<p class="reg-lead">A summary of the changes to the FIBA Official Basketball Rules, in force from 1 October 2026.</p>
<table class="reg-facts">
<tr><td>In force</td><td><b>1 October 2026</b> — published in July 2026, version 1.1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Structure</td><td>25 pages — prepared by FIBA Referee Operations</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td><strong>Current version</strong></td></tr>
</table>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>What is this document?</h2>
<p>A document FIBA publishes alongside the full text of the rules to ease preparation for the changes. For each amended article it provides two things: the <strong>reason for the change</strong> and the <strong>new rulebook text</strong>. Articles covered: 1 Definitions, 2 Court, 4 Teams, 15 Player in the act of shooting, 24 Dribbling, 36 Technical foul, 37 Unsportsmanlike foul, 38 Disqualifying foul, and the appendices on officials' signals, the scoresheet, the classification of teams and the Instant Replay System.</p>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec hi">
<h2>Key points</h2>
<ol class="reg-tl">
<li><b class="t">Primacy of the official text</b>The document itself states that the summary <strong>does not cover all minor and editorial changes</strong> and that, in the event of conflict, <strong>the final text of the Official Basketball Rules prevails</strong>. Legal citation must refer to the text of the rules, not to this summary.</li>
<li><b class="t">Value of the "reason for the change"</b>For each article, the reason for the change is set out expressly — something that does not appear in the rulebook itself and is of value in interpreting the rule-maker's intent.</li>
<li><b class="t">Publication timeline</b>The full text of the rules is published in July 2026 and the official interpretations in September 2026; the summary of changes becomes available before both.</li>
<li><b class="t">Restriction on use</b>The document states that its content must not be altered and must not be presented under the federation's mark without the written permission of FIBA Referee Operations.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Who this document matters to</h2>
<p>For referees, coaches and instructors, the fastest way to see what changes from 1 October 2026. For a lawyer, the "reason for the change" sections can assist in interpreting the new articles — with the caveat that the document itself gives priority to the text of the rules.</p>
</div>

FIBA Official Basketball Rules Changes 2026

<p class="reg-lead">FIBA Basketball Equipment, in force from 1 October 2026.</p>
<table class="reg-facts">
<tr><td>In force</td><td><b>1 October 2026</b></td></tr>
<tr><td>Structure</td><td>32 pages — the "Equipment" part of the two-part publication of the Official Basketball Rules</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td><strong>Current edition</strong></td></tr>
</table>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>What this document determines</h2>
<p>The Official Basketball Rules are published in two documents, and this is the second: the <strong>technical specifications for equipment</strong> — backboard, ring and net, backboard support structure, ball, game clock and shot clock, scoreboard, and table equipment.</p>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec hi">
<h2>Key points</h2>
<ol class="reg-tl">
<li><b class="t">Separate but integral</b>This document is part of the Official Basketball Rules, not a supplement to them; it enters into force on the same date and with the same authority.</li>
<li><b class="t">Relationship to FIBA approval</b>The technical specifications in this document form the basis of the FIBA equipment approval programme; the list of approved suppliers for designated events is published in an appendix to Book 1 of the Internal Regulations.</li>
<li><b class="t">Use in venue design</b>For organisers and venue owners, this document determines what equipment is acceptable for an official event.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Who this document matters to</h2>
<p>To equipment manufacturers and organisers. In claims concerning injury or challenges to the conditions under which an event was staged, the equipment's compliance or non-compliance with these specifications is the technical basis of assessment.</p>
</div>

