What is Traveling In Basketball (Common Example & Steps)
Although traveling seems absolutely simple while you are on the ground, explaining this to someone can be a bit puzzling. Sometimes, a person finds himself at a loss for words. Hence, if you are someone like me who often gets confused with other techniques in gameplay, it is absolutely important to have a clear idea of what traveling is in basketball.
This can not only help you in comprehending it better but also provide you with a better and more effective practice session, irrespective of the majority of errors. If you are still confused and don’t know where to proceed, be sure to follow this comprehensive guide on traveling in basketball, how to avoid it, and important steps that many people confuse it with. So, dive right in for more.
What is Traveling in Basketball?
In simple words, this concept is a violation in basketball when a person who has the ball, illegally moves his/ her feet. There are a variety of movements that can be considered traveling, whenever an aggressive player tries to take one or more steps. While there is a broader definition of traveling, there is a certain criterion given by NBA that suggests whether a player had done this violation or not;
- First of all, if a player has received the ball while he is standing still and he uses either his right or left foot (only one) as a pivot.
- Similarly, if a player has gathered a ball while progressing and he;
i) takes two steps to stop, pass, or shot the ball.
ii) doesn’t drill and takes one step before releasing the ball. Here, a player who has dribbled might use two steps at a time for stopping, passing, or shooting the ball.
- In addition, for any player who has started a dribble, either while receiving the ball standing still or he has come to a legal stop, it is a must that the ball is out of his hands before he uses the pivot foot and puts it on the ground.
- If a player has a ball and his pivot foot is raised in the air, he is required to pass down or shoot the ball immediately before the pivot foot hits the ground.
- If a player has fallen to the ground while having the ball in his hands is known to have done traveling, even if he is coming to a stop or doesn’t slide at an advantage.
- If a player, trying to score a field goal is unable to touch the ball first and the ball doesn’t touch either the backboard or the other player.
- If the player is unable to score a field goal and the table touches the backboard or the other player.
- If a player is ending his dribble and trying to gain control yet is unable to touch the floor with both his feet consecutively.
i) Here, you can also lose the ball. For instance, if the ball is given to the rival player with the nearest spot to the violation, yet not to the baseline, it is considered a foul.
How to Avoid Traveling in Basketball?
If you are a newbie to basketball, understanding this concept can be challenging. However, it is completely significant to grab the concept as it can help you practice with a clean mind. Following this, another important step here is to practice continuously as it can help you perfectly time your jumps, stays, and dribbles, even for extended practice matches.
Similarly, there are a variety of ways you can prevent the risk of traveling in your basketball game. For this, I would recommend you go for a jump stop as it can absolutely guarantee success. This is from a person who has been playing basketball for quite some time. This happens only when you catch the ball while having both your feet on the ground. Hence, it is equally important to note that it gets tricky when you try to land on one foot.
Also, the fact that it is absolutely easy to practice this technique makes it great for new players, whether alone or in a team. However, if you, for whatever reason, have a foot out of the direction and now you are stuck, don’t worry. There are a number of things you can do, including adjusting the left foot back to pivot or adjusting it front to the pivot, needless to say, having set your right foot back to pivot or front to pivot. So, while practicing, make sure you change the direction each time for a better grip.
Examples of Traveling in Basketball
Here are some examples of traveling in basketball that can help you in practicing efficiently;
- Three-Point Steps happen when the player has got the ball from the 3-point line and takes a step back behind this line without dribbling. This is because the player is lifting the pivot foot which is directly considered a traveling violation.
- Pivot Slide happens when players are spinning or stretching while their pivot foot is not in the still position and is sliding across the floor.
- Up and Down happens when a player is intended to leave the floor to pass or shoot but lands up never releasing the ball and coming down to the floor.
- Rebound Shuffle happens when a player shuffles his feet and falls directly on the ground.
- Early Step is undoubtedly one of the most common mistakes players make. If the player is impatient and quickly decides to drive the basket from a still position, it can happen. This is because here the player is taking a step forward while lifting his pivot foot, before dribbling.
What is a Pivot Foot in Basketball?
In simple words, it is either your left or right foot that is on the floor, as an anchor. Players are usually expected to spin or rotate on the ground, with the help of this pivot foot. As per the instructions, you can spin as long as the foot remains in one position. It is equally important to have your pivot always aligned with the foot while you are not dribbling or jumping in the air.
