What is a double dribble in basketball?
B · Beginner · Violations · 4 of 9A double dribble is dribbling again after your dribble has ended. A dribble ends when you touch the ball with both hands at once or let it come to rest in one or both hands. After that you must pass or shoot. Putting the hand under the ball and carrying it during a dribble is also a violation.
How it works
- A dribble is bouncing, rolling or tapping the ball on the floor and touching it again before another player does.
- It ends when both hands touch the ball together or the ball rests in one or both hands.
- A second dribble is allowed only if control was lost in between: after a shot, a touch by an opponent or a pass or fumble that touched another player.
- During a dribble a player may not put any part of the hand under the ball and carry it, or bring it to a pause and carry on.
- There is no limit on steps while the ball is out of the hand during a dribble.
- Not dribbles: fumbling the ball, tapping it away from other players, deflecting a pass and throwing the ball off the backboard and catching it.
- Penalty: the ball to the opponents for a throw-in.
Tricky cases
Can a player dribble with two hands?
No. Touching the ball with both hands at the same time ends the dribble.
I fumbled the ball, picked it up and dribbled. Is that a double dribble?
No, if it was a real fumble at the start of the dribble. A fumble is an accidental loss of control and is not a dribble.
Can a player throw the ball off the backboard to themselves?
Yes. Throwing the ball against the backboard and regaining it is not a dribble.
Why the rule exists
The dribble is the only way to move with the ball. Ending it has to mean something, or a player could stop and start at will and never be defended.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FIBA rules | As above | A24 |
From the rule book
FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026, Articles 22 and 24, valid from 1 October 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: FIBA Official Basketball Rules (PDF).