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How long is a free throw in basketball

How Far is The Free Throw Line from The Basket?

The free throw is one of the most common situations that occurs during a basketball game. Usually, an offensive player goes up for a shot and is fouled by their defender putting them on the charity stripe for a couple of freebies. There are other ways in which foul shots are awarded, but this is the most common.

You notice the terms associated with free throws – like “charity stripe” and even the term “free throw” – depict them as an easy, or not hard, act. During free throws, the player is shooting an unguarded shot from a very manageable distance.

Just how far is that distance? 15 feet, to be exact.

Contents

The Art Of The Free Throw
- 1. Technique
- 2. Arc
- 3. Shooting Routine
- 4. Fatigue
NBA Foul Shooting: The Best Ever
Final Thoughts

The Art Of The Free Throw

Whenever I think about measurements on the basketball court, like the free throw line, I can’t help but remember the famous scene in the 1986 film Hoosiers. If you call yourself a basketball fan and have never seen it, stop everything (after you finish this article, of course) and watch it immediately!

The film, based loosely on the true story of Indiana high school basketball Cinderella Story the “Milan Miracle”, follows an underdog basketball team through their season. Towards the end of the movie, they are set to play in a massive arena, a far cry from the small high school gyms they are used to.

The team’s coach (played by the legendary actor, Gene Hackman) brings them on the court to measure the foul line distance. When they measure it, it comes out to be fifteen feet, the same distance as it is in their little hometown court. I love the message of the scene, that every foul shot is the same distance away: Fifteen feet.

So, if every free throw is essentially created equal, then why do players’ free throw percentages differ so much? There are a couple of reasons:

1. Technique

Just because everyone shoots free throws from fifteen feet away, it doesn’t mean their techniques are the same. Some players’ shooting techniques are flawed, be it from where they release their shot to how much they use their legs while shooting.

There are a lot of moving pieces when someone attempts a shot and they must be close to perfect in order to make them on a regular basis. When it comes to a skill like shooting, technique is probably the single most important aspect.

2. Arc

While the arc under your shot is a direct result of your technique, it is critical to understand the importance of a high arcing shot.

The rim is 18 inches wide, so improving the angle at which your shot enters the rim will help you make shots more consistently. If your shot isn’t perfect but shoot with a lot of arc your chances of making a shot, even if it hits the rim several times before going in, increase.

3. Shooting Routine

It can be an isolating feeling when you step to the foul line and the referee hands you the ball. Sure, no one is guarding you, but every eye is on you until you take your shots.

When you take a shot in a game, there really isn’t much time to think about it like there is during a foul shot. But, the more you think, the more out of the regular flow of the game you are.

Take a look at someone like Giannis, an MVP talent that has trouble shooting from the foul line. He takes so long to shoot, the natural motion of the shot is completely interrupted. This can be a huge problem.

During my playing days, my foul shot routine was simple: three dribbles, set myself, and shoot. No unwanted motion and no time to overthink my shot. Obviously, a lot more goes into the shot than your routine, but if you are loose when you shoot, the odds of your shot going in increase.

4. Fatigue

Basketball is a physically rigorous sport. If you make it to the foul line while tired and out of breath, there is a good chance that your shot will suffer. Whether you short arm it or don’t bend your knees far enough because of fatigue, the trajectory of your shot will change.

A simple trick if you find yourself at the foul line gasping for air is to take two or three deep breaths in order to regulate your breathing. Fatigue affects everything that you do on the court, and foul shots are difficult when you are tired.

For further reading, you may be interested in this conclusion: Shooting 95% from the free-throw line is almost impossible!

Want to know why? Watch this video to learn more. WIRED’s Robbie Gonzalez steps up to the foul line with top shooter Steve Nash to find out what it would take to get to 95 percent.

NBA Foul Shooting: The Best Ever

Watch any of the best and/or worst foul shooters in NBA history and you will probably notice immediately why they are either good or bad at the skill.

If you are an aspiring hooper, you may want to take some pointers from the best’s foul shooting routine (and block the worst shooter’s routines from your memory bank!)

Let’s take a look at some of the best free-throw shooters in NBA history.

