Basketball Basics for New Players and Coaches -- Learn the Basic Rules, Concepts, Court Layout, and Player Positions

FREE! Get 72 of ourfavorite basketball drillsand 32 of ourfavorite basketball plays.

The rules of basketball, thankfully, are fairly straightforward. However, for the younger players, some rules can be easily forgotten. The three-second rule addressing how long an offensive player can be in the key before clearing out is a good example.

Once you have taught the rules of the game to your team, there is a simple way to make sure that they don't forget them. Have them tell you the rules. Spend a few minutes during each practice quizzing them. Make it fun. Additionally, you can teach and reinforce the rules of the game during drills.

Before you can teach the rules to your team, you must know them yourself...

The RulesBasketball is a team sport. Two teams of five players each try to score by shooting a ball through a hoop elevated 10 feet above the ground. The game is played on a rectangular floor called the court, and there is a hoop at each end. The court is divided into two main sections by the mid-court line. If the offensive team puts the ball into play behind the mid-court line, it has ten seconds to get the ball over the mid-court line. If it doesn't, then the defense gets the ball. Once the offensive team gets the ball over the mid-court line, it can no longer have possession of the ball in the area in back of the line. If it does, the defense is awarded the ball.

Basketball Court 1

The ball is moved down the court toward the basket by passing or dribbling. The team with the ball is called the offense. The team without the ball is called the defense. They try to steal the ball, contest shots, steal and deflect passes, and garner rebounds.

When a team makes a basket, they score two points and the ball goes to the other team. If a basket, or field goal, is made outside of the three-point arc, then that basket is worth three points. A free throw is worth one point. Free throws are awarded to a team according to some formats involving the number of fouls committed in a half and/or the type of foul committed. Fouling a shooter always results in two or three free throws being awarded the shooter, depending upon where he was when he shot. If he was beyond the three-point line, then he gets three shots. Other types of fouls do not result in free throws being awarded until a certain number have accumulated during a half. Once that number is reached, then the player who was fouled is awarded a '1-and-1' opportunity. If he makes his first free throw, he gets to attempt a second. If he misses the first shot, the ball is live on the rebound.

Each game is divided into sections. All levels have two halves. In college, each half is twenty minutes long. In high school and below, the halves are divided into eight (and sometimes, six) minute quarters. In the pros, quarters are twelve minutes long. There is a gap of several minutes between halves. Gaps between quarters are relatively short. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, then overtime periods of various lengths are played until a winner emerges.

Each team is assigned a basket or goal to defend. This means that the other basket is their scoring basket. At halftime, the teams switch goals. The game begins with one player from either team at center court. A referee will toss the ball up between the two. The player that gets his hands on the ball will tip it to a teammate. This is called a tip-off. In addition to stealing the ball from an opposing player, there are other ways for a team to get the ball.

One such way is if the other team commits a foul or violation.

Fouls and Violations

FOULSPersonal fouls:Personal fouls include any type of illegal physical contact. Hitting Pushing Slapping Holding Illegal pick/screen -- when an offensive player is moving. When an offensive player sticks out a limb and makes physical contact with a defender in an attempt to block the path of the defender.Personal foul penalties:If a player is shooting while a being fouled, then he gets two free throws if his shot doesn't go in, but only one free throw if his shot does go in. Three free throws are awarded if the player is fouled while shooting for a three-point goal and they miss their shot. If a player is fouled while shooting a three-point shot and makes it anyway, he is awarded one free throw. Thus, he could score four points on the play. Inbounds. If fouled while not shooting, the ball is given to the team the foul was committed upon. They get the ball at the nearest side or baseline, out of bounds, and have 5 seconds to pass the ball onto the court. One & one. If the team committing the foul has seven or more fouls in the game, then the player who was fouled is awarded one free throw. If he makes his first shot, then he is awarded another free throw. Ten or more fouls. If the team committing the foul has ten or more fouls, then the fouled player receives two free throws.Charging. An offensive foul that is committed when a player pushes or runs over a defensive player. The ball is given to the team that the foul was committed upon.

Blocking. Blocking is illegal personal contact resulting from a defender not establishing position in time to prevent an opponent's drive to the basket.

Flagrant foul. Violent contact with an opponent. This includes hitting, kicking, and punching. This type of foul results in free throws plus the offense retaining possession of the ball after the free throws.

Intentional foul. When a player makes physical contact with another player with no reasonable effort to steal the ball. It is a judgment call for the officials.

