A foul is defined as a violation and is part of the game of basketball. Creating fouls is a strategic way to limit the opposing team from scoring an easy layup to stealing the ball during a dribble. However, basketball games have a bonus structure, which penalizes one team after several team fouls occur.

This new rule was made to increase the chances of a team being able to get the ball in the basket, by lowering the amount of fouls a team must accumulate in a given time span to free a player for a shot. If a team fouls a player with the ball in the middle of the floor, he is guaranteed to be given a free throw, in comparison to the last time this rule was implemented last year.

How Do the Basketball Bonus Rules Work?

​What Does it Mean to be in the Bonus in Basketball?

In volleyball, when the offensive team is awarded a point for a block. The point is taken, but another team can still score during the same time frame the point was awarded. The player who hit the block is awarded a free throw, and it does not go into the books as a point.

What About the Last Two Minutes of NBA Regulation?

The rule was implemented in the 1990s, and it was to prevent a team from fouling repeatedly, even if their fouls are considered legal, as happened in the 2011 NBA Finals when the Miami Heat fouled the Dallas Mavericks many times. Before the 2011 NBA Finals, the NBA was not clear about the rule, so it was not called for in the finals or the previous NBA Finals.

Ways to Be Strategic if You Are on Defensive During the Bonus

If you end up giving the other team a bonus by fouling them, you can be strategic with the subsequent fouls that you create during the remainder of the quarter. For example, a defensive team might foul a player who is not very good at making free throws. By fouling the player who is not strong at making free throws, you stop the clock and potentially limit any additional scoring opportunities from the free-throw attempts.

On the other hand, a team might foul a player to force the opposing team into a shot clock violation or to stop the clock, depending on the situation. For example, if the ball is in their hands, a defensive team might want to foul them to stop the clock if they look like they are passing the ball.

How Long Does a Bonus Last in the NBA?

When a player is fouled, he can earn one or two free throws by hitting the basket, which are worth 2 points. If a player hits the free throw but they miss, the other team gets half court and they can still earn two free throws for a two point play.

Do Offensive Fouls Count Against the Bonus?

Any other foul that occurs in the last five minutes of a quarter will count against the bonus.

What Happens If a Team is Under the Bonus Cap?

The league’s foul rules require all five players on the court to maintain contact in the air. If a player falls to the ground or the floor, the offense can take possession of the ball, and the opposing team becomes the next team in possession. The ball must remain in bounds for at least one revolution of the ball.

What about the FIBA International Basketball League?

The main difference between FIBA and NBA is the fifth defensive penalty begins after the fourth defensive foul.

What About the NCAA College Basketball League?

The defensive team has until a six-minute mark in each half to create six fouls before the offensive team gets a chance to shoot the ball. If a shooter at the free throw line misses on their first free throw attempt, they get a chance to hit a second one. Each successive foul doubles the bonus they’re allowed to earn.

What Does Double Bonus Mean in College Basketball?

Bonus rules for the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) are different. Before the tenth foul during a quarter, they are awarded two free fall shots. After that, they are awarded one free fall shot and one free throw attempt if the player makes the first shot. Also, they can’t have double bonus, as they are not in a bonus.

What Makes the NCAA Different from the NBA/WNBA?

The NCAA uses a 16 game schedule that requires a minimum of 28 games whereas the NBA/WNBA uses a 82 game season with a minimum of 66 games.
This is one of the major differences in college and pro basketball.

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Conclusion – What Does a Bonus Mean in Basketball?

In basketball, fouling is a term used to describe any deliberate foul committed by a player to decrease the effectiveness or the scoring chance of the opponent.
In basketball, a bonus is awarded if a team receives a larger number of free throw attempts than a team allows the other team to take. That is the situation when the opposing team is fouling too much or too little.