March Madness flagrant foul rules for the NCAA men's basketball tournament in 2024, explained

With the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament set to begin this week, there’s one term you’re likely to hear a few times: flagrant foul. But what exactly constitutes a flagrant foul, and what are the penalties for committing one?

The NCAA adopted the flagrant foul system for both men’s and women’s basketball ahead of the 2011-12 season, but the women’s game abandoned it 2017-18 to adopt the FIBA rules regarding disqualification, instead.

It remains in the men’s game, though, and there are two different levels of flagrant fouls that can be committed.

According to the NCAA, a flagrant 1 foul is one that is “excessive in nature or unnecessary or avoidable, uncalled for or not required by the circumstances of the play.” It results in two free throws and possession of the ball to the other team.

“Intentionally fouling,” or fouling to prevent an easy breakaway basket, falls under the category of a flagrant 1.

A flagrant 2 is more severe. It results in the same penalties as a flagrant 1, but the offending player is also automatically ejected from the game. A flagrant 2 foul is described as “brutal, harsh or cruel or dangerous or punishing.”

Additionally, as of this season, a player will be ejected from the game if they accrue three flagrant 1 fouls.

Flagrant 1 fouls aren’t particularly common, and flagrant 2s even less so, but if you see one this month, you’ll understand why and what to expect.