Last updated: 6 August 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Makin, FA Level 2 Football Coach
The 3-foot (0.9m) rule
Obstruction vs legal defending
| Scenario | Call |
|---|---|
| Defender stands 3+ feet away with arms raised while opponent holds the ball | ✅ Legal defence |
| Defender closes to within 3 feet of a player holding the ball, arms raised | ❌ Obstruction penalty |
| Defender intercepts the ball while it's in the air (not held by a player) | ✅ Legal — the 3-foot rule only applies to a player currently holding the ball |
| Defender contacts the shooter's arm during a shot attempt | ❌ Contact penalty (often also a penalty pass/shot) |
| Two players compete for a loose ball and accidentally collide | Judgment call — incidental contact is usually play-on; deliberate contact is a penalty |
Held ball (3-second rule)
A player holding the ball has 3 seconds to pass or shoot before a "held ball" is called, turning possession over to the opposing team. This rule keeps the game moving and prevents a player from simply holding the ball to run down space or wait out defensive pressure.
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Frequently asked questions
Does the 3-foot rule apply when the ball is in the air?
No — the 3-foot distance rule specifically applies to defending a player who is currently holding the ball. Once the ball is passed and in the air, defenders can move freely to intercept it without any minimum distance requirement, as long as they don't make contact with an opposing player.
What happens after an obstruction penalty?
The non-offending team is awarded a penalty pass or penalty shot (depending on where the offence occurred), and the offending defender must stand out of play — typically at the width of the court from where the penalty is taken — until the ball is played.