Timing
The WNBL competition consist of 4 x 10 minute periods, all games are fully timed, which means each time the referee blows their whistle the game clock is stopped.

If the scores are tied after the 4th period, the game shall be continued with an extra period of 5 minutes or with as many such periods of 5 minutes as are necessary to break the tie.

Time-outs, teams are permitted to have 2 time-outs in the first half of the game and 3 time-outs during the second half of the game.  To request a time-out, the coach asks the score bench, who will let the referee know.  A time-out in the WNBL lasts for one minute.

Players
In the WNBL competition each team is entitles to have up to 20 players registered to play in the competition, each home team is allowed to select 12 of these players to play, whilst the away team may choose 10.

Playing Positions
Each player is assigned a position when playing; this position is usually determined by the height of the player.

Centre - The centre is usually the taller player on the team and they generally play close to the basket, the centre also usually starts the game for their team with a jump ball.

Forwards - There are generally two forwards on a team either a small forward or a power forward.

Small forwards are primarily responsible for scoring points and also often as secondary or tertiary rebounders behind the power forwards and centers.

A power forward is one of the larger players on the court, not as tall as the center but more muscular. They are usually expected to be aggressive when pursuing rebounds and score most of their points on the low post

Shooting Guards - Shooting Guards generally create a high volume of shots on offense; guards the opponent's best perimeter player on defense.

Point Guard - A point guard is usually the fastest player on the team, organizes the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right player at the right time.

Violations
The ball may be advanced toward the basket by being either shot, passed between players, thrown, tapped, rolled or dribbled (bouncing the ball while running).

The ball must stay within the court; the last team to touch the ball before it travels out of bounds forfeits possession. The ball-handler may not move both feet without dribbling, known as traveling, nor may she dribble with both hands or catch the ball in between dribbles, this violation is called double dribbling.

A player must progress the ball from the back-court to the front court within 8 seconds, and the offensive team must shoot the ball within 24 seconds, such rules as these are meant to speed the game up and to promote more offense.

No player may interfere with the basket or ball on its downward flight to the basket, or while it is on the rim a violation known as goaltending. If a defensive player goaltends, the attempted shot is considered to have been successful. If a teammate of the shooter goaltends, the basket is cancelled and play continues with the defensive team being given possession.

Fouls
Basketball is a non-contact sport, however with players moving a fast speeds in a confined space contact is bound to occur, and it is at the discretion of the referee to determine if contact is illegal.  Fouls can be called on both defensive and offensive players.

Players in the WNBL are allowed 5 fouls each, and the common fouls called during a game are hands fouls, pushing fouls, holding fouls and charging or blocking fouls.

If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is unsuccessful, the player is awarded a number of free throws equal to the value of the attempted shot. A player fouled while attempting a regular two-point shot, then, receives two shots. A player fouled while attempting a three-point shot, on the other hand, receives three shots.

If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is successful, typically the player will be awarded one additional free throw for one point. In combination with a regular shot, this is called a "three-point play" because of the basket made at the time of the foul (2 points) and the additional free throw (1 point). Four-point plays, while rare, can also occur.

Referees
All WNBL games are officiated by three referees, the referees are assisted by the score bench officials and that consits of a scorer, timekeeper, 24-second operator and scoreboard operator.

To download the official rule book from FIBA click HERE