FIBA Basketball Equipment 2026

<p class="reg-lead">The International Basketball Federation's Official Basketball Rules, in force from 1 October 2026.</p>
<table class="reg-facts">
<tr><td>In force</td><td><b>1 October 2026</b> — approved by the FIBA Central Board</td></tr>
<tr><td>Structure</td><td>108 pages — the "Basketball Rules" part of the two-part publication of the Official Rules</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td><strong>Current edition</strong></td></tr>
</table>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>What are the Official Basketball Rules?</h2>
<p>The Official Basketball Rules (OBR) are approved by the FIBA Central Board and published in two separate documents: <strong>Basketball Rules</strong> and <strong>Basketball Equipment</strong>. A new edition normally comes into force on <strong>1 October</strong> each year. Before approval, the Rules Advisory Group (RAG) — composed of basketball and officiating experts — reviews all proposals and presents them to the Technical Commission.</p>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec hi">
<h2>Key changes in this edition</h2>
<ol class="reg-tl">
<li><b class="t">Restructuring of the foul system</b>The most significant structural change: <strong>the unsportsmanlike foul has given way to two new categories</strong> — Article 37, the <strong>Disruptive Foul</strong>, and Article 38, the <strong>Flagrant Foul</strong>. Article 39 remains the disqualifying foul. Between the personal foul and disqualification there are now two steps rather than one.</li>
<li><b class="t">Definition of the disruptive foul</b>A disruptive foul is illegal contact that does not rise to the level of a flagrant foul but <strong>disrupts the flow of the game</strong> and places the opponent at a disadvantage: unnecessary contact by a defender who is making no legitimate attempt to play the ball and seeks to stop the attacking team's progress on a fast break, or to stop the game clock and shot clock at the end of a quarter or overtime, or contact from behind or from the side against a player advancing towards the opponents' basket with no defender between that player and the basket.</li>
<li><b class="t">Two classes of technical foul</b>Article 36 divides technical fouls into <strong>Class 1 and Class 2</strong>. <strong>Only a Class 1 technical foul leads to ejection from the game</strong>; Class 2 does not count towards ejection. Class 1 covers conduct such as disrespectful contact with referees and officials, using provocative language or gestures towards spectators, and baiting or taunting an opponent.</li>
<li><b class="t">Redefinition of the "act of shooting"</b>Article 15 defines more precisely where the <strong>act of shooting</strong> begins and ends, and sets out separate definitions for the jump shot, the drive to the basket and other moving shots. The stated reason is explicit: players are increasingly manipulating the situation to draw a shooting foul. In addition, <strong>a shot from a team's own half of the court is disregarded</strong>, except at the end of a quarter or overtime or at the end of the shot clock.</li>
<li><b class="t">Second dribble</b>Article 24 clarifies that after a player's first dribble has ended, the player may dribble again only if they have lost control of the live ball — through a shot, through an opponent touching the ball, or when the ball touches another player on a pass or a fumble.</li>
<li><b class="t">Colour of the court lines</b>Article 2.5: the colour of the boundary lines and court markings may vary to make <strong>event branding</strong> possible — provided that all boundary lines are the same colour and each pair of markings on the two halves of the court match. The centre line and centre circle may be a different colour.</li>
<li><b class="t">Apparel</b>Article 4.3: the requirement that <strong>socks be visible</strong> has been removed. Long-sleeved shirts are not permitted, sleeves must end above the elbow, the shirt must be tucked into the shorts and the shorts must end above the knee; the socks of all team members must be of the same dominant colour.</li>
<li><b class="t">Commissioner and technical delegate</b>Article 1.1: wherever the rule book refers to the "commissioner", this also includes the <strong>technical delegate</strong>.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Who this document matters to</h2>
<p>In any challenge to a referee's decision, the text of the rules is the starting point. The restructuring of the foul system has a direct practical effect: conduct previously classed as "unsportsmanlike" must now fall into one of the two categories of disruptive or flagrant foul, and the distinction between Class 1 and Class 2 technical fouls determines whether a player is ejected from the game. The <strong>Official Interpretations (OBRI)</strong>, which show how these rules are applied, are published separately.</p>
</div>

FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026

<p class="reg-lead">Book Six of the FIBA Internal Regulations — 3x3 Basketball, in force from 22 April 2026.</p>
<table class="reg-facts">
<tr><td>In force from</td><td><b>22 April 2026</b></td></tr>
<tr><td>Structure</td><td>Book Six of the six books of the Internal Regulations — 33 pages</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td><strong>Current edition</strong> — supersedes the edition of 31 March 2019</td></tr>
</table>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>What Book Six governs</h2>
<p>The regulations of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) consist of the <strong>General Statutes</strong> at the top and <strong>six books of Internal Regulations</strong>: Book One, general provisions; Book Two, competitions; Book Three, players and officials; Book Four, anti-doping; Book Five, zones; and Book Six, 3x3 basketball. This document is <strong>Book Six</strong> of that set.</p><p>3x3 basketball as an independent discipline with its own regulations: definitions, scope of application, governance and general principles, national team competitions, eligibility of national federations and players, and registration of teams.</p>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec hi">
<h2>Key points<span class="reg-tag">Changes from the 31 March 2019 edition</span></h2>
<ol class="reg-tl">
<li><b class="t">An Olympic discipline with independent regulations</b>3x3 basketball has been an Olympic discipline since the Tokyo Olympic Games and has its own separate book; the rules of the other books do not apply to it except by express reference.</li>
<li><b class="t">Player eligibility regulated separately</b>Chapter Two governs the eligibility and national status of players <strong>independently of Book Three</strong> — a point that must be borne in mind in eligibility cases.</li>
<li><b class="t">Eligibility of the national federation</b>To take part in official 3x3 national team competitions, the national federation itself must also satisfy the eligibility conditions.</li>
<li><b class="t">Registration of teams</b>The procedure for registering teams in this discipline differs from that for 5v5 competitions and is set out in Chapter Two.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Who this document matters to</h2>
<p>For federations and players active in 3x3, referring to Book Three (Players and Officials) is a common error: eligibility and registration in this discipline have their own regulations. The 3x3 rules of the game are likewise published separately from the Official Basketball Rules.</p>
</div>

FIBA Internal Regulations Book 6 — 3x3 2026

<p class="reg-lead">Book 3 of the FIBA Internal Regulations — Players and Officials, in force from 22 April 2026.</p>
<table class="reg-facts">
<tr><td>In force</td><td><b>22 April 2026</b></td></tr>
<tr><td>Structure</td><td>Book 3 of the six Books of Internal Regulations — 11 chapters, 69 pages</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td><strong>Current edition</strong> — supersedes the edition of 15 May 2019</td></tr>
</table>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>What Book 3 governs</h2>
<p>The regulations of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) consist of the <strong>General Statutes</strong> at the top and <strong>six Books of Internal Regulations</strong>: Book 1 on general provisions, Book 2 on competitions, Book 3 on players and officials, Book 4 on anti-doping, Book 5 on zones, and Book 6 on 3x3 basketball. This document is <strong>Book 3</strong> of that collection.</p><p>It is the most frequently consulted Book of the collection from a legal standpoint: player eligibility and national status, player availability for the national team, <strong>international transfers</strong>, player licences for club competitions, coaches, delegation registration, game officials, statistics, <strong>players' agents</strong>, the Basketball Arbitral Tribunal, and fees.</p>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec hi">
<h2>Key points<span class="reg-tag">Changes from the edition of 15 May 2019</span></h2>
<ol class="reg-tl">
<li><b class="t">Player eligibility and national status</b>Chapter 1 determines who is eligible, how a player's national status is established, the extent to which a player must be available to the national team, and the <strong>avenue of appeal</strong> in these matters.</li>
<li><b class="t">Letter of Clearance and transfer procedure</b>Chapter 2 governs international transfers: general principles, the <strong>Letter of Clearance</strong> and the transfer procedure, with a breakdown of the duties of national federations. A separate guidance document on international transfers is also available on this site.</li>
<li><b class="t">Players' agents</b>Chapter 9 is devoted to agents: rights, duties, representation contracts and sanctions. <strong>Appendix 1 of the document is the standard contract between an agent and a player or club.</strong></li>
<li><b class="t">Basketball Arbitral Tribunal</b>Chapter 10 anchors the position of the BAT in the Internal Regulations; the Tribunal's own rules of procedure are published in a separate document, which is available on this site.</li>
<li><b class="t">Game officials</b>Chapter 7 — the longest chapter, running from page 32 to page 49 — governs game officials.</li>
<li><b class="t">Fees</b>Chapter 11 determines fees and allowances.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Who this document matters to</h2>
<p>For players, clubs and agents, this Book is the primary reference: playing eligibility, change of national status, the Letter of Clearance and the representation contract are all determined here. Financial disputes between players and clubs generally go to the Basketball Arbitral Tribunal, which Chapter 10 addresses.</p>
</div>

