Basketball rules
Get
to know the regulations, the sport's history and rising popularity
Since its invention in
1891, basketball’s popularity has soared globally and is one of the most
popular sports in the world. Here are the rules of basketball.
By Utathya Nag02 September 2020 19:23 GMT+5:307 min
read
One of the most popular sporting
disciplines in the world, basketball made its first appearance
at the Olympics as a demonstration
sport at the 1904 St Louis Games.
At the 1936 Games, basketball was
included as a medal event and has been a permanent fixture at the quadrennial
sporting showpiece since. Women’s basketball made its Olympic debut in 1976.
For people unfamiliar with sport, here
are the modern-day basketball rules, the regulations, scoring
system, positions, and the origin of the sport.
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The origin of basketball can be traced
to Springfield, Massachusetts in the USA. Dr James Naismith, a Canadian
physical instructor working at the YMCA International Training School in
Springfield, introduced basketball in 1891.
Instructed to devise an indoor sport
to keep the YMCA athletes in shape during the harsh winter months, Naismith
came up with a sport involving two peach baskets and a soccer ball with a set
of 13 rules.
The first game of basketball was a 9
vs 9 contest according to Naismith’s rule book but over the years, the laws
have been changed and fine-tuned to make what we know as modern-day basketball.
Basketball court:
Dimensions and markings
To understand basketball, it’s
important to have an idea of the court’s layout.
According to FIBA (international
basketball federation) guidelines, a basketball court is a
rectangular playing area 28m in length and 15m in width. International
competitions including the Olympics follow FIBA guidelines.
The border markings along the length
of the court are called sidelines and the breadth of the court are called
endlines or baselines.
The outer edge of the key parallel to
the end line is called the free-throw line. There’s a 3.6m diameter semi-circle
drawn on the outer part of the free-throw line called the free-throw circle.
Basketball rules
Basketball is a team sport, and the
game is played between two sides. The core objective in a basketball game is to
score points by putting the ball inside the hoop (basket) and to prevent the
opposing team from doing the same.
A basketball game starts at the center
of the court when the ball is thrown high up by the referee and one player from
each team competing to gain possession. The team that catches the ball, or in
possession, is called the offensive team while the team not on the ball is the
defensive team.
The offensive team plays with the
intent of getting the ball through the opposition hoop or scoring a field goal
after moving the ball around the court by passing or dribbling the ball,
abiding by a fixed set of basketball rules.
Basketball
points-scoring system
Three-point shot: Shooting and scoring a field goal
from anywhere outside the three-point line arc wins the team three points.
These are referred to as three-pointers.
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Two-point shot: A field goal which is scored from
inside the area encircled by the three-point arc in the opposition half is
worth two points. These are called two-pointers.
Coaches Tips: Basketball - Shooting
Teresa Edwards demonstrates the proper
form to shoot a basketball focusing on finger control and arm position
One-point shot: Points can also be accumulated
through free-throws, which are worth a point each. Free throws are awarded to a
team when the opposition team fouls.
During free throw, the fouled player
is allowed a fixed number of shots -- depending on the nature and referee’s
interpretation of the foul committed -- at an open basket from anywhere inside
the free-throw circle with both his feet behind the free-throw line.
According to basketball rules, Illegal
physical contact or obstructions without the intention of winning the ball by a
defender when an offensive player is aiming to shoot is regarded as a foul.
A FIBA sanctioned game typically
consists of four quarters of 10 minutes each. After two quarters or half-time,
the teams switch sides on the court. The team with more points at the end of
the four quarters wins the match. If the score is tied at the end of regulation
time, the game can go into an overtime period.
Basketball violations
An offensive player can keep the
basketball moving around the court by dribbling or passing the ball to a
teammate. In a basketball dribble, a player needs to bounce the ball against
the floor continuously using one hand at a time.
Using both hands simultaneously to
dribble or touching the ball twice before it bounces once constitutes a double
dribble violation, which ends in ceding possession to the opponent team
Mahmoud Abdin demonstrate the
techniques for a free shot.
Furthermore, if a player stops dribble
completely, they need to pass or shoot the ball. In case they start dribbling
the ball again after stopping, it is also considered a double dribble
violation.
While receiving a ball on the move, a
player is allowed to take a maximum of two steps before passing, shooting or
starting a dribble. Basically, a player is not allowed to run with the ball.
Otherwise, they are called for traveling violation, which again results in turning
over possessions.
If in a stationary position while
receiving a ball or after stopping a dribble, a player also needs to establish
a pivot foot, on which they need to stay planted in the same spot
while swerving or turning until a pass or shot is made.
Players receiving the ball can start a
dribble but can’t lift or displace the pivot foot until the ball leaves his
hands. Failure to comply results in a traveling violation.
When a team gains possession inside
its own half, the players get 10 seconds to move into the opposition half. Once
a team crosses into the midline, possession needs to be maintained in the
defending team’s half and offensive players cannot go back to their own half.
If the ball is passed back, it results in backcourt violation.
A defensive player is also not allowed
to block or touch the ball when in a downward trajectory towards the basket.
This is called goaltending violation.
During an attack, an offensive player
isn’t allowed to stay in the opposition key for over three seconds without
attempting a shot. It is called the three-second rule and results in lane violation.
Shot Clock
Once a team gains possession of the
ball, they are put on a 24-second Shot Clock, which means they have to throw
the ball at the hoop or attempt a valid field goal before time runs out.
Failure to do so again results in possession
being turned over to the opposition team.
How many players in
basketball
A traditional basketball team has 12
players, with five basketball players on the court at any given time. Unlimited
substitutions are allowed.
The five players can be segregated
into the following positions:
Point guard: Usually players with the best
ball-handling skills and vision in the team play as point guards. A point
guard’s primary role is to orchestrate both offensive and defensive plays and
set up scoring opportunities for team-mates.
Shooting guard: Typically, the best long-range and
mid-range shooter in the team. Players patrolling the position constantly look
for three-pointers or can help drag defenders out wide to create space near the
basket for their team-mates.
Small forward: Playing as a short forward needs a
versatile skill set. It requires strength and height as well as speed and
dribbling abilities. Mid-range and short-range shooting abilities are also
important.
Power forward: A power forward is somewhat similar
to a small forward but with a bigger focus on physicality. A power forward is
usually a foil for the center and are the team’s most dependable scorers from
inside the paint.
Center: Usually, the tallest player in the
team, a center, is required to occupy the space nearest to the basket in both
halves. In defence, they are tasked to pick rebounds and block opposition
shooters while their offensive duties require them to finish off short-range
moves or shield out defenders to allow their team-mates a clean drive at the
basket.
NBA, the popular US-based basketball league, also follows
similar rules with very minor alterations.
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