KSHSAA Basketball Exam 2026/2027 Update Questions
and Answers with Rationales
1. How many players from each team are on the court during normal
play?
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 7
Answer: B
Rationale: Basketball is normally played with five players from each
team on the court.
2. A player establishes a pivot foot while holding the ball. What must
happen before the pivot foot can legally leave the floor?
A. The ball must be passed or released for a shot
B. The player must dribble twice
C. A teammate must touch the ball
D. The official must signal
Answer: A
Rationale: Once a pivot foot is established, it cannot be lifted and
returned to the floor before the ball is released for a pass or try.
3. What violation occurs when a player takes excessive steps without
legally dribbling?
A. Double dribble
B. Traveling
C. Carrying
D. Palming
Answer: B
Rationale: Traveling occurs when a player improperly moves one or
both feet while controlling the ball.
,4. A player ends a dribble and then begins another dribble without an
intervening touch by another player. This is generally:
A. Legal
B. Traveling
C. A double dribble
D. A held ball
Answer: C
Rationale: Ending a dribble and starting another without a qualifying
intervening touch is a double-dribble violation.
5. Which action begins a legal dribble?
A. Throwing or batting the ball to the floor
B. Holding the ball stationary
C. Kicking the ball intentionally
D. Placing both hands underneath the ball
Answer: A
Rationale: A dribble involves intentionally throwing or batting the ball
to the floor and allowing it to return to the hand.
6. A player accidentally kicks the ball while attempting to play it with
the hands. The official should generally:
A. Always call a violation
B. Allow play to continue if the kick was accidental
C. Award two free throws
D. Award possession to the opponent
Answer: B
Rationale: An accidental contact with the foot is not the same as
intentionally kicking the ball.
7. A player intentionally kicks the ball. What is the result?
A. No violation
B. Traveling
,C. Kick violation
D. Technical foul automatically
Answer: C
Rationale: Intentionally contacting the ball with the foot or lower leg
constitutes a violation.
8. When the ball goes out of bounds, possession is awarded to:
A. The team closest to the ball
B. The team that last touched the ball before it went out
C. The team that did not last touch the ball
D. The home team
Answer: C
Rationale: The opponent of the team that last touched the ball before
it went out receives the throw-in.
9. A throw-in is normally administered from:
A. The free-throw line
B. A designated spot or designated area according to the situation
C. Center court only
D. Under the basket only
Answer: B
Rationale: Throw-in administration depends on how and where the ball
became dead.
10. A player may legally score a field goal from:
A. Only inside the three-point line
B. Only outside the three-point line
C. Anywhere from which a legal try can be released
D. Only directly in front of the basket
Answer: C
Rationale: A legal field-goal attempt may originate from different
locations on the court.
, 11. A successful free throw is worth:
A. 1 point
B. 2 points
C. 3 points
D. 4 points
Answer: A
Rationale: Each successful free throw counts as one point.
12. A successful field goal from behind the three-point arc is worth:
A. 1 point
B. 2 points
C. 3 points
D. 4 points
Answer: C
Rationale: A legal three-point field goal scores three points.
13. A player who is fouled while successfully making a two-point field
goal may receive:
A. No free throw
B. One free throw if the applicable conditions are met
C. Three free throws
D. Four free throws
Answer: B
Rationale: A successful field goal followed by a qualifying foul can result
in an additional free throw.
14. What is the purpose of a jump ball or alternating-possession
procedure?
A. To restart play under specified circumstances
B. To penalize a team
C. To award three points
D. To replace substitutions
and Answers with Rationales
1. How many players from each team are on the court during normal
play?
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 7
Answer: B
Rationale: Basketball is normally played with five players from each
team on the court.
2. A player establishes a pivot foot while holding the ball. What must
happen before the pivot foot can legally leave the floor?
A. The ball must be passed or released for a shot
B. The player must dribble twice
C. A teammate must touch the ball
D. The official must signal
Answer: A
Rationale: Once a pivot foot is established, it cannot be lifted and
returned to the floor before the ball is released for a pass or try.
3. What violation occurs when a player takes excessive steps without
legally dribbling?
A. Double dribble
B. Traveling
C. Carrying
D. Palming
Answer: B
Rationale: Traveling occurs when a player improperly moves one or
both feet while controlling the ball.
,4. A player ends a dribble and then begins another dribble without an
intervening touch by another player. This is generally:
A. Legal
B. Traveling
C. A double dribble
D. A held ball
Answer: C
Rationale: Ending a dribble and starting another without a qualifying
intervening touch is a double-dribble violation.
5. Which action begins a legal dribble?
A. Throwing or batting the ball to the floor
B. Holding the ball stationary
C. Kicking the ball intentionally
D. Placing both hands underneath the ball
Answer: A
Rationale: A dribble involves intentionally throwing or batting the ball
to the floor and allowing it to return to the hand.
6. A player accidentally kicks the ball while attempting to play it with
the hands. The official should generally:
A. Always call a violation
B. Allow play to continue if the kick was accidental
C. Award two free throws
D. Award possession to the opponent
Answer: B
Rationale: An accidental contact with the foot is not the same as
intentionally kicking the ball.
7. A player intentionally kicks the ball. What is the result?
A. No violation
B. Traveling
,C. Kick violation
D. Technical foul automatically
Answer: C
Rationale: Intentionally contacting the ball with the foot or lower leg
constitutes a violation.
8. When the ball goes out of bounds, possession is awarded to:
A. The team closest to the ball
B. The team that last touched the ball before it went out
C. The team that did not last touch the ball
D. The home team
Answer: C
Rationale: The opponent of the team that last touched the ball before
it went out receives the throw-in.
9. A throw-in is normally administered from:
A. The free-throw line
B. A designated spot or designated area according to the situation
C. Center court only
D. Under the basket only
Answer: B
Rationale: Throw-in administration depends on how and where the ball
became dead.
10. A player may legally score a field goal from:
A. Only inside the three-point line
B. Only outside the three-point line
C. Anywhere from which a legal try can be released
D. Only directly in front of the basket
Answer: C
Rationale: A legal field-goal attempt may originate from different
locations on the court.
, 11. A successful free throw is worth:
A. 1 point
B. 2 points
C. 3 points
D. 4 points
Answer: A
Rationale: Each successful free throw counts as one point.
12. A successful field goal from behind the three-point arc is worth:
A. 1 point
B. 2 points
C. 3 points
D. 4 points
Answer: C
Rationale: A legal three-point field goal scores three points.
13. A player who is fouled while successfully making a two-point field
goal may receive:
A. No free throw
B. One free throw if the applicable conditions are met
C. Three free throws
D. Four free throws
Answer: B
Rationale: A successful field goal followed by a qualifying foul can result
in an additional free throw.
14. What is the purpose of a jump ball or alternating-possession
procedure?
A. To restart play under specified circumstances
B. To penalize a team
C. To award three points
D. To replace substitutions
