How To Play Basketball

Basketball, invented by James Naismith in 1891 with just 13 rules and two peach baskets, has grown into a massive worldwide sport. Globally, the game is greatly influenced by the National Basketball League (NBA) in the USA. Many countries play basketball, and tournaments follow a similar structure.

Whether your goal is to become the next Michael Jordan or you just want to learn the fundamentals of the game, this article will clarify the rules and regulations and help you understand the principles of dribbling, shooting, and defence.

Things You Should Know

1. There are two teams in basketball, each with five players.
2. When the ball goes through the hoop, you score.
3. Use dribbling or passing to move the ball.
4. Before shooting or passing, players are limited to two steps after taking control of the ball.
5. Shots within the round arc score two points, while shots beyond the circle earn three.
6. There are four quarters in a basketball game, and the team with the most points at the end wins.

Techniques and Methods

1. Hoop/Basket: A circular object with a net where you score. A successful throw score points for the team. The back is known as the backboard.
2. Dribble: Raising the ball by bouncing it around the floor. Players are required to dribble; moving without dribbling is referred to as travelling.
3. Free Throw: Free throws are awarded to the player who is fouled while shooting. Points are awarded for each one.
4. The Jump Ball: The way the game begins. As the ball is tossed up, players attempt to tip it in the direction of their side. It's known as the tip-off.
5. The Paint: The region around the hoop, surrounded by a rectangle. The top line is known as the free throw line, while the large squares at the bottom are known as the blocks.
6. The Arc/Three-Point Line: The paint's surrounding spherical ground line. Not two, but three points are awarded for scoring from behind this line.
7. Leap/Jump Shot: Any shot that is not in the paint. A layup is a shot in which the ball is softly dropped into the basket. Other shots include dunks, which include smashing the ball through the hoop.

Team Setup

Form 2 teams with 5 players each in a standard basketball game. Players can be substituted from the bench, where extra players wait. For casual games, you can use 2 teams of 3, 2 teams of 2, etc.

Positions

• Point Guard: The fastest player who brings the ball up the court, excelling in dribbling and passing.
• Shooting Guard: Positioned near the top of the court, often the best outside shooter on the team.
• Small Forward: A versatile player skilled in shooting, dribbling, passing, and defence.
• Power Forward: A tall player adept at battling in the paint, rebounding, and shooting close to the hoop.
• Centre: Typically, the tallest player, focused on rebounding and blocking shots.

Player scoring in basketball occurs when the ball is shot through the hoop. Where the shot is made on the floor determines how many points are scored. A line on the court marks a three-point area called the arc, and shots taken from outside of it are worth three points. Not all courts, particularly outdoor or smaller ones, may have this line.

Each shot that occurs within the arc is worth two points. Free throws are awarded to players who are fouled while trying to make a basket. A free throw is good for one point each time. Two free throws are awarded to the player for a two-point shot, while three free throws are awarded for a three-point shooting.

Along with the points for the basket and another free throw, the player is awarded if they make the shot even after being fouled. The side with the highest total number of points at the conclusion of the game wins.

Dribbling and Passing

• Use dribbling or passing to move the ball down the court. When holding the ball, stay stationary with one foot on the floor to pivot.
• Dribble by bouncing the ball on the floor; passing is an effective way to confuse defenders or quickly advance towards the basket.
• Remember, once you stop dribbling, you can't start again - this is known as double dribbling and is a foul.
• When driving to shoot, take two steps without dribbling; exceeding two steps is considered travelling and results in a foul.
• You can jump to shoot or pass, but make sure to release the ball before landing back on the ground.
• Continuous dribbling is required once you start until you pass, shoot, or come to a stop to pivot on your foot.

Offence vs Defence

In basketball, offence requires cooperation and communication. Dribbling, passing, and shooting are the three major activities. Dribbling is the act of bouncing the ball with your fingers as you go around the court.

Chest passes, which are made with two hands and go from chest to chest, and bounce passes, which include tossing the ball onto a teammate on the ground, are the two kinds of passes.

Using one hand to push the ball into an arc while guiding it with the other is the traditional method of attempting to score, known as shooting. Another shot is the layup, in which a player softly bounces the ball off the backboard and into the hoop.

The goal of the defence is to prevent scoring by the other side. It includes rebounding-grabbing the ball after a failed shot-stealing the ball from other players and blocking shots-jumping to stop the ball from entering the basket.

Rules

Basketball has evolved from its original thirteen rules, with many changes made to enhance the speed and excitement of the game. Some rules were also introduced to address the advantage of height, particularly for taller players. In the United States, where basketball is popular, there are variations in rules between college tournaments and professional leagues.

1. A player holding the ball can't stay inside the foul ring with their back to the basket for more than three seconds.
2. Players are not allowed to touch the ball, basket, or rim while the ball is going through the basket.
3. Brief contact is allowed between players, but obstruction is not permitted when an opponent is passing the ball or attempting a goal.
4. If a player accumulates more than five fouls, they are removed from the game.
5. Fouls result in free throws for the opposing team, and they gain possession of the ball.
6. Players cannot carry the ball while walking or running, a violation known as travelling.
7. When a player is closely guarded by opponents within a one-meter radius, they cannot hold the ball for more than five seconds.
8. Players with possession of the ball cannot linger in the restricted area of the opponent's team for more than three seconds.
9. Shots must be taken before the shot clock expires.

Basketball Basics: Key Terms and Concepts

In basketball, understanding key terms and concepts is essential. Here are some important terms explained:

1. Offending Team: The team with possession of the ball is called the offending team.
2. Defending Team: The team trying to gain control of the ball, not in possession, is the defending team.
3. Shot Clock: It's the time allotted for the offending team to make a goal. If they fail, it results in a shot clock violation, and the defending team gets the ball. Typically set for 24 seconds in FIBA and NBA matches, reset when the ball touches or passes through the basket. After a foul, it may be set to a lower number, like 14 in NBA and FINA matches.
4. Key: The painted area on the court, 16 feet wide in professional basketball, is commonly known as the paint.
5. Basketball Gun: A device used in training that shoots the basketball back to the player.
6. Dunk Shot: When a player jumps and pushes the ball through the basket.
7. Free Throw: A shot from 15 feet without obstruction, awarded to a player or the opposing team for technical fouls.
8. Penalty Situation: A team enters this situation after committing five fouls in one quarter. It grants free throws to the opposing team after a foul.
9. Held Ball: When opponents surround a player and tightly hold the ball, leading to a struggle to regain control.
10. Jump Ball: A method of restarting play, often used in a held ball situation. The referee throws the ball vertically between two opponents who try to gain possession by tapping it to a teammate.
11. Positions (Point guard, Shooting guard, Small forward, Power forward, Center): Different roles are assigned to players based on their skills and physical attributes. Teams may choose to discard traditional positions for strategic reasons.

Understanding these terms enhances appreciation and enjoyment of the game of basketball.

Equipment and court design

1. Basket:
   An 18-inch hoop hangs 10 feet high from a 3.5x6 feet backboard on each side of the court. In international play, the backboard is clear.
2. Ball:
   Basketballs are orange, rough-textured, and made for dribbling, passing, and shooting.
3. Other Equipment:
   Some courts have a beeping game clock and lights on backboards indicating the end of a period.

A typical international basketball court is an indoor rectangle measuring 50 feet by 94 feet. School courts might be a bit smaller. The court is split into two halves, one for each team. You'll find different markings on the court, like a circle in the centre, semi-circles for free throws, restricted areas, and three-point lines on each side. There's also a semi-circle under the basket called a no-charge area.