In basketball, traveling refers to a violation where a player holding the ball moves one or both of their feet illegally. Specifically, traveling occurs when a player takes too many steps without dribbling the ball. Here are the key situations where traveling is called:
1. Moving the pivot foot: Once a player establishes a pivot foot (the foot that stays planted on the floor), they cannot lift it and take a step with it unless they start dribbling the ball.
2. Taking more than two steps: After a player has stopped dribbling, they are allowed to take two steps. If they take more than two steps without dribbling, it’s considered traveling.
3. Picking up the dribble: When a player stops dribbling (i.e., gathers the ball), they must establish a pivot foot. If they move the pivot foot or take an extra step after stopping the dribble, it is traveling.
Traveling is one of the most common violations in basketball and is called to ensure fair play and prevent players from gaining an unfair advantage by taking extra steps.
