Traveling (basketball)

In basketball, traveling is a violation of the rules that occurs when a player holding the ball moves one or both of their feet illegally. Most commonly, a player travels by illegally moving his or her pivot foot or taking more than 3 steps without dribbling the ball. A similar rule with the same name exists in the related sports of netball and korfball.

Traveling is sometimes also called, predominantly in a streetball game, "walking" or "steps."

Section 72. Traveling

Art. 1. A player who catches the ball with both feet on the playing court may pivot, using either foot.

Art. 2. A player who catches the ball while moving or dribbling may stop and establish a pivot foot as follows:

Art. 3. After coming to a stop and establishing the pivot foot:

Art. 4. After coming to a stop when neither foot can be the pivot foot:

Art. 5. It is traveling when a player falls to the playing court while holding the ball without maintaining a pivot foot.

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

Section XIII—Traveling

a. A player who receives the ball while standing still may pivot, using either foot as the pivot foot.

b. A player who receives the ball while he is progressing or upon completion of a dribble, may take two steps in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball. A player who receives the ball while he is progressing must release the ball to start his dribble before his second step.

The first step occurs when a foot, or both feet, touch the floor after gaining control of the ball.

The second step occurs after the first step when the other foot touches the floor, or both feet touch the floor simultaneously.

A player who comes to a stop on step one when both feet are on the floor or touch the floor simultaneously may pivot using either foot as his pivot. If he jumps with both feet he must release the ball before either foot touches the floor.

A player who lands with one foot first may only pivot using that foot.

A progressing player who jumps off one foot on the first step may land with both feet simultaneously for the second step. In this situation, the player may not pivot with either foot and if one or both feet leave the floor the ball must be released before either returns to the floor.

c. In starting a dribble after (1) receiving the ball while standing still, or (2) coming to a legal stop, the ball must be out of the player’s hand before the pivot foot is raised off the floor.

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