Reminder on Faults and Violations

A foul is an illegal action involving a contact that can be committed by a player from one team against a player from the opposing team. If contact occurs beyond what is deemed to be reasonable, or if a player thereby obtains an unfair advantage from it, a foul is committed. Examples of fouls include pushing, tripping, striking or holding an opposing player and unsportsmanlike conduct. A foul results in the awarding of the ball to the opposing team and/or free throws. A violation occurs when the player breaks one of the rules of Basketball. A violation results in the awarding of the ball to the opposing team. Examples of violations include traveling, double dribble, backcourt violation, palming the ball, and stepping out of bounds.

Should a game not be played in 4 periods of 10 minutes, the rules concerning the number of fouls shall be adapted as follows.

Number of personal fouls at which a player must leave the game:

• Game lasting 10 to 20 minutes: 3 fouls

• Game lasting 21 to 30 minutes: 4 fouls

• Game lasting 31 to 40 minutes: 5 fouls

Number of team fouls after which a team is in the team foul penalty situation (meaning that subsequent fouls result in free throws if they are personal and non-offensive):

• Game period lasting 5 to 6 minutes: 2 fouls

• Game period lasting 7 to 8 minutes: 3 fouls

• Game period lasting 9 to 10 minutes: 4 fouls

• Game period lasting 11 to 12 minutes: 5 fouls

• Game period lasting 13 to 15 minutes: 6 fouls

Tournament organizers are invited to set a maximum number of Technical, Unsportsmanlike and Disqualifying fouls that can be committed by a player before that player is excluded from the whole tournament.

Mounted Player

The player can only play the ball while mounted on the unicycle. A player has established position on the unicycle (“mounted”) when the player has the seat in hand and/or between the legs, with both feet on the pedals, and is not touching anything else for support (including an unmounted player). Once a player is mounted, the player is considered mounted until some part of their body touches the ground or uses any support, including an unmounted player. The player throwing the ball inbound must be mounted.

Unmounted Player

If contact is made between the ball and an unmounted player or unicycle, this is a violation and the ball shall be awarded to the other team. Referees may allow incidental contact between the ball (or another player, with or without the ball) and an unmounted player or unicycle if such contact does not disrupt the flow of the game.

• An unmounted player must move themself and their unicycle out of the way as soon as possible without disrupting the flow of play.

• If not possible, the player must leave the unicycle where it lands until it can be retrieved without being disruptive.

• An unmounted player’s unicycle is considered part of the player. For the purposes of fouls a riderless unicycle that is moving is considered to be out of control. Thus, if another player is hit by a moving abandoned unicycle, a foul shall be called.

• If an unmounted player intentionally attempts to play the ball or impede another player, a technical foul shall be called.

• If a stationary riderless unicycle is disruptive for the opposite team or if it creates a danger for the safety of any player, an “obstructing unicycle” violation shall be called.

Contact of the Ball with a Unicycle

It is a violation for a player to intentionally strike or stop the ball with any part of their unicycle or leg, however, incidental contact with a player’s unicycle or legs is not a violation. As long as the player is in contact with the unicycle, riding or not, the unicycle is considered part of a player when a ball bounces out of bounds off the unicycle. If this happens the other team receives possession of the ball.

Steps And Traveling

A traveling violation occurs when a player holding the ball steps in excess of the prescribed limits. A step is a half revolution of the wheel; meaning that each wheel revolution is the equivalent of two steps because pedaling with one leg only moves the wheel half a revolution. After a player establishes a pivot foot (see below), the player may not switch the idle foot (in the case of idling) or take a step unless they begins dribbling.

Idling, Twisting and Hopping While Holding the Ball

Idling is equivalent to the pivot foot and therefore is allowed. Twisting, where the wheel is not rolling, the tire stays in contact with the floor, and the rider turns the unicycle left and right is also considered a pivot, and therefore allowed.

The player may alternate between stand still, twisting and idling, with the restriction that only a single continuous period of idling is allowed.

The player must also stay within a half-meter radius from the point where the idling started. A player may not hop (jump with the unicycle) while holding the ball, unless the ball is released from the hand(s) before the tire touches back the floor. Hopping while dribbling is permitted.

Ball on Floor

A player may try to stop with their hand a ball that is rolling on the floor. If such an attempt makes the ball roll in another direction and/or makes the ball roll faster, intentionally or not, a violation shall be called. Furthermore, any contact by something other than the hands with a ball on the floor (rolling or stationary) is a violation if the ball changes velocity (stops, starts, or changes speed or direction).

A player may try to pick up a ball that is rolling or lying on the floor. If the ball is not lifted off during such an attempt, the action is judged as an attempt to stop the ball. If the referee judges that no teams are able to pick up the ball in a reasonable time, a jump ball situation may be called.

Picking up a ball can be dangerous for the player, so care must be taken not to foul a player that is bent over to pick up the ball. If several players simultaneously try to pick up the ball and make contact, the usual rules about fouls apply. When a player is attempting to pick up the ball, no other player shall enter the space occupied by the bent player. A violation may be called if such entry is deemed by the referee to compromise the bent player’s safety, regardless of whether physical contact occurs. Additionally, a violation may be called if a player positions themselves or remains so close to the ball for an extended period of time that it obstructs or prevents all players from safely picking it up.

Four Second Zone

The three-second zone becomes the four-second zone.

Spectacular Tricks

A player shall only intentionally jump from its unicycle (i.e. without trying to stay mounted and to keep the unicycle under control) when attempting to score a goal or to save a ball going out of bounds, and only if it does not create any danger for anyone in the referee’s judgement. Similarly, tricks in which both feet are not on the pedals (like stand up gliding) are only allowed when attempting to score and if it it does not create any danger for anyone in the referee’s judgement. Not respecting these rules will result in a violation being called, and the goal being cancelled (if one is scored in the corresponding action).

Screenings

Screening is only allowed if the player does not extend their elbows and arms wider than their shoulders and keeps a stable position without changing the orientation of the wheel. Therefore, usual screening positions such as having each arm either bent along the chest or lying along the torso (typically with the hand holding the saddle) are allowed, but so is having the arms vertical with the hands up. Also, being in stillstand or hopping while respecting these rules are allowed, while idling and twisting are not (as far as screenings are concerned).