This foot plays a huge role in determining whether players have committed to traveling. When a player has the ball in his hand, it is absolutely important to have the pivot foot stationary on the ground before he dribbles or jumps. Once you move this foot, the other one (the foot that lands on the ground first) automatically becomes the pivot foot. However, it is equally important to note that the pivot foot rules are different for each league, so make sure to follow the rules.
What is a Gather Step in Basketball?
The gather or gather step is yet another new concept, introduced in the NBA over which basketball fans and new players are often confused. This step was originally introduced in 2019, however, has been transformed over the years. As of the present time, according to the NBA rules, it is defined as the moment when a player has enough control over himself that he is able to hold the ball, change hands, pass it, shoot it, or even cradle it against the body.
However, here, it is important to note that it only applies to the player who has gained control of the ball. In contrast, if the player is progressing with a dribble, it would be a moment the player places both of his hands right under the ball, pauses it, and gains enough control with which it is able to shoot or cradle hands easily. Here are some other interpretations of the gather step, according to NBA;
- If a player is progressing with two steps and takes a stop, pass and shoot the ball.
- If the player is progressing with one step before he is releasing the ball, while he hasn’t dribbled yet.
- If the player is progressing while dribbling, you can come to a stop, pass, and shoot the ball, while both of the feet are on the ground.
What is a Zero Step in Basketball?
Similarly, if you are the offensive player in the basketball game, you probably would know about this term. Although it is relatively new in the NBA, the technique, in general, remains the same for basketball. In simple words, it is a step that a player takes while he is in the process of gaining control of the ball. In the midst of dribbling, the players take an additional step to maintain the balance of the ball which is particularly the reason people confuse it with the traveling violation.
However, it is equally important to note that in the case of zero way, you are supposed to only do this while you are progressing forward while having one foot on the ground. Therefore, it wouldn’t apply to situations where you have just done a jump stop or if you have the ball with both feet flat on the surface. For practicing this step, from my personal experience, I would advise you to do it in slow motion to get a perfect movement.
What is a Euro Step?
This is by far the most common technique in the NBA and other basketball leagues in general. However, this can be mistaken for traveling for the most part. So, in simple terms, when a player is picking up a dribble while taking a step in the forward direction, he is expected to take a second step in the other direction, specifically, to avoid the other player. This step is an effective technique for players who are advancing and stopping the dribble as it aligns your body, perfectly suitable for decent space and balance.
Hence, this is purely considered a continuation of the first move he took, and is not called a violation which is the case with travel. An article in New York Times suggested that Lithuanian Sarunas Marciulionis was probably the first player to play San Antonio Spurs which was followed by the Euro-step we know in NBA and college basketball teams and now everyone uses it to make their game more effective. So, finally, I hope you will not confuse this technique with the traveling violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is three-steps travel in basketball?
Yes, three-steps are considered travel in the basketball game. It happens when the player has got the ball from the 3-point line and takes a step back behind this line without dribbling. This is primarily because the player is lifting the pivot foot which is directly considered a traveling violation.
Is traveling still called basketball?
Yes, a traveling violation is still called for in the basketball game as is mentioned in the NBA rulebook. In simple words, it happens when a player makes an illegal move by using the pivot foot, which is considered illegal. Also, there are a total of eight conditions mentioned in the definition of traveling, as per NBA, so make sure to practice while understanding these rules.
What happens in basketball if you travel?
Traveling is considered a violation in the basketball game, in which the player makes an illegal move while he is in control of the ball. It is mostly done by aggressive players and includes some conditions. It can easily result in a turnover, hence, the ball is awarded to the other team.
Final Thoughts
In the end, there are a variety of movements that can be considered traveling, whenever an aggressive player tries to take one or more steps illegally. As per the NBA rulebook, there are a number of conditions that apply to this concept, and violation of these basic rules can lead to a turnover and eventually, giving the ball to the hands of the opponent team. Hence, having a complete understanding of this concept can aid you with effective practice sessions, irrespective of any error.
Finally, I hope this comprehensive guide can help you in differentiating it from other concepts and avoiding it from the start.