that are available to play in the game but one of them gets injured or ejected, then the last player that fouled out of the game will be allowed to play in the game again. Nevertheless, this will result in a technical foul.
Moreover, if the player that replaced the injured or ejected player also gets injured or ejected, then the last player who was also disqualified from fouling out will be able to replace them as well.
If necessary, this process would continue in an inverse order based on who was the last to foul out of the game.
The NBA and WNBA allows these particular exceptions because their respective rule sets require teams to have five players available on the court at all times.
NCAA college basketball player fouls out but a substitute is not available
Within the rules of NCAA men’s and women’s college basketball, teams cannot have more than five players on the court but this game law does not necessarily apply when there is less than five players, unlike the NBA and WNBA.
Essentially, if a player fouls out of the game and no substitutes are available, a NCAA men’s or women’s college basketball team is permitted to play with less than five players on the court.
That process could even continue until there is only one player available for any particular team but at that point, it will usually lead to a team forfeit unless the referee thinks that both teams still have a chance to win the game.
Foul trouble in relation to fouling out
Foul trouble generally occurs when a player is on the verge of reaching their maximum amount of allowable fouls, which could ultimately lead to that same player fouling out of the game.
A player is generally considered to be in foul trouble upon accumulating two or three personal fouls in the first half of a basketball game or when that player is only one foul away from fouling out in the second half.
Once a player gets into foul trouble, coaches will usually opt to temporarily replace that player with a substitute for a certain amount of time, ultimately to prevent the player from committing more fouls and exacerbating the problem.
This will typically happen if that player is a part of the starting five and/or that player gets into foul trouble, particularly during the first half of a game.
For example, let’s say that during the first quarter of a high school basketball game under NFHS rules, the starting point guard for Team A commits two personal fouls as an on-ball defender against the opposing point guard of Team B.
From there, the starting point guard can only accumulate three more personal fouls before fouling out of the game.
When that occurs, the head coach will more than likely substitute in the reserve point guard or possibly shift a starting wing player such as a shooting guard to the point guard position, especially if that wing player has combo guard abilities.
Additionally, the coach may choose to sit the starting point guard for an extended amount of time on the bench such as the rest of the first half.
The primary downside to going that route would generally depend on how valuable the starting point guard is for the team as a whole and/or the skill level in addition to team chemistry of the other players on the court.
Put another way, the coach would have to determine how well the other players could pass, dribble, screen, cut, score, and communicate without the starting point guard being on the floor.
If those members are able to do that, then the starting point guard could sit for most, if not all, of the entire first half.
Afterwards, on the positive end, the starting point guard could be readily available for the bulk of the second half, assuming the point guard does not pick up two unnecessary fouls in the third quarter or early in the fourth quarter of the game.
Conversely, let’s say that the other players do not play as well when the starting point guard is not on the floor and/or the team does not have a viable reserve to play the point guard position.
When that happens, the coach could implement a zone defense such as the 2-3 zone to potentially lower the chances of the starting point guard committing more undesirable personal fouls.
This type of strategy could potentially work, especially if the opposing team does not possess multiple three-point shooters and on top of that, the point guard who is in foul trouble would only need to cover an area of the court as opposed to guarding an opposing player.
Related: RULE NO. 12: Fouls and Penalties – NBA Official
Related: Official Rules – WNBA
Related: Men’s and Women’s college basketball rule books – NCAA Publications