Stephen Curry – 90.66%
Steve Nash – 90.43%
Mark Price – 90.39%
Peja Stojakovic – 89.48%
Chauncey Billups – 89.40%
Ray Allen – 89.39%
Rick Barry – 89.31%
Calvin Murphy – 89.16%
JJ Redick – 89.12%
Damian Lillard – 88.91%

It is no coincidence that the free throw % leaderboard is littered with the best three-point shooters in league history as well.

A lot of shooting comes down to the repetition of a shooting stroke that goes in the hoop time and time again. Repeating the same consistent shooting motion is what has made these shooters so dominant.

Final Thoughts

With the free throw line distance being measured at fifteen feet for as long as the game of basketball has been around, players have a consistent target to practice from.

However, just because the distance doesn’t change doesn’t mean that you will be successful at shooting free throws without proper practice and repetition.

Many players don’t think practicing free throws is important, but the more points you can add to your team’s final score, the better your chances to win are. So, don’t slack on your free throw practice!

What is your free throw shooting routine? Let us know below in the comments section!

Basketball Free Throws

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In basketball, free throws are penalty shots given to the team that a foul was committed against. Free throws are different from field goals in a few ways. A field goal may be worth two or three points, but a free throw is always worth one point. The shot is always taken from the free throw line, and no one is allowed to contest the shot. Free throws are also commonly known as foul shots.

Free Throw Line
How Many Points is a Free Throw Worth?
What Does A Free Throw Attempt Look Like?
Basketball Free Throw Attempt
Fouls That Result in Free Throws
Basketball Penalty Situation
Substitute Free Throw Shooter
Basketball Free Throw Percentage
FAQ

Free Throw Line

All free throws happen from a team's respective free throw line, which is part of the key. The free throw line is 12 feet wide, 19 feet away from the baseline, and 15 feet away from the backboard. The free throw line also forms the elbows as they intersect with the rest of the key.

Free throws are also called foul shots, and the free throw line is also known as the foul line.

How Many Points is a Free Throw Worth?

Free throws are always worth one point in basketball. However, players can be awarded different amounts of free throw attempts based on how they were fouled. If a player is fouled shooting a two-point shot, they will get two free throw attempts. If they are fouled shooting a three-point shot, they will get three free throw attempts. This is done to award shooters with the opportunity to get the points they were stopped from scoring as a result of the foul being committed.

If the player makes the shot while they are being fouled, they will always receive one additional free throw, regardless of if it was a two or three-point shot.

What Does A Free Throw Attempt Look Like?

When shooting free throws, play is stopped, and the free throw shooter lines up behind the foul line. Up to six players line up along the borders of the lane and wait for the free throw shooter to shoot their free throws. Four of these players are from the opposing team, and two are from the free throw shooter's team. All other players on both teams must remain behind the three-point line.

The referee passes the ball to the free throw shooter, and they have ten seconds to shoot the free throw once they receive the ball. After the shot, each defensive player lined up along the lane attempt to box out the offensive players from getting a rebound.

Basketball Free Throw Attempt

Once the free throw shooter is in place behind the free throw line, he will get the ball from the referee to take the free throw. The free throw shooter has ten seconds to shoot each free throw. Four things can happen on a free throw attempt:

The free throw is made: one point is awarded to that player’s team. If it is the final free throw for the shooter, the ball is inbounded by the other team, and the game continues.
The free throw misses: If it is the player's last free throw attempt, the ball is live, and anyone can try and rebound it. Usually, defensive players have the edge because they get to be positioned closer to the basket. If it is not the shooter’s last free throw, the referee will collect the ball and pass it back to the shooter to attempt the next free throw.
There is a lane violation: A lane violation occurs if a player on either offense or defense crosses the line into the painted area before the free throw is released or at lower levels before the ball hits the rim. If someone on the offense commits a lane violation, then the ball is turned over. If someone on the defense commits a lane violation, the shot is retaken.
The free throw attempt misses the rim altogether: This is also considered a violation. If it goes out of bounds, the ball will be given to the opposing team, and play will be restarted normally. If it hits only the backboard or stays in bounds, the referee will stop play and award the ball to the opposing team of the free throw shooter.

