Traveling

In basketball, traveling is a violation of the rules that occurs when a player holding the ball illegally moves one or both of his feet. Most commonly, a player travels by illegally moving his pivot foot or taking too many steps without dribbling the ball.

Traveling is sometimes also called "walking" or "steps."

Definition

NCAA

The following is quoted from the NCAA 2009 NCAA Men's & Women's Basketball Rules.

Rule 4, Section 50. 
Pivot:

Art. 1. A pivot takes place when a player who is holding the ball 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 playing court.


Rule 4, Section 66. 
Travel:

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.
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 simultane-
              ously 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.
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 play-
         ing 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 drib-
         ble.
Art. 6. It is traveling when a player falls to the playing court while holding the
ball without maintaining a pivot foot.

NFHS (U.S. High School)

The NFHS traveling rule is almost identically worded, with an additional article clarifying restrictions regarding a player holding the ball while on the floor.

NBA

The NBA travel rule can be found here [1]. The wording is vastly different than the NCAA and NFHS versions. While the practical results are similar, the NBA rule does allow more flexibility in choosing a pivot foot in some situations. For the 2009-10 season, the NBA changed its rule to allow two steps instead of one. The NBA claims they did not change the rule — only rewrote "antiquated language" in the rule.[2]

FIBA

The FIBA rule is almost identical to the NCAA rule with minor differences (e.g. for when a player falls to the floor)

Penalty

The ball becomes dead and is awarded to the opposing team out of bounds at the spot nearest where the violation occurred.

Examples

• Any action where the pivot foot is lifted and returned to the floor, or dragged along the floor.
• Lifting the pivot foot before starting a dribble.
• Taking multiple steps or shuffling the feet before starting a dribble.
• While holding the ball, jumping and returning to the floor without releasing the ball.
• Securing the ball while on the floor and attempting to roll over or stand up.
• Falling to the floor while holding the ball, even if it was caught while airborne (NCAA and NFHS only)

Clarifications

• It is not possible to travel while dribbling. The height of the dribble or number of steps taken per dribble is irrelevant.
• It is not possible to travel during a throw-in. While there are space restrictions for a throw-in, the thrower is not required to maintain a pivot foot or observe any of the other restrictions of the traveling rule. A referee who signals traveling on a throw-in violation is in error.
• A player must have control of the ball to travel. For instance, a player who bobbles a pass may well take several steps legally -- the traveling rule is not in effect until he has secured control of the ball.
• A player who dives and catches a loose ball on the floor may legally slide as far as his momentum carries him. This is not a travel. However, once he stops he may not roll over or attempt to stand.
• Lifting the pivot foot alone does not constitute a travel; a player may pass, shoot, or request a timeout in that position. It is a travel once the foot is returned to the floor, or if a dribble is started.
• 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 (NBA rule only; legal in all other leagues).

References

• "2009 NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Rules" (PDF). NCAA. http://www.ncaapublications.com/Uploads/PDF/Basketball_Rules_2008-09fb2fc956-7592-4877-993e-dae20a6f90ed.pdf. Retrieved August 2008. 
• "NBA Rule 10 - Violations and Penalties". http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_10.html?nav=ArticleList. Retrieved December 24 2006. 
• National Federation of State High School Associations (2006). Basketball Rules Book. 
• National Federation of State High School Associations (2006). Basketball Case Book. 
• International Basketball Federation (June 2004). Official Basketball Rules. http://www.fiba.com/asp_includes/download.asp?file_id=327. 
• "Anthony's FIBA vs USA Basketball Rule Differences". http://members.shaw.ca/jazzace/ace/hoop/rulediff.html. Retrieved December 24 2006.