As most of you know, we spend almost as much time arguing about rules and violations as we do playing the game. Here's some links that will hopefully put some of the questions to rest once and for all:
How many fouls do I get?
According to the official OTH rulebook:
Section IV-Personal
Fouls
a. The number of fouls allowed varies from player to player, as
well as game to game. Many factors determine number of fouls allowed,
including person being guarded, years in the league, age, age of person you're
defending, severity of the foul, and two other factors which remain
confidential.
b. A player is not allowed to dispute a foul called against him in any way, including, but not restricted to, a shrug of the shoulders with upturned palms. Continued violation of the spirit of this rule may result in a suspension.
c. There is no lifetime limit on personal fouls.
What is traveling?
According to the official NBA rulebook:
Section XIV-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 use a two-count rhythm in coming to a stop, passing or shooting
the ball.
The first count occurs:
(1) As he receives the ball, if either foot is touching the floor at the time he
receives it.
(2) As the foot touches the floor, or as both feet touch the floor
simultaneously after he receives the ball, if both feet are off the floor when
he receives it.
The second occurs:
(1) After the count of one when either foot touches the floor, or both feet
touch the floor simultaneously.
c. A player who comes to a stop on the count of one may pivot, using either foot
as the pivot foot.
d. A player who comes to a stop on the count of two, with one foot in advance of
the other, may pivot using only the rear foot as the pivot foot.
e. A player who comes to a stop on the count of two, with neither foot in
advance of the other, may use either foot as the pivot foot.
f. 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.
g. If a player, with the ball in his possession, raises his pivot foot off the
floor, he must pass or shoot before his pivot foot returns to the floor. If he
drops the ball while in the air, he may not be the first to touch the ball.
h. A player who falls to the floor while holding the ball, or while coming to a
stop, may not gain an advantage by sliding.
i. 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.
j. None of the above applies to Lenny Kesten.
What is kicking?
According to the official NBA rulebook:
Section V-Strike the
Ball
a. A player shall not kick the ball or strike it with the fist.
b. Kicking the ball or striking it with any part of the leg is a violation when
it is an intentional act. The ball accidentally striking the foot, the leg or
fist is not a violation.
Explain the out of bounds relative to the backboard.
According to the official NBA rulebook:
Section I-Basket/Backboard
c. Five sides of the backboard (front, two sides, bottom and top) are considered in play when contacted by the basketball. The back of the backboard and the area directly behind it are out-of-bounds.
Here's some links to other rule-related sites.
Official Rules of the National Basketball Association
Ask Ace. This guy used to allow people to e-mail him with questions about rules; although he no longer responds to e-mails, his site does list all the ones he responded to before he got a life. An example is below:
Q: A shot is taken by player A1 and the ball does not touch the rim (it's an "air ball"). Player A1 runs over before anyone else and grabs the ball. Is this a legal play?
A: So long as it was a legitimate attempt for goal (in the eyes of the referees), it is legal in all rules except the NBA. (The NBA has a special exception written into the rules for that case, eliminating the need for officials to judge whether it was a pass or a shot.)