Technical foul. Technical foul. A player or a coach can commit this type of foul. It does not involve player contact or the ball but is instead about the 'manners' of the game. Foul language, obscenity, obscene gestures, and even arguing can be considered a technical foul, as can technical details regarding filling in the scorebook improperly or dunking during warm-ups.

VIOLATIONS

Walking/Traveling. Taking more than 'a step and a half' without dribbling the ball is traveling. Moving your pivot foot once you've stopped dribbling is traveling.

Carrying/palming. When a player dribbles the ball with his hand too far to the side of or, sometimes, even under the ball.

Double Dribble. Dribbling the ball with both hands on the ball at the same time or picking up the dribble and then dribbling again is a double dribble.

Held ball. Occasionally, two or more opposing players will gain possession of the ball at the same time. In order to avoid a prolonged and/or violent tussle, the referee stops the action and awards the ball to one team or the other on a rotating basis.

Goaltending. If a defensive player interferes with a shot while it's on the way down toward the basket, while it's on the way up toward the basket after having touched the backboard, or while it's in the cylinder above the rim, it's goaltending and the shot counts. If committed by an offensive player, it's a violation and the ball is awarded to the opposing team for a throw-in.

Backcourt violation. Once the offense has brought the ball across the mid-court line, they cannot go back across the line during possession. If they do, the ball is awarded to the other team to pass inbounds.

Time restrictions. A player passing the ball inbounds has five seconds to pass the ball. If he does not, then the ball is awarded to the other team. Other time restrictions include the rule that a player cannot have the ball for more than five seconds when being closely guarded and, in some states and levels, shot-clock restrictions requiring a team to attempt a shot within a given time frame.

Player PositionsCenter. Centers are generally your tallest players. They generally are positioned near the basket.

Offensive -- The center's goal is to get open for a pass and to shoot. They are also responsible for blocking defenders, known as picking or screening, to open other players up for driving to the basket for a goal. Centers are expected to get some offensive rebounds and put-backs.

Defensive -- On defense, the center's main responsibility is to keep opponents from shooting by blocking shots and passes in the key area. They also are expected to get a lot of rebounds because they're taller.

Forward. Your next tallest players will most likely be your forwards. While a forward may be called upon to play under the hoop, they may also be required to operate in the wings and corner areas.

Offensive -- Forwards are responsible to get free for a pass, take outside shots, drive for goals, and rebound.

Defensive -- Responsibilities include preventing drives to the goal and rebounding.

Guard. These are potentially your shortest players and they should be really good at dribbling fast, seeing the court, and passing. It is their job to bring the ball down the court and set up offensive plays.

Offensive -- Dribbling, passing, and setting up offensive plays are a guard's main responsibilities. They also need to be able to drive to the basket and to shoot from the perimeter.

Defensive -- On defense, a guard is responsible for stealing passes, contesting shots, preventing drives to the hoop, and for boxing out.

Where Should New Players and Coaches Start?First, we suggest that you focus on learning the basic fundamentals of basketball.

To teach fundamental skills, start with these72 free basketball drillsthat include full diagrams and step by step instructions. They will help you develop strong fundamentals and basketball skills.

Like any sport, no matter what your age -- whether you're a professional athlete or a youth player just getting started -- you need strong fundamentals to be successful!

Unfortunately, most people don't really understand what that means.

The fundamentals include working on the little things that make you better -- no matter what team or coach you play for -- or what offense or defense you are running.

For example, by working on the fundamentals of shooting, you will get better no matter what team you play for. The fundamentals of shooting include proper foot alignment, leg bend, hand position, arm angle, follow through, and so on. These are some of the little things that make a difference. Learn them!

The same goes for lays ups, foot work, post play, passing, jab steps, jump stops, pivoting, blocking out, and so on.

We suggest that you start by learning the proper technique and fundamentals for: Shooting Passing Dribbling Lay ups Jump stops Pivoting andfootwork Jab steps Screening Cutting Defense ReboundingThese are all critical fundamentals to master because they'll make you and your team better, no matter what age level or situation you might be in.

Kids SportsBasketball

Back toKids SportsBack toKids Basketball

Basketball RulesPlayer PositionsBasketball StrategyBasketball GlossaryBasketball is one of the most popular sports in the world. It is played with a ball and a hoop. Players score points by shooting the ball through the hoop.

