Bonus basketball refers to a rule in basketball that gives the team an advantage when the opposing team accumulates a certain number of fouls in a quarter or half. Specifically, once a team commits a predetermined number of team fouls (typically 5 or 7 fouls in a quarter, depending on the league), the opposing team is awarded free throws for any subsequent fouls, even if the foul is not committed during a shooting attempt. This is known as being “in the bonus.”
There are two common types of bonus situations:
1. Bonus (or “1-and-1”) Free Throws: In some leagues, such as the NCAA, when a team reaches 7 team fouls in a half, the opposing team is awarded a 1-and-1 free throw opportunity. The player gets one free throw, and if they make it, they get another attempt.
2. Double Bonus: Once a team commits 10 fouls in a half (in most professional leagues), the opposing team is awarded two free throws for every foul, regardless of whether it was a shooting foul.
Bonus basketball increases the importance of playing disciplined defense and managing fouls, as a team that commits too many fouls can give the other team easy opportunities to score points from the free-throw line.
