What is Traveling in Basketball?
Whether you’re on the court playing a casual game with friends or watching a high-profile NBA match, understanding the rules of traveling can be a source of debate. If you want to improve your dribbling abilities, or simply gain a better understanding of when professional referees call a traveling violation, it’s essential to know what constitutes this particular rule. So, what’s traveling in basketball?
Traveling in basketball
Travelling in basketball is movement of a player with the ball without dribbling or violating any of the other rules of the game.
It usually means that the player has taken too many steps before shooting, passing, or dribbling the ball. The umpires gets to call this a foul and may as a result turn over the ball to the opponent team.
The rule of traveling may become quite complex depending on the level of completion. In general, however, it says that a player cannot take more than two steps while holding the ball.
Once the player picks up its pivot foot (the foot that remains stationary while the other foot moves), they cannot take another step without dribbling the ball.
Exceptions to Traveling Rule
Apart from this general rule, there are some exceptions, which make the rule of traveling even more complicated. For instance, if a player catches the ball while in motion (i.e., jumping), he is allowed to land on both feet.
This will not be considered as a violation of the traveling rule. However, once he lands, he must either pass the ball, shoot it, or dribble it.
The Euro Step
Another exception to the traveling rule is the Euro step move, which has received traction in recent years. The Euro step move involves a player taking a quick step in one direction, then immediately taking another step in a different direction to evade a defender and get to the basket.
The move typically involves a player driving to the hoop, then quickly planting one foot and using a quick step to change direction before the defender can react.
The player takes second step in the opposite direction, allowing himself to get to the rim for an easier shot or layup.
The Impact: In general, traveling is a minor violation in basketball. It results in a turnover, but it is not as serious as other violations such as fouling or unsportsmanlike conduct.
However, players who are prone to traveling can have a negative impact on their team’s performance, as turnovers can quickly shift momentum and lead to the other team scoring points.