FIBA Internal Regulations Book 3 — Players and Officials 2026

<p class="reg-lead">Book 2 of the Internal Regulations of the International Basketball Federation — Competitions, in force from 22 April 2026.</p>
<table class="reg-facts">
<tr><td>In force</td><td><b>22 April 2026</b></td></tr>
<tr><td>Structure</td><td>Book 2 of the six Books of the Internal Regulations — 11 chapters, 63 pages</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td><strong>Current edition</strong> — supersedes the edition of 31 March 2019</td></tr>
</table>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>What Book 2 governs</h2>
<p>The regulations of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) consist of the <strong>General Statutes</strong> at the top and <strong>six Books of Internal Regulations</strong>: Book 1 general provisions, Book 2 competitions, Book 3 players and officials, Book 4 anti-doping, Book 5 zones, and Book 6 3x3 basketball. This document is <strong>Book 2</strong> of that set.</p><p>Official basketball competitions from the bid to host through to staging: the rights and obligations of the host, technical regulations, the draw, flags and anthems, protocol, accreditation of delegations, ceremonies, conditions of participation, and team apparel.</p>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec hi">
<h2>Structure of this edition<span class="reg-tag">Changes from the 31 March 2019 edition</span></h2>
<ol class="reg-tl">
<li><b class="t">Bidding and hosting</b>Chapters 2 and 3 are devoted separately to bidding to host and then to the host's obligations — from technical preparations to flags, anthems and protocol.</li>
<li><b class="t">Team apparel is a chapter of its own</b>Chapter 5 alone, from page 15 to page 26, is devoted to team apparel — the area from which, in practice, most pre-competition disputes arise.</li>
<li><b class="t">Club competitions</b>Chapter 8 governs FIBA club competitions and Chapter 9 governs competitions recognised by the world federation.</li>
<li><b class="t">Esports</b>Chapter 10 is devoted to <strong>FIBA esports competitions</strong> — an area that had no separate place in the 2019 edition.</li>
<li><b class="t">Masters competitions</b>Chapter 11 covers Masters (veterans) competitions.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Who this document matters to</h2>
<p>For a national federation bidding to host, Chapters 2 and 3 provide the complete inventory of obligations. For participating teams, Chapter 5 (apparel) and Chapter 4 (conditions of participation) determine readiness ahead of the event.</p>
</div>

FIBA Internal Regulations Book 2 — Competitions 2026

<p class="reg-lead">Book 1 of the FIBA Internal Regulations — General Provisions, in force from 22 April 2026.</p>
<table class="reg-facts">
<tr><td>In force</td><td><b>22 April 2026</b></td></tr>
<tr><td>Structure</td><td>Book 1 of the six books of the Internal Regulations — 101 pages</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td><strong>Current edition</strong> — supersedes the edition of 31 March 2019</td></tr>
</table>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>What Book 1 governs</h2>
<p>The regulations of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) consist of the <strong>General Statutes</strong> at the top and <strong>six books of Internal Regulations</strong>: Book 1 General Provisions, Book 2 Competitions, Book 3 Players and Officials, Book 4 Anti-Doping, Book 5 Zones, and Book 6 3x3 Basketball. This document is <strong>Book 1</strong> of that set.</p><p>The general provisions govern the entire body of regulations: the relationship between leagues, FIBA and its member national federations, the recognition of leagues, the Zones, equipment and venues, and the dispute-resolution mechanism. The articles of this book are numbered with the prefix 1 (for example Article 1-48, which is the basis of the equipment appendix).</p>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec hi">
<h2>Key points<span class="reg-tag">Changes from the edition of 31 March 2019</span></h2>
<ol class="reg-tl">
<li><b class="t">Leagues and their recognition</b>Book 1 sets out the principles governing the relationship of leagues with the world federation and the national federation, and lists the conditions for the recognition of a league — a matter that creates legal standing for domestic professional leagues.</li>
<li><b class="t">Equipment and Article 1-48</b>Article 1-48 is the basis for the selection of approved equipment suppliers and products; their list is published in a separate appendix, which is available on this site.</li>
<li><b class="t">Dispute resolution</b>The section on dispute resolution determines the route for handling disputes; alongside it, the <strong>Basketball Arbitral Tribunal (BAT)</strong> has its own independent rules of procedure.</li>
<li><b class="t">Place in the set</b>Wherever Books 2 to 6 contain no specific provision, the general provisions of Book 1 apply.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Who this document matters to</h2>
<p>Book 1 is the starting point for any question that has no clear answer in the specialised books. For professional leagues and clubs, the section on the recognition of leagues determines what relationship is established with the international structure.</p>
</div>