Fouls That Result in Free Throws

If a player is fouled, they are awarded free throws. The amount of shots they get to take depends on how and where they were fouled. The fouls that can lead to free throws are:

Common Fouls
Technical Fouls
Flagrant Fouls

Common Fouls

Common fouls include most of the basic penalties in basketball, including shooting, blocking, and charging fouls. However, fouls are awarded differently depending on the situation. If a shooting foul is awarded on a three-point shot, the offense gets three free throws, and, if a shooting foul is awarded on a two-point shot, the offense gets two free throws.

If any other common foul is given, free throws may or may not be given, based on if the team is in the bonus, also known as the penalty situation. If a team is in the bonus, they will receive free throws, and if they aren’t, the ball will be inbounded by the team that was fouled. Different leagues have very different rules for how the penalty situation works.

Technical Fouls

Technical fouls are not based on physical contact like most fouls in basketball. You can be given a technical foul for anything the referees decide is an unsportsmanlike act, such as arguing a call or using inappropriate language towards another player or referee. Unlike other personal fouls, technicals can be given to players or coaches. The result of committing a technical foul is one free throw for the opposing team. Whether the free throw shooter makes the free throw or not, the team that was fouled retains possession of the ball afterward.

Flagrant Fouls

Flagrant fouls are grouped into two categories, flagrant 1 fouls and flagrant 2 fouls. Both result in two free throws and possession after the shots for the team that was fouled. Flagrant 1 fouls are when a foul is considered unnecessary to the discretion of the referees. Flagrant 2 fouls are considered “unnecessary and dangerous” and result in the ejection of the player who committed the foul.

Basketball Penalty Situation

As the game goes on, fouls by each team are counted, and when a team commits a certain number of fouls, they will be in the bonus. When a team is in a penalty situation, also known as the bonus, they receive additional free throws as a result of the other team committing common fouls, even if the foul is not a shooting foul. However, the rules for the penalty situation are completely different in all basketball leagues.

In college basketball, there are two penalty situations:

One and One
Double bonus

In the NBA, there is only one penalty situation, called the bonus.

College Basketball One And One

One and one in college basketball is a penalty situation that grants a team one free throw and an additional free throw if the free throw shooter makes the first one. A one and one is given when the opposing team reaches seven fouls in a single half.

College Basketball Double Bonus

The double bonus is a penalty situation that only occurs in college basketball, which gives a team two free throw attempts every time a personal foul is committed. The double bonus only happens when a team commits ten or more fouls in a single half.

NBA Basketball Bonus

The bonus in the NBA is a penalty situation that happens when a team reaches five fouls in a single quarter. When a team is in the bonus, the player who is fouled is awarded two free throws. Unlike in the NCAA, there is no double bonus situation in official NBA games.

Substitute Free Throw Shooter

A substitute free throw shooter can take the place of the original free throw shooter if they are injured on the play, such as after a flagrant foul. The head coach can choose one of the other four players on the floor as a substitute free throw shooter. If a player is substituted out for a free throw, they are not allowed to come back into the game.

Basketball Free Throw Percentage

A free throw percentage in basketball is a statistic that keeps track of a player's success rate shooting free throws during a season. To calculate a player’s free throw percentage, you divide the number of made free throws by the total amount of free throws attempted. The higher the free throw percentage, the better the player is at making free throws. Free throw shooting is a tell-tale sign of players having good focus and consistent shooting form.

FAQ

How many points is a free throw worth?

A made free throw in basketball is worth one point. The amount of free throws a player gets is determined by the foul committed by the opposing player or team. If a player is fouled in the shooting motion, they will get two free throws if they were inside of the three point line and three if they were behind the free throw line.

When would a player be awarded a free throw?

Players are awarded free throws in basketball when they have been fouled by the opposing team. This can come from a common foul, technical foul, or flagrant foul. The most common foul to result in free throws being awarded is a shooting foul. Shooting fouls result in two free throws if the shooter was inside the three point line and three if they were beyond the three point line.