Basketball has become popular for a number of reasons:

Basketball is fun to play: Basketball has a very fast and exciting pace of play. Also, each player on the court gets to play both offense and defense and the roles of each player are only loosely defined. Much of basketball easily can be practiced (like shooting or dribbling) with one person making it easy to learn. The sport also is great for one-on-one play all the way up to 5-on-5, so you don't need a big crowd to get a good game going.

Simple equipment: With basketball all you need are a ball and a hoop. Many playgrounds throughout the world (especially in the USA) have hoops making it easy to get a game going with just a ball.

Basketball is fun to watch: Some of the worlds greatest athletes are basketball players. The game is fast-paced and full of excitement and lots of scoring.

Basketball is an all weather sport: Basketball is often played outside in parks or in driveways, but is also a winter sport played indoors. So you can play basketball year round.

Basketball History

Basketball was invented in 1891 by Jim Naismith. He invented the sport for indoors play at the YMCA during the Massachusetts winter. The first game was played with a soccer ball and two peach baskets for goals.

The sport spread from the YMCA to colleges where the first basketball leagues were formed. As the sport gained popularity at the college level professional leagues were formed and, in 1936, basketball became an Olympic sport. Today the NBA (National Basketball Association) is one of the most popular professional sports leagues in the world.

Basketball has had a number of players that have help make basketball popular as a spectator sport including Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, and Oscar Robinson. Perhaps the most famous and arguably the greatest basketball player of all time is Michael Jordan.

More Kids Basketball Links:RulesBasketball RulesReferee SignalsPersonal FoulsFoul PenaltiesNon-Foul Rule ViolationsThe Clock and TimingEquipmentBasketball CourtPositionsPlayer PositionsPoint GuardShooting GuardSmall ForwardPower ForwardCenterStrategyBasketball StrategyShootingPassingReboundingIndividual DefenseTeam DefenseOffensive Plays

Drills/OtherIndividual DrillsTeam DrillsFun Basketball Games

StatisticsBasketball GlossaryBiographiesMichael JordanKobe BryantLeBron JamesChris PaulKevin DurantBasketball LeaguesNational Basketball Association (NBA)List of NBA TeamsCollege Basketball

Basketball is a team game played on a court. Each five-person team attempts to throw or dunk an inflated ball into the opponent's basket, which is mounted on a backboard that is ten feet above the floor. TheInternational Basketball Federation(FIBA) is the recognized governing body for basketball world wide. Founded in 2002, FIBA aims to create a worldwide basketball network to achieve a sustainable continuous growth of the sport of basketball.USA Basketball, a non-profit corporation, is the national governing body for men's and women's basketball in the United States.Basketball is a popular sport worldwide, played in professional leagues, school teams, recreational leagues, and on courts and driveways all over America. Early evidence of the game has been found in the archeological remains of the ancient civilizations of Central and South America, but the game as we know it was invented in 1891 by Dr.James Naismithof Pringles, Massachusetts. He was commissioned to design an indoor team game for the YMCA. The YWCA requested a copy of the rules in 1895, and since then, both men and woman have been participating in the sport of basketball.The basketball court may be located indoors or outdoors, and is a rectangular hard surface. The dimensions of the court vary according to the level of play;NCAAcourts are 50x90 feet,NBAandWNBAcourts are 50x94 feet, and high school courts are 50x84 feet. The court may be constructed of a variety of materials, including wood for indoor gymnasium courts, or asphalt for outdoor courts, and must have clearly defined lines which are 5 centimeters in width.A basketball hoop is located at each end of the court. This consists of a pole with an orange-painted iron ring of 45 centimeters in diameter and bottomless net of white cord on a backboard which is ten feet above court level. Backboards are made of hardwood painted white or transparent material of comparable rigidity. The backboard measures 6 feet horizontally and 4 feet vertically. The basketball is round and made of either leather, rubber, or molded nylon casing around a rubber inner bladder. It is typically orange in color, with black panel markings.Each college orprofessional basketball teamwears matching sleeveless nylon shirts and shorts in team colors, and supportive basketball sneakers which are usually high top and have adequate shock absorption. Each member has a number on the front and back of his shirt for identification, and no team mates may wear duplicate numbers. Shirts may also feature the player's last name.Each basketball team consists of five players, and up to five substitutes are allowed. There is usually a center, two forwards, and two guards. The primary ball handler is the point guard, and the top scorer is the shooting guard. The goal is to make the basketball pass through the hoop of the opposing team, and therefore, score points. A successful shot is worth two points; three if it is taken from behind the three-point arc which is 20 feet 6 inches from the basket in international games and 23 feet 9 inches in NBA games. The basketball can be passed, thrown, tapped, or dribbled toward the opposing goal, but it cannot be carried.A basketball game is played in four quarters of ten or twelve minutes and begins with a "jump-ball." This means that one player from each team stands in the center circle while the referee tosses the ball in the air between them. The players then jump upwards and attempt to tap the ball in such a way that their own team members gain possession of the ball. The players then dribble and pass toward the opposing goal.Dribbling occurs when a player bounces the ball on the floor and touches it again, without assistance or intrusion of another player. He may continue dribbling as long as he is able, but once it comes to rest in his hand, or he catches it, he must pass it to another player, or attempt to shoot it through the hoop. Many beginners must practice dribbling so they are able to keep their eye on the basket and other players instead of the ball.Passing and dribbling allows the team to reach a suitable shooting position. Any player may take a shot from anywhere on the court, but the goal is to increase the likelihood of a successful shot. A shot may pass directly through the ring, or it may be bounced off the backboard into the basket. A missed shot is fair game for both teams, who will attempt to gain control of it. The team gaining possession must attempt a shot at the goal within 30 seconds or possession will be given to the opposite team.

