Double Dribble
Also known as: Illegal dribble, Dribbling violation
Once you stop dribbling, you can’t start again.
The rule
After finishing a dribble, by picking the ball up or touching it with both hands at once, a player can’t dribble again. You get a new dribble only after you lose control of the ball by shooting, passing it to someone, or having an opponent touch it.
The penalty
The double-dribbling player’s team loses the ball, and the other team inbounds it from the sideline (a check-ball in 3x3).
The reason
Naismith’s rules banned running with the ball, so players started bouncing it to move instead, and the dribble was born. Allowing only one dribble makes stopping a real decision: once you pick up the ball, you have to pass or shoot, and the defense can close in. Without it, a ball handler could stop, look around and start again forever.
Around the leagues
- Violation: NBA, WNBA, FIBA, NCAA M, NCAA W, 3x3
- Violation: Wheelchair. A dribble can mix pushes and bounces: up to two pushes, a bounce, and repeat, as often as you like.