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How does dribbling allow a player to move with the ball?

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In basketball, players are prohibited from running while holding the ball. Dribbling—defined as moving the ball by bouncing it—allows a player to advance across the court while maintaining possession.12

By continuously bouncing the ball, the player avoids the violation of traveling, which occurs when a player takes excessive steps while holding the ball. During a dribble, the ball must be hit with one hand at a time and must never come to rest in one or both hands, as doing so concludes the dribble. This technique provides the offensive player with the flexibility to change direction, pivot, or wait for teammates to create an opening for a pass or a shot.12