NBA Goaltending and Basket Interference Rules

Goaltending and basket interference are closely related basketball violations that prevent players from illegally affecting a shot near the basket.

In the NBA, these regulations are governed by Rule No. 11, which establishes when a player may legally touch the basketball during a field goal attempt and when contact with the basketball, basket ring, net or backboard constitutes a violation.

The rules are designed to protect legitimate scoring opportunities while allowing defenders to block shots and offensive players to compete for rebounds.

Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, goaltending generally involves illegally touching a shot that has an opportunity to score, while basket interference includes prohibited contact with the ball or basket in specific situations around the rim.

1. Touching a Descending Shot

A player may not touch a basketball from within the playing area while it is on its downward flight toward the basket and has an opportunity to score.

This is one of the most common forms of defensive goaltending.

A defender may legally block a shot while it is rising, provided no other goaltending or basket interference restriction has been violated.

The official must determine whether the basketball had a realistic opportunity to enter the basket.

2. The Imaginary Cylinder Above the Basket

The NBA uses an imaginary vertical cylinder extending upward from the basket ring.

A player may not touch the basketball when it is above the ring and within this imaginary cylinder.

This restriction applies regardless of whether the basketball is moving upward or downward.

For example, an offensive player cannot legally reach into the cylinder to tip a teammate's shot into the basket.

Similarly, a defender cannot reach into the cylinder to remove a basketball that is still eligible to score.

3. Touching the Basketball After It Hits the Backboard

During a field goal attempt, a player may not touch a basketball that has a chance to score after it has contacted any portion of the backboard above the level of the basket ring.

This restriction applies whether the basketball is traveling upward or downward after contacting the backboard.

The same principle applies when the basketball touches the backboard below ring level and is moving upward with a chance to score.

These restrictions are especially important during layups, bank shots and defensive block attempts.

4. Trapping the Basketball Against the Backboard

A player may not trap a released basketball against the face of the backboard.

For a trapped-ball violation to occur, the player's hand, the basketball and the backboard must all be in contact simultaneously.

Simply batting a basketball against the backboard does not automatically constitute a trapped-ball violation.

Officials distinguish between a legal block and an illegal trapped ball by examining how the defender contacts the basketball and backboard.

5. Reaching Through the Basket Ring

A player may not touch the basketball with a hand extending through the basket ring.

This restriction prevents players from interfering with the basketball from beneath the basket.

1. Touching the Ball While It Is on the Ring

A player may not touch the basketball or basket ring when the ball is sitting or rolling on the ring and using the ring as its lower base.

Players also may not hang on the basket ring while the basketball is passing through the basket.

Exception: If a player near his own basket has legally established contact with the basketball, continued contact is not necessarily a violation merely because the ball subsequently enters the cylinder or the player touches the basket during that continuous action.

2. Touching the Ball Within the Cylinder

A player may not touch a basketball that is above the basket ring and within the imaginary cylinder extending upward from the ring.

This applies to both offensive and defensive players.

For example, if a shot is bouncing above the rim within the cylinder, a player cannot legally reach in and redirect it.

3. Moving or Vibrating the Basket

A player may not vibrate the basket ring, net or backboard in a manner that causes the basketball to take an unnatural bounce.

A player also may not bend or move the ring into an off-center position while the basketball is touching the ring or passing through the basket.

These restrictions prevent players from influencing a shot by manipulating the basket equipment.

4. Preventing the Basketball From Clearing the Net

A player may not touch the basket ring, net or basketball while the ball is in the net if doing so prevents it from clearing the basket.

This includes interfering with a ball that is already passing through the basket.

Defensive Goaltending or Basket Interference

If a defending player commits goaltending or basket interference at the opponent's basket, the offensive team receives the points that would have been awarded for a successful field goal attempt.

If the attempt originated from the two-point area, two points are awarded.

If the attempt originated from the three-point area, three points are awarded.

The score is recorded in the same manner as a successful field goal, and the team scored upon receives the ensuing throw-in.