It is tough at times to avoid personal contact on the court, and a "foul" may be charged if one player comes in contact with another. If the player fouled was in the act of shooting, that player is awarded two free throws (two unhindered shots from behind the free-throw line). A free throw is worth one point. If the second throw is unsuccessful, both teams may vie for the ball. A "technical foul" is considered an offense against the spirit of the game. A technical foul may be charged against a player, substitute, or coach, and is penalized by two free throws for a technical foul by a player, and one for a technical foul by a coach.

BasketballFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaThis article is about the sport. For the ball used in the sport, seeBasketball (ball). For other uses, seeBasketball (disambiguation).

Basketball

Michael Jordangoes for aslam dunkat the oldBoston Garden

Highestgoverning bodyFIBA

First played1891,Springfield,Massachusetts,U.S.

Characteristics

ContactContact

Team members1020 (5 on court)

Mixed genderSingle

TypeIndoor (mainly) or Outdoor (Streetball)

EquipmentBasketball

Presence

OlympicDemonstrated in the 1904 and 1924 Summer OlympicsPart of the Summer Olympic program since 1936

Basketballis asportplayed by two teams of five players on a rectangularcourt. The objective is toshootaballthrough a hoop 18 inches (46cm) in diameter and 10 feet (3.0m) high mounted to abackboardat each end. Basketball is one of the world's most popular and widely viewed sports.[1]A team can score afield goalby shooting the ball through the basket during regular play. A field goal scores two points for the shooting team if a player is touching or closer to the basket than thethree-point line, and three points (known commonly as a3 pointerorthree) if the player is behind the three-point line. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins, but additional time (overtime) may be issued when the game ends with a draw. The ball can be advanced on the court by bouncing it while walking or running or throwing it to a team mate. It is a violation tomove without dribbling the ball, tocarryit, or tohold the ball with both hands then resume dribbling.Violationsare called "fouls". Apersonal foulis penalized, and afree throwis usually awarded to an offensive player if he is fouled while shooting the ball. Atechnical foulmay also be issued when certain infractions occur, most commonly forunsportsmanlike conducton the part of a player orcoach. A technical foul gives the opposing team a free throw, and the opposing team also retains possession of the ball.As well as many techniques for shooting, passing, dribbling and rebounding, basketball has specializedplayer positionsand offensive and defensive structures (player positioning). Typically, the tallest and strongest members of a team will play thecenterorpower forwardpositions, while slightly shorter and more agile players will playsmall forward, and the shortest players or those who possess the best ball handling skills and speed playpoint guardorshooting guard.Contents[hide] 1History 1.1Creation 1.2College basketball 1.3High school basketball 1.4Professional basketball 1.5International basketball 1.6Women's basketball 2Rules and regulations 2.1Playing regulations 2.2Equipment 2.3Violations 2.4Fouls 3Common techniques and practices 3.1Positions 3.2Strategy 3.3Shooting 3.4Rebounding 3.5Passing 3.6Dribbling 3.7Blocking 4Height 5Variations and similar games 6Social forms of basketball 7Fantasy basketball 8See also 9References 10Further reading 11External linksHistoryMain article:History of basketballCreation

