What Is the Difference Between a Technical Foul and a Personal Foul?

In basketball, a personal foul is a common foul for illegally contacting another player in the course of playing the game.

A technical foul, meanwhile, is a less common foul that can be assessed if a player, coach, or other figure breaks a rule that does not involve physical contact.

Technical fouls – sometimes simply referred to as techs – are most commonly assessed for unsportsmanlike conduct directed at other players or the referees themselves. 

But technical fouls can also be assessed for more random and specific instances, like removing a jersey in the play area or accessing electronics during the game. 

In recent years, egregious instances of flopping have also been deemed technical fouls. 

In both college basketball and the NBA, any player who receives two unsportsmanlike technical fouls over the course of a game is ejected.

Technical Fouls In College Basketball

College basketball treats technical fouls slightly differently than professional organizations like the NBA. In college, technical fouls also count as personal fouls, which means they count against the number of fouls a player can receive.