What is Fouled Out? Fouled Out Explained in 2 minutes

Fouled out is a term most commonly associated with basketball and is when a particular player has exceeded their personal foul limit for the game and is then suspended for the rest of the match, much like a red card in soccer.

The number of personal fouls a player is allowed to make in a 40-minute period is five before they are fouled out, or six in a 48-minute game.

However, if the offence is severe enough, the official has the ability to foul out a player with immediate effect.

Many players will commit personal fouls during a match in order to prevent an attack or change the tempo of the game and the act is often tactical. Most personal fouls are deemed minor, much like a free-kick in football.

How is Fouled Out used in Sports Betting?

A player who is fouled out of a game is essentially sent off.

Much like placing a red card bet in soccer, punters can place a bet whether they think a player will receive their marching orders or not.

These odds are often favourable as no player goes out onto the court with the aim of getting themselves fouled out of the game and unless they commit a serious unsportsmanlike offence (or flagrant foul as it is known in the NBA) then they are unlikely to fouled out.

However, as the decision is made by the official (or they are close to the personal foul limit) if a player has been penalised for multiple personal fouls, they will either clean up their act or come off the court having been substituted.

Did you know…

Legendary basketball star Michael Jordan committed over 2500 personal foul in his career but was only fouled out of 10 games.

Remarkably, four of those foul outs came in his very first season in the NBA.

See also

Sin Bin