The first basketball court:Springfield CollegeIn early December 1891,CanadianDr.James Naismith,[2]a physical education professor and instructor at the International Young Men's Christian Association Training School[3](YMCA) (today,Springfield College) inSpringfield,Massachusettswas trying to keep his gym class active on a rainy day. He sought a vigorous indoor game to keep his students occupied and at proper levels of fitness during the longNew Englandwinters. After rejecting other ideas as either too rough or poorly suited to walled-ingymnasiums, he wrote the basicrulesand nailed apeachbasket onto a 10-foot (3.05m) elevated track. In contrast with modern basketball nets, this peach basket retained its bottom, and balls had to be retrieved manually after each "basket" or point scored; this proved inefficient, however, so the bottom of the basket was removed,[4]allowing the balls to be poked out with a longdoweleach time.Basketball was originally played with asoccer ball. The first balls made specifically for basketball were brown, and it was only in the late 1950s thatTony Hinkle, searching for a ball that would be more visible to players and spectators alike, introduced the orange ball that is now in common use. Dribbling was not part of the original game except for the "bounce pass" to teammates. Passing the ball was the primary means of ball movement. Dribbling was eventually introduced but limited by the asymmetric shape of early balls. Dribbling only became a major part of the game around the 1950s, as manufacturing improved the ball shape.The peach baskets were used until 1906 when they were finally replaced by metal hoops with backboards. A further change was soon made, so the ball merely passed through. Whenever a person got the ball in the basket, his team would gain a point. Whichever team got the most points won the game.[5]The baskets were originally nailed to the mezzanine balcony of the playing court, but this proved impractical when spectators on the balcony began to interfere with shots. The backboard was introduced to prevent this interference; it had the additional effect of allowing rebound shots.[6]Naismith's handwritten diaries, discovered by his granddaughter in early 2006, indicate that he was nervous about the new game he had invented, which incorporated rules from a children's game called "Duck on a Rock", as many had failed before it. Naismith called the new game "Basket Ball".[7]The first official game was played in theYMCA gymnasium in Albany, New Yorkon January 20, 1892 with nine players. The game ended at 10; the shot was made from 25 feet (7.6m), on a court just half the size of a present-dayStreetballorNational Basketball Association(NBA) court. By 18971898 teams of five became standard.College basketballSee also:College basketball

The 1899 University of Kansas basketball team, with James Naismith at the back, right.Basketball's early adherents were dispatched to YMCAs throughout the United States, and it quickly spread through the USA and Canada. By 1895, it was well established at several women's high schools. While the YMCA was responsible for initially developing and spreading the game, within a decade it discouraged the new sport, as rough play and rowdy crowds began to detract from the YMCA's primary mission. However, other amateur sports clubs, colleges, and professional clubs quickly filled the void. In the years beforeWorld War I, theAmateur Athletic Unionand theIntercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States(forerunner of theNCAA) vied for control over the rules for the game. The first pro league, the National Basketball League, was formed in 1898 to protect players from exploitation and to promote a less rough game. This league only lasted five years.Dr. James Naismith was instrumental in establishingcollege basketball. His colleague C.O. Beamis fielded the first college basketball team just a year after the Springfield YMCA game at the suburbanPittsburghGeneva College.[8]Naismith himself later coached at theUniversity of Kansasfor six years, before handing the reins to renowned coachForrest "Phog" Allen. Naismith's discipleAmos Alonzo Staggbrought basketball to theUniversity of Chicago, whileAdolph Rupp, a student of Naismith's at Kansas, enjoyed great success as coach at theUniversity of Kentucky. On February 9, 1895, the first intercollegiate 5-on-5 game was played atHamline Universitybetween Hamline and the School of Agriculture, which was affiliated with theUniversity of Minnesota.[9][10]The School of Agriculture won in a 93 game.In 1901, colleges, including theUniversity of Chicago,Columbia University,Dartmouth College, the University of Minnesota, theU.S. Naval Academy, theUniversity of ColoradoandYale Universitybegan sponsoring men's games. In 1905, frequent injuries on thefootballfield promptedPresidentTheodore Rooseveltto suggest that colleges form a governing body, resulting in the creation of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS). In 1910, that body would change its name to theNational Collegiate Athletic Association(NCAA). The first Canadian interuniversity basketball game was played at theYMCAinKingston, Ontarioon February 6, 1904, whenMcGill UniversityvisitedQueen's University. McGill won 97 in overtime; the score was 77 at the end of regulation play, and a ten-minute overtime period settled the outcome. A good turnout of spectators watched the game.[11]The first men's national championship tournament, the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball tournament, which still exists as theNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics(NAIA)tournament, was organized in 1937. The first national championship for NCAA teams, theNational Invitation Tournament(NIT) in New York, was organized in 1938; theNCAA national tournamentwould begin one year later. College basketball was rocked by gambling scandals from 1948 to 1951, when dozens of players from top teams were implicated inmatch fixingandpoint shaving. Partially spurred by an association with cheating, the NIT lost support to the NCAA tournament.High school basketballThe examples and perspective in this articledeal primarily with the United States and do not represent aworldwide viewof the subject.Pleaseimprove this articleand discuss the issue on thetalk page.(August 2012)

