Walking (basketball)

There are many organizations that publish an "Official" Rules of Basketball document, including the American NCAA and NBA, and the International Basketball Federation, FIBA. Since the American university campus is the environment in which the game was invented and developed, those are the rules quoted below.

From 2006 NCAA Rules of Basketball (http://www.ncaa.org/library/rules/2006/2006_m_w_basketball_rules.pdf):

Section 66. Traveling

Art. 1. Traveling occurs when a player holding the ball moves a foot or both
feet in any direction in excess of prescribed limits described in this Rule.

A.R. 36. A1 attempts a try at Team A’s basket after having completed the dribble. The try
does not touch the backboard, the ring or the flange or any other player. A1 runs and
catches the ball before it strikes the playing court. Is this traveling? RULING: When A1
recovered his or her own try, A1 could either dribble, pass or try again. There is no team
control by either team when a try is in flight. However, when the shot clock expires and
a try by A1 or a teammate has not struck the ring or the flange, it shall be a violation of
the shot-clock rule.

Art. 2. A player who catches the ball with both feet on the playing court
may pivot, using either foot. When one foot is lifted, the other is the pivot
foot.

Art. 3. 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:

1. Simultaneously on both feet, either may be the pivot foot;

2. On one foot followed by the other, the first foot to touch shall be
the pivot foot;

3. On one foot, the player may jump off that foot and simultaneously
land on both; neither foot can be the pivot foot.

b. When one foot is on the playing court:

1. That foot shall be the pivot foot when the other foot touches in a
step;

2. The player may jump off that foot and simultaneously land on
both; neither foot can then be the pivot foot.

Art. 4. 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;

b. The pivot foot shall not be lifted before the ball is released to start a
dribble.

A.R. 37. A1 receives a pass from A2 and comes to a stop legally with the right foot established
as the pivot foot. A1 tosses the ball from one hand to the other several times and
then proceeds to bat the ball to the floor before A1 lifts the pivot foot. RULING: Legal.

A.R. 38. A1 attempts to catch the ball while running. A1 fumbles the ball and succeeds
in securing it before it strikes the playing court. A1 then begins a dribble, taking several
steps between the time A1 first touched the ball until catching it. RULING: There has
been no violation provided that A1 released the ball to start the dribble before lifting the
pivot foot from the playing court after catching the ball.

Art. 5. 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.

A.R. 39. Is it traveling when a player (a) falls to the playing court while holding the ball; or
(b) gains control of the ball while on the playing court and then, because of momentum, rolls
or slides, after which the player passes or starts a dribble before getting to his or her feet?
RULING: In (a), yes, because it is virtually impossible not to move the pivot foot when
falling to the playing floor. In (b), no. The player may pass, shoot, start a dribble or call a
timeout. Once the player has the ball and is no longer sliding, he or she may not roll over.
When flat on his or her back, the player may sit up without violating. When the player puts
the ball on the floor, then rises and is the first to touch the ball, it also is traveling. When a
player rises to his or her feet while holding the ball, it is traveling. When a player falls to one
knee while holding the ball, it is traveling if the pivot foot moves.

NBA rules are similar; see (http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_051219.html).

In an effort to increase scoring, NBA Referee s are reluctant to call traveling. Players who are approaching the hoop (perhaps on a Fastbreak ) and preparing to Dunk are among the most notorious violators of traveling, yet they are rarely held accountable in such instances.

Traveling is sometimes referred to as "walking" or "steps".

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Walking (basketball)