In basketball, penalties play a crucial role in maintaining the flow and fairness of the game. When a team accumulates a specific number of fouls, they enter the penalty situation, commonly referred to as the bonus.
This means that each subsequent foul results in the opposing team taking free throws, regardless of the type of foul committed.
Understanding the penalty rules is essential for both players and fans. Different leagues, such as the NBA, NCAA, and FIBA, have varying thresholds for when a team enters the penalty.
For instance, in the NBA, teams are allowed a set number of fouls per quarter before giving up free throws, whereas in NCAA play, the fouls reset every half.