Over The Limit

Over the limit is a phrase used to describe when a team has committed the maximum number of fouls in a quarter before they are in the penalty and the opposing team begins to be granted free throws for each foul thereafter, no matter if it’s a shooting foul or not. Depending on the level of play and the league, the limit of fouls and the amount of free throws granted varies.

When a team begins to shoot free throws because their opponent is “over the limit”, they are said to be in the “bonus”.

The team foul penalty in NCAA basketball is slightly different than in the NBA. First, a team is allowed six team fouls per half before their opponent is granted free throws. However, the team in the bonus is only guaranteed one free throw, not two. The player must make the first free throw in order to gain a second free throw attempt. However, if it’s a shooting foul, then the team is granted the usual two free throws.

Each team is allowed to commit five team fouls in a quarter before bonus rules apply. Once a team reaches five team fouls in the quarter, the opposing team is then awarded two free throw attempts, regardless if it was a shooting foul or not. The number of team fouls resets after the quarter has finished.

One thing to note is that only defensive fouls and loose ball fouls count towards the total team foul total. Offensive fouls do not count towards the ongoing total.

Another variant to the bonus rule in the NBA is that if a team has not reached their fifth team foul, but commits their second team foul  with two minutes remaining in the quarter, then the opposing team will be in the bonus. In other words, if a team has a total of five team fouls in a quarter and/or at least two team fouls by the two minute mark, their opponent is then in the bonus, whichever occurs first.

Example of how Over The Limit is used in commentary: The Blazers are going to the Hack-A-Shaq strategy early on, putting them over the limit and making Shaq beat them at the free throw line.