In basketball, traveling is a violation of the rules that occurs when a player holding the ball moves one or both of their feet illegally. Most commonly, a player travels by illegally moving his or her pivot foot or taking more than 2 steps without dribbling the ball. A similar rule with the same name exists in the related sports of netball and korfball.
Contents
- NCAA
- NFHS National Federation of State High School Associations
- NBA
- FIBA
- Penalty
- Example
- Clarifications
- In netball
- In korfball
- References
Traveling is sometimes also called, predominantly in a streetball game, "walking" or "steps."
NCAA
Section 72. Traveling
Art. 1. A player who catches the ball with both feet on the playing court may pivot, using either foot. But cannot stand on tip toes and come down.
Art. 2. A player who catches the ball while moving or dribbling may stop and establish a pivot foot as follows:
a. When both feet are off the playing court and the player lands: b. When one foot is on the playing court:Art. 3. After coming to a stop and establishing the pivot foot:
a. The pivot foot may be lifted, but not returned to the playing court, before the ball is released on a pass or try for goal;64 Rule 4 / definitions b. The pivot foot shall not be lifted before the ball is released to start a dribble.Art. 4. After coming to a stop when neither foot can be the pivot foot:
a. One or both feet may be lifted, but may not be returned to the playing court, before the ball is released on a pass or try for goal; b. Neither foot shall be lifted, before the ball is released, to start a dribble.Art. 5. It is traveling when a player falls to the playing court while holding the ball without maintaining a pivot foot.
NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations)
The NFHS traveling rule is almost identical to the NCAA rule, with an additional article clarifying restrictions regarding a player holding the ball while on the floor.
NBA
Section XIII—Traveling
a. A player who receives the ball while standing still may pivot, using either foot as the pivot foot.
b. A player who receives the ball while he is progressing or upon completion of a dribble, may take two steps in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball. A player who receives the ball while he is progressing must release the ball to start his dribble before his fifth step.
The first step occurs when a foot, or both feet, touch the floor after gaining control of the ball.
The second step occurs after the first step when the other foot touches the floor, or both feet touch the floor simultaneously.
A player who comes to a stop on step one when both feet are on the floor or touch the floor simultaneously may pivot using either foot as his pivot. If he jumps with both feet he must release the ball before either foot touches the floor.
A player who lands with one foot first may only pivot using that foot.
A progressing player who jumps off one foot on the first step may land with both feet simultaneously for the second step. In this situation, the player may not pivot with either foot and if one or both feet leave the floor the ball must be released before either returns to the floor.
c. In starting a dribble after (1) receiving the ball while standing still, or (2) coming to a legal stop, the ball must be out of the player’s hand before the pivot foot is raised off the floor.
d. If a player, with the ball in his possession, raises his pivot foot off the floor, he must pass or shoot before his pivot foot returns to the floor. If he drops the ball while in the air, he may not be the first to touch the ball.
e. A player who falls to the floor while holding the ball, or while coming to a stop, may not gain an advantage by sliding.
f. A player who attempts a field goal may not be the first to touch the ball if it fails to touch the backboard, basket ring or another player.
g. A player is not allowed be the first to touch his own pass unless the ball touches his backboard, basket ring or another player.
h. Upon ending his dribble or gaining control of the ball, a player may not touch the floor consecutively with the same foot (hop).
FIBA
Article 25 of the FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2014:
25.1 Definition
25.1.1. Traveling is the illegal movement of one foot or both feet beyond the limits outlined in this article, in any direction, while holding a live ball on the playing court.
25.1.2. A pivot is the legal movement in which a player who is holding a live ball on the playing court steps once or more than once in any direction with the same foot, while the other foot, called the pivot foot, is kept at its point of contact with the floor.
25.2. Rule 25.2.1. Establishing a pivot foot by a player who catches a live ball on the playing court:
25.2.2. Progressing with the ball by a player who has established a pivot foot while having control of a live ball on the playing court:
25.2.3. A player falling, lying or sitting on the floor:
Penalty
The ball becomes dead and a throw-in is awarded to the opposing team out of bounds nearest the point where the violation took place under NCAA and NFHS rules. Under NBA rules, the ball is awarded to the opposing team at the nearest spot but no closer to the baseline than the free throw line extended.
Example
Clarifications
In netball
Netball rules do not permit players to let their landing foot touch the ground again if it is lifted at all while in possession of the ball, so players can take 1.5 steps while holding the ball. Pivoting does not count as a step. Players are entitled to balance on the other foot if the landing foot is lifted. An infraction of this rule is usually called traveling (or steps) as in basketball.
IFNA Rule 14.3 states:
A player in possession of the ball may not:- (i) drag or slide the landing foot; (ii) hop on either foot; (iii) jump from both feet and land on both feet unless the ball has been released before landing.A free pass is awarded to the opposing team where the infringement occurred.
In korfball
In korfball, either foot can be used as pivot, no matter which foot touches the ground first. This means that in practice, one can take 2.5 steps, e.g. landing on the right foot, putting down the left and displacing the right. The left foot is the pivot in this case. The left foot can then be lifted, but may not be repositioned.