Unlike an ordinary successful field goal, an official hands the basketball to the player making the throw-in.

Offensive Basket Interference

If the offensive team commits a basket interference violation at its own basket, no points may be scored.

The opposing team receives the basketball for a throw-in at the free throw line extended on either sideline.

Simultaneous Violations

If both teams commit basket interference or goaltending violations, no points may be scored.

Play resumes with a jump ball between any two opposing players who are in the game at the center circle.

Blocking shots is an important part of NBA defense, but a defender must make contact with the basketball before it becomes protected by the goaltending and basket interference rules.

A legal blocked shot generally occurs when a defender contacts the basketball during its upward flight, before prohibited backboard contact and while the ball is outside the imaginary cylinder above the basket.

Defenders must also avoid illegal physical contact with the shooter, which may result in a personal foul even if the defender successfully touches the basketball.

Many of the NBA's greatest shot blockers, including Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo and David Robinson, became known for their timing and ability to challenge shots without committing unnecessary fouls.

The distinction between a legal block and goaltending often depends on fractions of a second, making these calls among the more difficult judgments for NBA officials.

Goaltending restrictions developed as basketball became increasingly dominated by taller and more athletic players capable of controlling shots near the basket.

In the early decades of basketball, players were not always restricted from touching a shot on its downward flight. As the game evolved, governing bodies introduced rules intended to protect legitimate scoring attempts.

The NCAA adopted defensive goaltending restrictions in 1944, while offensive basket interference restrictions followed in 1956.

Professional basketball also developed detailed rules governing contact with the ball near the rim, the backboard and the imaginary cylinder above the basket.

Over time, these regulations became increasingly important as players developed greater vertical athleticism and shot-blocking ability.

Modern NBA rules address not only traditional goaltending but also the manipulation of the basket ring, net and backboard, as well as offensive interference with shots above the rim.

Replay technology has added another layer to the enforcement of these regulations, although the availability of review depends on the specific game situation and applicable replay rules.

What is goaltending in the NBA?

Goaltending occurs when a player illegally touches a field goal attempt that has an opportunity to score, such as a descending shot approaching the basket.

Can you block a shot after it hits the backboard?

Generally not when the shot has a chance to score. NBA Rule No. 11 restricts touching qualifying shots after they contact the backboard.

Can you touch the basketball while it is above the rim?

Not if the basketball is within the imaginary cylinder extending upward from the basket ring.

Does goaltending count as a made basket?

Defensive goaltending results in the offensive team receiving two or three points, depending on where the shot originated.

Can an offensive player commit goaltending?

Yes. Offensive players can violate the restrictions on touching shots and interfering with the basketball around the basket. Such violations are commonly described as offensive basket interference.

Can a player block a shot while the ball is going upward?

Yes, provided the block does not violate another restriction, such as prohibited contact after the ball touches the backboard.

What happens if both teams commit basket interference?

No points are awarded, and play resumes with a jump ball at the center circle.

Is touching the net always basket interference?

No. The NBA prohibits specific types of net contact, including contact that prevents the basketball from clearing the basket or unnaturally changes its movement.

Is goaltending a personal foul?

No. Goaltending is a violation, although illegal contact with an opponent during the same play can also result in a personal foul.

NBA Official — Rule No. 11: Basket Interference and Goaltending

Complete NBA Official Rulebook

NBA Official — Rule No. 13: Instant Replay

NBA Video Rulebook

This page provides an educational summary of NBA Rule No. 11. The official NBA rulebook governs all interpretations, exceptions and enforcement procedures.

NBA Rules and Regulations — Return to the main rules archive.

NBA Fouls and Penalties — Personal, technical and flagrant fouls.

NBA Free Throw Rules — Free throw procedures and violations.

NBA Court Dimensions and Equipment — Basket height, backboard dimensions and court measurements.

NBA Violations and Penalties — Other basketball violations and their consequences.

NBA Ball in Play Rules — Live-ball and dead-ball regulations.

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