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Pages Related to Basketball Free Throws

Basketball Dribbling
Basketball Court Lines
Basketball Halftime
Basketball Double Bonus
Basketball Game Length
Basketball Game Structure

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Execution technique, placement of players, points, distance to the ring

Home / All sports / Free throw in basketball: execution technique, placement of players, points, distance to the ring

01/19/2020 All sports Leave a comment 58,160 Views

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A basketball free throw is a shot taken by one player of the fouled team. Free throws differ from game throws by the number of points awarded. From the game, a basketball player can write down 2 or 3 points to his account, and each realized penalty brings only 1 point. A free throw is always made from a certain place on the court - the free throw line, and none of the players of the opposite team should interfere with its implementation, that is, this is a kind of penalty kick in which the player with the ball fights against the ring with a shield.

The ability to shoot free throws is one of the most important skills a professional basketball player should have. The implementation of such a penalty can determine the outcome of the game, although it is not always easy to execute such a technical element, especially due to pressure from the stands. To throw the ball into the ring, the player must have confidence, correctly set throwing technique and good concentration. Even some of the most famous and experienced players in the NBA have trouble getting into the basket from a free kick. A good indicator is when a basketball player manages to realize 75-80% of all shots, and when the statistical indicator is below 50%, then such persons, with a high degree of probability, will rest on the bench at the end of the match.

How many free throws are there in basketball?

Let's start with the fact that all free throws are taken from a certain line, which is part of the basketball court markings. At a distance of 4.6 meters from the ring and 5.8 meters from the end line there is a free-throw line 3.6 meters long.

If a player breaks the rules, free throws are awarded to his team. The number of shots fired depends on where and how the foul was committed.

1 free throw - a player was fouled, who managed to throw the ball into the basket and hit it. Also, with a technical foul, 1 throw is given.
2 shots - awarded when a player is fouled on a shot and missed. Also, 2 throws are assigned when a violation of the rules occurs on an athlete who did not plan to throw the ball into the basket, and the team of the offending basketball player has more than 5 fouls.
3 Throws - When an athlete about to take a throw is fouled outside the 3-point zone. If the throw is not accurate, then 3 penalties are awarded.

Note that when a basketball player who has committed 5 personal or technical fouls (6 offenses in the National Basketball Association - NBA) or 2 unsportsmanlike fouls in a match, must leave the playing court and no longer enter it, while he is allowed to remain on the bench .

Dimensions of the basketball court in meters (FIBA and NBA standard)

Position of players during a free throw in basketball

During the execution of a free throw, all players on the court must take certain positions. Along the free throw lane, on the sides of the so-called rectangle from the line to the ring, there are 5 players: 3 from the defending team and 2 from the attacking team. Closer to the ring on both sides are the basketball players of the defending side, in the middle there are 2 attackers and one more defender on the right or left closer to the thrower. All other players from both teams must be outside the 3-point zone.

Basketball free throw technique

Free throw can decide the outcome of a single match, so it is important to understand that such a technical element should not be ignored, but rather needs to be constantly trained and improved. Approaching the free-throw line, concentrating and accurately putting the ball in the basket is a difficult task for many players, even top professionals. The free throw is the only opportunity in basketball where the defense can in no way interfere with throwing the ball into the rings and scoring a point. Below are the techniques for throwing in stages with important tips:

Mentally focus on the execution of the next throw. Force yourself not to worry and pay attention to others, especially loud fans of the opposing team.
Relax. Every basketball player should be familiar with the relaxation techniques, you need to learn a certain breathing technique that will reduce nervousness and tension.
Body alignment. It is important for the thrower to align his body at the free-throw line. Statistical studies show that correct body position significantly increases a player's chances of making an accurate shot. The legs should be shoulder-width apart, and the fingers should be located at a distance of 3-5 centimeters from the line. Also, the legs should be slightly bent at the knees.
Bend the pushing arm at the elbow pointing straight at the ring. The elbows tend to swing out to the sides and it is important to keep them close to the body before throwing.
Eyes are best focused directly on the target. Decide right away how you want to hit: immediately into the ring or with a rebound from the shield. With practice, you will begin to feel more confident in the stance and will not need to pay much attention to the location of the elbows. This in turn improves accuracy.
Execution. The legs are unbent at the knees, the elbow is straightened, then the hand comes, and the ball is pushed out with the fingertips. It is important to do all this in one smooth movement, and you need to make sure that your legs do not come off the floor.