FIBA Internal Regulations Book 1 — General Provisions 2026

<p class="reg-lead">Composition of the Basketball Arbitral Tribunal — status as of February 2026.</p>
<table class="reg-facts">
<tr><td>Date</td><td><b>February 2026</b></td></tr>
<tr><td>Structure</td><td>One page — official list</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td><strong>Current version</strong> — a document that is updated regularly</td></tr>
</table>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>What is this document?</h2>
<p>The official list of the President, Vice-President and arbitrators of the Basketball Arbitral Tribunal, together with the address of each one's professional profile. In this version the Tribunal is presided over by <strong>Professor Ulrich Haas</strong>, with <strong>Raj Parker</strong> as Vice-President.</p>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec hi">
<h2>Why this list matters</h2>
<ol class="reg-tl">
<li><b class="t">Knowing the arbitrator in a case</b>In arbitration, knowing an arbitrator's background is part of preparing the case; this list is the only official, up-to-date source for it.</li>
<li><b class="t">Conflicts of interest</b>Checking for potential conflicts of interest between the arbitrator and the parties or their counsel begins with this list.</li>
<li><b class="t">A changing document</b>Unlike regulations, this list has no entry-into-force date and is updated whenever the Tribunal's composition changes; the date shown reflects the position at that particular point in time.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Who this document matters to</h2>
<p>Parties to proceedings and their counsel. The Tribunal's Arbitration Rules and the guidance on settlement agreements are also available on this site.</p>
</div>

BAT Composition — February 2026

<p class="reg-lead">Basketball Arbitral Tribunal Guidelines for Settlement Agreements, current edition.</p>
<table class="reg-facts">
<tr><td>Subject matter</td><td>Settlement agreement for incorporation into a consent award</td></tr>
<tr><td>Basis</td><td>Article 16.7 of the BAT Rules</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td><strong>Current edition</strong></td></tr>
</table>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>What these guidelines determine</h2>
<p>If the parties to a BAT case reach a settlement <strong>after the arbitrator has been appointed</strong>, they may request that the settlement be recorded in the form of a <strong>consent award</strong>. In that case they must provide the Tribunal with a copy of their agreement, since that agreement is the basis on which the award is drafted. These guidelines — drawn up on the basis of experience in earlier cases — determine what information the agreement must contain in order for the arbitrator to be able to draft the award.</p>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec hi">
<h2>Why this document matters in practice</h2>
<ol class="reg-tl">
<li><b class="t">The difference between a plain settlement and an award</b>A settlement recorded in the form of an award acquires the status of an <strong>enforceable title</strong>, and its enforcement differs from that of a private agreement. It is precisely this difference that makes a request for a consent award worthwhile.</li>
<li><b class="t">A deficient agreement prevents the award from being issued</b>If the agreement does not contain the necessary information, the arbitrator cannot draw up the award; the guidelines were written precisely to prevent such a delay.</li>
<li><b class="t">Based on case experience</b>The text states expressly that the list of required information has been drawn up on the basis of experience in past cases.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Who this document matters to</h2>
<p>For counsel who reach settlement negotiations in the course of a BAT case. Before signing the agreement, it must be checked that the text contains everything these guidelines require — otherwise the route to converting it into an award is halted.</p>
</div>

Notes related to the tag FIBA