Basketball Overview
Basketball is a team sport where two teams try to shoot a basketball through the defender’s hoop in order to gain points, with the team with the most points at the end of the game becoming the winners. In this guide we will explain the basic Basketball rules and how to play Basketball in an easy to understand way.
Basketball was invented in Massachusetts in 1891 by a Canadian-American professor of physical education named James Naismith. The story goes that the game came about when the professor was trying to keep his gym class active on a rainy day. He invented a new game where players would pass to teammates and would shoot a ball into a basket on the wall.
Basketball is an extremely popular sport with around 400 million fans. It is most popular in America where it was found, but is a sport enjoyed globally my many. FIBA the International Basketball Federation is the world governing body for Basketball.
Aim of the Game
The aim of the game of Basketball is to score points by throwing the basketball through your opponent’s hoop or basket, while trying to defend your opposing team from doing the same.
Playing Field
A regulation Basketball court is 50 ft wide and 94 ft long, but the game can really be played on any field or surface that has two hoops. This gives player a large area to create opportunities and score goals.
Basketball courts have a hoop or basket at each end where goals are shot. The two halves of a Basketball court are always symmetrical. The two halves of the Basketball court are separated by the centre line.
Players and Equipment
Basketball teams consist of 12 players with only 5 allowed on the court at any time. The five positions can be divided into two categories, the outer positions and the inner positions.
Firstly, the outer positions :
These players stay behind the three-point line during the offense. This way they can shoot, dribble towards the basket or deliver a pass to the players inside the three-point line.
First of all, there is the point guard. Their aim is to get the ball into the other team’s half and run the offense.
Next there is the shooting guard. The role of this player is to shoot from long distances but also to get into the other half sometimes and play within the key.
Finally, there is the small forward. This is a versatile player. They are a bit taller than the shooting guard and the point guard and have to be able to take long shots as well as to break into the key. The small forward can also position themselves close to the basket and with their back to it to receive the ball.
The inner positions :
We will start with a power forward. Their role is to shoot near to the basket or from the end of the free-throw lane. They’re still able to play further from the basket with long shots and dribbling while on offense.
The last position is the centre. The tallest player on the team often standing with their back to the basket. Their role is to play within the key in offense and in defense. They also have to be there for the rebound, retrieving the ball from beneath the basket after a missed shot.
Inner players play close to the basket either in the high or the low post. They use their size to defend their key and catch the rebounds.
While each player has a specific role depending on their positions, players can move freely throughout the court.
Click here to watch the video explanation of the Basketball positions explained.
The equipment needed to play Basketball is very minimal. All you really need is a basketball and a court. Teams should also have different coloured kits on. Players can also choose to wear certain protective gear, including gumshields and facemasks.
Scoring
To score point a player must shoot the ball into the opponent’s basket. You get two points for any shot scored within the opposition’s arc. If a player scores from a shot outside the arc, then this scores three points. Any free throws that are awarded to your team score one point if they go through the basket.
How to Win
The winner of Basketball is the team which has more points at the end of the game. If the game is a draw, usually five minute overtime periods are played until one team scores.
Basketball Rules
- Teams are made up of 12 players with five players on the basketball court attending one time.
- The game starts with a tip-off (ball thrown into the air between the teams). Once someone has won possession of the ball, they have up to 24 seconds to shoot the ball towards the opponent’s basket.
- These baskets are 10 feet above the ground on a court that’s generally about 50 feet wide and 94 ft long.
- To move the ball on the court you can either pass the ball to a teammate or dribble the ball (where you bounce the ball up and down repeatedly whilst in motion).
- If the ball isn’t shot within 24 seconds, this results in a shot clock violation. A shot clock violation results in the other team being awarded possession of the ball.
- The opposing team will try and take the ball off you by either blocking shots, rebounding missed shots or by stealing the ball away from an opposing player so that they can score themselves.
- The game is played in four 12-minute quarters in the NBA, four 10-minute quarters internationally, or two 20-minute halves in the NCAA and the highest score at the end of time wins.
- There are no ties in basketball so if the scores are tied at the end of regulation, then overtime periods will be played to determine the winner.
- In Basketball there are generally two types of things you can’t do : violations and fouls.
- Violations are generally called when you break one of the rules. The main violations include :
- shot clock violation : as earlier stated your team has 24 seconds in which to shoot the ball. If you’ve not shot the ball within this time a shot clock violation is called. A shot clock violation means the ball is awarded to the other team.
- double dribble violation : In basketball you’re only allowed to dribble the ball and stop once. If a player begins to dribble again this is known as double dribble and the ball is awarded to the other team.
- travelling violation : If a player takes too many steps without dribbling the ball, this is traveling and the ball is awarded to the other team.
- three in the key violation : A player cannot stay in the key, which is a section of the court, for more than three seconds.
- charging violation : this is where the attacking player runs into a stationary defender. If this happens then possession of the ball is awarded to the defending team.
- five/eight second violation : After a basket the offensive team has five or eight seconds to get the ball over midcourt. The time differs depending on the rules of the league you are playing.
- palming violation : A violation in which a player moves his hand under the ball and scoops it while dribbling.
- kicking violation : If the ball touches a player below the kneecap, the other team is awarded possession.
- goaltending violation : When a defensive player interferes illegally with the shot on a rim or on a downward path to the hoop. If this happens the shot is assumed in, and the offensive team receives the basket.
- basket interference violation: Interfering with the basket rim during a shot.
- back court violation : Touching the ball in the backcourt after it has entered the frontcourt and was not last touched by the other team.
- There are three types of fouls : personal fouls, flagrant fouls and technical fouls.
- Personal fouls occur when a player commits illegal contact against another player. Any foul in the act of shooting results in free throws being awarded to the attacking team. Two shots for fouls inside the arc and three shots for fouls outside the arc. If the shot went in and the shooter was fouled, the points they scored count and they are awarded one extra shot.
- Flagrant fouls are severe fouls that occur when a player has made violent contact against another player. This always results in the other team being awarded two free throws.
- Technical fouls are fouls that don’t fit the description of either a personal or flagrant foul. Technical fouls can be awarded for fighting, unsportsmanlike conduct or abuse from players and coaches against referees. Two technical fouls equal an automatic ejection from the game.
- Any team that commits five or more fouls in any quarter will have three throws awarded against them per subsequent foul.
- Any one player who has racked up five fouls internationally or 6 fouls in the NBA is fouled out and can no longer participate in the rest of the game.
- Visit here to watch the video explanation on the Basketball rules.
Learn More
Visit here to learn more about Basketball and here to learn more about the Basketball rules and how to play Basketball.