These are the simple rules for shooting free throws in basketball. By following them and regularly practicing this technical element, you will eventually begin to hit the ring more often, or even completely forget what a miss is.

Rules of the game of basketball briefly and clearly in paragraphs

2020-01-19

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execution technique when assigning how many points they give

Danila Chezhin

Free throws are one way to score points in basketball. This is the most important element of the game, which can have a key impact on the outcome of a single match. What are the penalties for a free throw in basketball? What is required from the players for their effective implementation and what types of penalties exist? Let's find out in this article.

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When are free throws awarded?

A free throw is called a shot at the ring from a static position, which is made from a certain position - the free throw line. The distance of the penalty line from the basket is 4.6 meters. A player has 10 seconds to complete a free throw. Each correct attempt is worth 1 point. As a rule, points scored on free throws make a significant contribution to the final result of the match, sometimes they make a difference.

Multiple fouls result in free throws. The most common of these is a foul - a violation of the rules in a game situation, such as hitting the hands or pushing an opponent. Throwing fouls are always followed by free kicks. In addition, there is a team foul limit in basketball - when it is exhausted, every foul, not even a throwing one, is punished with a free kick. The limit for team fouls in the NBA is 6 violations per quarter. In European basketball - 5.

Another common penalty offense is a technical foul – unsportsmanlike conduct by a player or coach, such as disrespect for referees, officials or opponents.

How many free throws in basketball

Theoretically, in one game, teams can make an infinite number of free throws. The meeting can be very rough, besides, the playing time stops for the execution of free kicks, including preparation for them. Sometimes the number of free throws and the truth rolls over. For example, in 2012, Orlando center Dwight Howard scored 39 free throws against Golden State.

2 free throws are awarded for a shooting foul or for each foul after the team caution limit has been reached. The exception is a foul on a throw due to a three-point arc. Then the basketball player, on which the rules are violated, performs 3 free throws. 1 free throw is awarded for a technical foul. Each exact attempt adds 1 point to the personal score of the team. Inaccurate - does not add anything. In that same NBA game in 2012, Howard managed to score only 21 out of 39 goals.-and.

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Location of players during a free throw

A free throw is taken from the line 4.6 meters from the backboard. This feature is the base of the trapezoid - part of the markings of the basketball court. The trapezoid is called the three-second zone. When a player takes a free kick, on the sides of the trapezoid, and specifically on the points indicated in the markup - the mustache, there are several players from each team. According to the rules of the game, two basketball players can represent the penalty team, and three of the opposing team. The players stand in a checkerboard pattern - the athletes of the team that does not execute the free kick are closer to the shield.

This arrangement is designed to fight for rebounds in the event of an inaccurate throw. Once the player has released the ball, time will start and the match will officially restart. So the ball that did not hit the basket is returned to the game. It should be borne in mind that the game is resumed only after the last attempt. If a player takes three free throws after the third; if two, then after the second; if one, first. Between penalty attempts, the game time counter is inactive.

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Free throw technique

As already mentioned, free throws can sometimes decide the fate of a match. Therefore, basketball players pay great attention to this component in training and diligently improve their performance technique.

Basketball rules do not provide for any technical restrictions on penalty kicks. However, the vast majority of modern players use the same method - a throw from the shoulder with one hand. The ball lying on the palm and fingers is released from the hands simultaneously with the straightening of the knee joints of the legs and the elbow joint of the throwing arm. The projectile is twisted with the index finger and, if the basketball players follow the correct trajectory, it gently falls into the ring.

Basketball free throw technique is not limited to mechanics. For professional athletes, from this point of view, free kicks are a very simple element. Psychology plays a key role. In order to concentrate and gain confidence before a free throw, basketball players tap the ball a little on the park and control their breathing. Some even follow their own ritual every time - they spin the ball on their fingers, mumble something under us, etc.

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