A basketball game between theHeart Mountainand Powell High School girls teams, Wyoming, March 1944See also:List of U.S. high school basketball national player of the year awardsBefore widespread school district consolidation, most American high schools were far smaller than their present-day counterparts. During the first decades of the 20th century, basketball quickly became the ideal interscholastic sport due to its modest equipment and personnel requirements. In the days before widespread television coverage of professional and college sports, the popularity of high school basketball was unrivaled in many parts of America. Perhaps the most legendary of high school teams was Indiana'sFranklin Wonder Five, which took the nation by storm during the 1920s, dominating Indiana basketball and earning national recognition.Today virtually every high school in the United States fields a basketball team invarsitycompetition.[12]Basketball's popularity remains high, both in rural areas where they carry the identification of the entire community, as well as at some larger schools known for their basketball teams where many players go on to participate at higher levels of competition after graduation. In the 200304 season, 1,002,797 boys and girls represented their schools in interscholastic basketball competition, according to theNational Federation of State High School Associations. The states ofIllinois,IndianaandKentuckyare particularly well known for their residents' devotion to high school basketball, commonly calledHoosier Hysteriain Indiana; the critically acclaimed filmHoosiersshows high school basketball's depth of meaning to these communities.There is currently no national tournament to determine a national high school champion. The most serious effort was the National Interscholastic Basketball Tournament at theUniversity of Chicagofrom 1917 to 1930. The event was organized byAmos Alonzo Staggand sent invitations to state champion teams. The tournament started out as a mostly Midwest affair but grew. In 1929 it had 29 state champions. Faced with opposition from theNational Federation of State High School AssociationsandNorth Central Association of Colleges and Schoolsthat bore a threat of the schools losing their accreditation the last tournament was in 1930. The organizations said they were concerned that the tournament was being used to recruit professional players from the prep ranks.[13]The tournament did not invite minority schools or private/parochial schools.The National Catholic Interscholastic Basketball Tournament ran from 1924 to 1941 atLoyola University.[14]The National Catholic Invitational Basketball Tournament from 1954 to 1978 played at a series of venues, includingCatholic University,GeorgetownandGeorge Mason.[15]The National Interscholastic Basketball Tournament for Black High Schools was held from 1929 to 1942 atHampton Institute.[16]The National Invitational Interscholastic Basketball Tournament was held from 1941 to 1967 starting out atTuskegee Institute. Following a pause duringWorld War IIit resumed atTennessee State Collegein Nashville. The basis for the champion dwindled after 1954 whenBrown v. Board of Educationbegan an integration of schools. The last tournaments were held atAlabama State Collegefrom 1964 to 1967.[17]Professional basketball

