What is a double foul in basketball?
How a double foul is called
Officials call a double foul when both players foul each other during the same play. Each foul is judged separately, and the officials decide whether the contact was a foul by the same standard they use for any other play.
Because both teams committed a foul, the game does not award free throws to either side. The restart depends on the league. In many cases the teams simply resume play with a jump ball or a possession decided by rule.
- Two fouls, one from each team, on the same play
- No free throws are normally shot
- The restart depends on the league's rules
- Each foul is reviewed on its own merits
How it differs from other fouls
A double foul is different from a single personal foul, which usually gives the fouled player free throws. It is also different from a double technical, which involves technical fouls for conduct rather than contact.
Fans often see a double foul at the end of a close game, when players are fighting for a rebound or loose ball. Coaches watch these calls closely because they can change the flow of late possessions.
Common mistakes
- Assuming free throws are always awarded when players foul each other.
- Mixing up a double foul with a double technical foul, which is about conduct.
