When a basketball player dribbles the ball out of bounds during a game, she has:

When a basketball player dribbles the ball out of bounds during a game, she has:

• A. Violated a formal norm
• B. Violated an informal norm
• C. Complied with norms
• D. Violated a law

Answer: (A)

In basketball, norms come in two flavors: formal rules and informal expectations. The play described—dribbling the ball out of bounds—violates a written rule in the game’s official rulebook about keeping the ball within the court boundaries. Because this action breaches a codified guideline set by the sport’s governing rules, it’s a violation of a formal norm. It’s not about unwritten social behavior (informal norms), and it’s not a civil or criminal law, since laws govern society at large, not just the game. So this scenario best fits a formal rule violation, which typically results in a turnover and possession awarded to the other team.

In basketball, norms come in two flavors: formal rules and informal expectations. The play described—dribbling the ball out of bounds—violates a written rule in the game’s official rulebook about keeping the ball within the court boundaries. Because this action breaches a codified guideline set by the sport’s governing rules, it’s a violation of a formal norm. It’s not about unwritten social behavior (informal norms), and it’s not a civil or criminal law, since laws govern society at large, not just the game. So this scenario best fits a formal rule violation, which typically results in a turnover and possession awarded to the other team.