Ad fromThe Liberatormagazine promoting an exhibition in Harlem, March 1922. Drawing byHugo Gellert.Teams abounded throughout the 1920s. There were hundreds of men'sprofessional basketballteams in towns and cities all over the United States, and little organization of the professional game. Players jumped from team to team and teams played in armories and smoky dance halls. Leagues came and went.Barnstormingsquads such as theOriginal Celticsand two all-African American teams, theNew York Renaissance Five("Rens") and the (still existing)Harlem Globetrottersplayed up to two hundred games a year on their national tours.In 1946, theBasketball Association of America(BAA) was formed. The first game was played inToronto, Ontario, Canada between theToronto HuskiesandNew York Knickerbockerson November 1, 1946. Three seasons later, in 1949, the BAA merged with theNational Basketball Leagueto form theNational Basketball Association(NBA). By the 1950s, basketball had become a major college sport, thus paving the way for a growth of interest in professional basketball. In 1959, abasketball hall of famewas founded inSpringfield, Massachusetts, site of the first game. Its rosters include the names of great players, coaches, referees and people who have contributed significantly to the development of the game. The hall of fame has people who have accomplished many goals in their career in basketball. An upstart organization, theAmerican Basketball Association, emerged in 1967 and briefly threatened the NBA's dominance until theABA-NBA mergerin 1976. Today the NBA is the top professional basketball league in the world in terms of popularity, salaries, talent, and level of competition.The NBA has featured many famous players, includingGeorge Mikan, the first dominating "big man"; ball-handling wizardBob Cousyand defensive geniusBill Russellof theBoston Celtics;Wilt Chamberlain, who originally played for the barnstormingHarlem Globetrotters; all-around starsOscar RobertsonandJerry West; more recent big menKareem Abdul-Jabbar,Shaquille O'NealandKarl Malone; playmakerJohn Stockton; crowd-pleasing forwardJulius Erving; European starsDirk NowitzkiandDraen Petroviand the three players who many credit with ushering the professional game to its highest level of popularity:Larry Bird,Earvin "Magic" Johnson, andMichael Jordan. In 2001, the NBA formed a developmental league, theNBDL. As of 2012, the league has 16 teams.International basketballTheInternational Basketball Federationwas formed in 1932 by eight founding nations: Argentina,Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania and Switzerland. At this time, the organization only oversaw amateur players. Its acronym, derived from the FrenchFdration Internationale de Basketball Amateur, was thus "FIBA". Men's Basketball was firstincludedat the Berlin1936 Summer Olympics, although a demonstration tournament was held in 1904. The United States defeated Canada in the first final, played outdoors. This competition has usually been dominated by the United States, whose team has won all but three titles, the first loss in a controversial final game inMunichin1972against the Soviet Union. In 1950 the firstFIBA World Championshipfor men was held in Argentina. Three years later, the firstFIBA World Championship for Womenwas held inChile. Women's basketball was added to the Olympics in 1976, which were held inMontreal, Canada with teams such as theSoviet Union,BrazilandAustraliarivaling theAmericansquads.FIBAdropped the distinction between amateur and professional players in 1989, and in 1992, professional players played for the first time in the Olympic Games. The United States' dominance continued with the introduction of theirDream Team. However, with developing programs elsewhere, other national teams started to beat the United States. A team made entirely of NBA players finished sixth in the 2002 World Championships inIndianapolis, behindYugoslavia,Argentina,Germany,New ZealandandSpain. In the2004 Athens Olympics, the United States suffered its first Olympic loss while using professional players, falling toPuerto Rico(in a 19-point loss) andLithuaniain group games, and being eliminated in the semifinals byArgentina. It eventually won the bronze medal defeating Lithuania, finishing behind Argentina andItaly. In 2006, in the World Championship of Japan, the United States advanced to the semifinals but were defeated byGreeceby 10195. In the bronze medal game it beat teamArgentinaand finished 3rd behind Greece and Spain. After the disappointments of 2002 through 2006, the U.S. regrouped, reestablishing themselves as the dominant international team behind the "Redeem Team", which won gold at the2008 Olympics, and the so-called "B-Team", which won gold at the2010 FIBA World Championshipin Turkey despite featuring no players from the 2008 squad.The all-tournament teams at the2002and2006FIBA World Championships, respectively held in Indianapolis and Japan, demonstrate the globalization of the game equally dramatically. Only one member of either team was American, namelyCarmelo Anthonyin 2006. The 2002 team featured Nowitzki, Ginobili, Yao,Peja Stojakovicof Yugoslavia (now ofSerbia), andPero Cameronof New Zealand. Ginobili also made the 2006 team; the other members were Anthony, Gasol, hisSpanishteammateJorge GarbajosaandTheodoros PapaloukasofGreece. The only players on either team to never have joined the NBA are Cameron and Papaloukas. The all-tournament team from the2010 editionin Turkey featured four NBA playersMVPKevin Durantof Team USA and theOklahoma City Thunder,Linas KleizaofLithuaniaand theToronto Raptors,Luis Scolaof Argentina and theHouston Rockets, andHedo TrkoluofTurkeyand thePhoenix Suns. The only non-NBA player was Serbia'sMilo Teodosi. The strength of international Basketball is evident in the fact that Team USA won none of the three world championships held between 1998 and 2006, with Serbia (then known as Yugoslavia) winning in 1998 and 2002 and Spain in 2006.Worldwide, basketball tournaments are held for boys and girls of all age levels. The global popularity of the sport is reflected in the nationalities represented in the NBA. Players from all six inhabited continents currently play in the NBA. Top international players began coming into the NBA in the mid-1990s, including CroatiansDraen PetroviandToni Kuko, SerbianVlade Divac, LithuaniansArvydas Sabonisandarnas Mariulionisand GermanDetlef Schrempf.In the Philippines, thePhilippine Basketball Association's first game was played on April 9, 1975 at theAraneta ColiseuminCubao,Quezon City. Philippines. It was founded as a "rebellion" of several teams from the now-defunct Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association which was tightly controlled by the Basketball Association of the Philippines (now defunct), the then-FIBA recognized national association. Nine teams from the MICAA participated in the league's first season that opened on April 9, 1975. TheNBLis Australia's pre-eminent men's professional basketball league. The league commenced in1979, playing a winter season (AprilSeptember) and did so until the completion of the 20th season in1998. The1998/99season, which commenced only months later, was the first season after the shift to the current summer season format (OctoberApril). This shift was an attempt to avoid competing directly againstAustralia's various football codes. It features 8 teams from around Australia and one inNew Zealand. A few players includingLuc Longley,Andrew Gaze,Shane Heal,Chris AnsteyandAndrew Bogutmade it big internationally, becoming poster figures for the sport in Australia. TheWomen's National Basketball Leaguebegan in 1981.Women's basketballSee also:Women's basketball

