FIBA has prepared changes to the rules of the game that take effect on October 1, 2026, focusing on two key categories: the definition of the shooting motion and the sanctioning of unsportsmanlike fouls.
Former referee and BasketNews officiating analyst Todd Warnick delivers a sharp breakdown of these updates. He warns that FIBA has introduced overly complicated, overnight, non-basketball terminology that is already drawing frustration from referees themselves.
An end to half-court manipulation (but only in the frontcourt)
The core FIBA definition of the “act of shooting” still states that it is the moment when a player holds the ball in their hands and directs it toward the opponent’s basket a standard aligned with NBA and NCAA rules. In recent years, we have seen an increasing number of offensive players exploit these rules by inventing shots from 10, 15, or 20 meters upon minimal contact in transition or set plays just to manufacture free throws.
FIBA wanted to put an end to these unrealistic attempts. The new rule explicitly mandates that a shooting foul on a long-range attempt can only be called if the offensive player is in the frontcourt, except in situations where the quarter or shot clock is expiring.
Jokic will get one of these shooting foul calls one day… 😂 pic.twitter.com/hdkcTgDx2B
— Whistle (@WhistleSports) March 26, 2024
“Upward shoulder movement”
However, alongside this change, FIBA has introduced an extremely controversial and confusing condition:
“The act of shooting on a jump shot or other moving shot begins at the moment the player starts the upward motion of the shoulders and the ball toward the opponent’s basket.”
Warnick asks, why is shoulder elevation suddenly being introduced as the key criterion for the start of a shot?
For him, this logic is completely flawed. The shoulder joint moves the upper arm, which in turn moves the forearm, hand, and ball, on a classic jump shot, the shoulders themselves hardly lift vertically at all; rather, they rotate. Furthermore, referees have been trained for years to monitor defender positioning relative to the ball, hand, and arms of the shooter, not to analyze shoulder mechanics.
What does this mean in practice?
If a player begins a jump shot from chest height or lower and a defender makes contact on the hand or arm right as the ball starts rising, it will not be ruled a shooting foul simply because the shooter’s shoulders have not moved upward yet.
Interestingly, the NBA has a similar provision, but applies it strictly to tactical take fouls on fast breaks when time is not expiring, having never integrated it into the general definition of a shooting motion.
Facing away from the rim on low-post means no free throws
Another drastic modification requires a player to be facing the basket at the moment they begin the upward motion of the ball. Otherwise, they are not considered to be in the act of shooting.
This rule directly harms centers and power forwards operating in the post with their backs to the basket. Picture a low-post player catching the ball, initiating a layup, hook shot, or turnaround jump shot. If a foul occurs during the spin, before the player is completely facing the rim, under the new rules, it is ruled a simple side-out foul rather than a shooting foul.
FIBA included the following example in its official rule interpretation guide:
“Example: Player A1 catches the ball on the low post with their back to the basket. Player A1 begins the upward movement of the ball and shoulders while still facing away from the basket, and Player B1 fouls Player A1 before Player A1 turns toward the rim.
Interpretation: Player A1 was NOT in the act of shooting. For a jump shot or moving shot, if the player is not facing the basket at the moment they start the upward movement of the shoulders and ball, they are not considered to be in the act of shooting.”
Goodbye to the unsportsmanlike foul
Perhaps the biggest shock is the complete abolition of the well-established term “unsportsmanlike foul.”
FIBA has decided to split the phased-out terminology into two entirely new categories to soften the existing rule under which two unsportsmanlike fouls resulted in an automatic ejection:
Flagrant fouls refer to dangerous, excessive, and violent contact. This category of foul will still count toward the threshold for ejection from the game.
Disruptive fouls cover intentionally stopping fast breaks from behind or the side (similar to the “clear path” foul in the NBA), as well as tactical fouls used to stop offensive possessions. These fouls will NOT count toward the total required for an automatic ejection.
While the fundamental concept of separating flagrant hits from tactical take fouls is sound, experts argue that this could have been resolved through a simple modification of the existing unsportsmanlike foul rule. Inventing terms like “disruptive foul” creates unnecessary translation barriers worldwide and undermines rich basketball traditions.
