Penalties are given for two general types of offenses violations and fouls. The most common violations include: running or walking with the ball without dribbling (bouncing the ball); double dribbling (using both hands at the same time to dribble or stopping and restarting the dribble); and goaltending (interfering with a shot on the ball's downward path into the basket). Other violations include kicking the ball intentionally or punching it. Most violations are punished by awarding the ball out-of-bounds to a member of the other team to put back into play.

Fouls may be either personal or technical. Since basketball is theoretically not a body contact sport, a personal foul can result from any physical involvement with an opposing player. Pushing, pulling, bumping, holding, tripping, and charging are all infractions of the rules. A personal foul may be a common foul (neither obvious nor intentional), double foul (in which two opponents commit personal fouls against each other at about the same time), or multiple foul (in which two players on one team commit personal fouls against an opponent at about the same time). A player control foul is a common foul committed by a player while controlling the ball.

The officials call the fouls, penalizing the offending team either by awarding the ball out-of-bounds to its opponents or by awarding free throws (unhindered shots at the basket from the free throw line). If a player is fouled in the act of shooting and misses the basket, he receives two free throws. If he is fouled in the act of shooting and makes the basket, the score counts and he receives an additional free throw (called a three-point play if he makes the extra basket). A high school or college player who commits five personal fouls must leave the game. Professional players are allowed six fouls. When a player is called for a personal foul, the foul is also registered against the team. When a team exceeds its limit four team fouls per quarter in professional play and six per half in college and high school play the opposing team receives extra free throws.

A technical foul may be committed by either a player or a nonplayer, such as coaches or spectators. Technical fouls are called against a team for delaying the game, unsportsmanlike tactics, illegal substitutions, or illegal time-outs. The penalty throw for a technical foul may be made by any member of the opposing team, which then is usually given possession of the ball out-of-bounds at midcourt.