Women ofMonterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Mexico Cityplaying a game at the campus gymnasiumWomen's basketball began in 1892 atSmith CollegewhenSenda Berenson, a physical education teacher, modified Naismith's rules for women. Shortly after she was hired at Smith, she went to Naismith to learn more about the game.[18]Fascinated by the new sport and the values it could teach, she organized the first womens collegiate basketball game on March 21, 1893, when her Smith freshmen and sophomores played against one another.[19]However, the first women's interinstitutional game was played in 1892 between theUniversity of Californiaand Miss Head's School.[20]Berenson's rules were first published in 1899, and two years later she became the editor ofA.G. Spaldings first Women's Basketball Guide.[19]Berenson's freshmen played the sophomore class in the first women's intercollegiate basketball game atSmith College, March 21, 1893.[21]The same year,Mount HolyokeandSophie Newcomb College(coached byClara Gregory Baer) women began playing basketball. By 1895, the game had spread to colleges across the country, includingWellesley,Vassar, andBryn Mawr. The first intercollegiate women's game was on April 4, 1896.Stanfordwomen playedBerkeley, 9-on-9, ending in a 21 Stanford victory.Women's basketball development was more structured than that for men in the early years. In 1905, the Executive Committee on Basket Ball Rules (National Women's Basketball Committee) was created by theAmerican Physical Education Association.[22]These rules called for six to nine players per team and 11 officials. TheInternational Women's Sports Federation(1924) included a women's basketball competition. 37 women's high school varsity basketball or state tournaments were held by 1925. And in 1926, the Amateur Athletic Union backed the firstnational women's basketball championship, complete with men's rules.[22]TheEdmonton Grads, a touring Canadian women's team based inEdmonton, Alberta, operated between 1915 and 1940. The Grads toured all over North America, and were exceptionally successful. They posted a record of 522 wins and only 20 losses over that span, as they met any team which wanted to challenge them, funding their tours from gate receipts.[23]The Grads also shone on several exhibition trips to Europe, and won four consecutive exhibition Olympics tournaments, in 1924, 1928, 1932, and 1936; however, women's basketball was not an official Olympic sport until 1976. The Grads' players were unpaid, and had to remain single. The Grads' style focused on team play, without overly emphasizing skills of individual players. The first women'sAAUAll-America team was chosen in 1929.[22]Women's industrial leagues sprang up throughout the United States, producing famous athletes, includingBabe Didriksonof theGolden Cyclones, and theAll American Red Heads Team, which competed against men's teams, using men's rules. By 1938, the women's national championship changed from a three-court game totwo-court game with six players per team.[22]

Brittney Grineraccepting an award.The NBA-backedWomen's National Basketball Association(WNBA) began in 1997. Though it had shaky attendance figures, several marquee players (Lisa Leslie,Diana Taurasi, andCandace Parkeramong others) have helped the league's popularity and level of competition. Otherprofessional women's basketballleagues in the United States, such as theAmerican Basketball League (1996-1998), have folded in part because of the popularity of theWNBA. The WNBA has been looked at by many as a niche league. However, the league has recently taken steps forward. In June 2007, the WNBA signed a contract extension withESPN. The new television deal runs from 2009 to 2016. Along with this deal, came the first ever rights fees to be paid to a women's professional sports league. Over the eight years of the contract, "millions and millions of dollars" will be "dispersed to the league's teams." The WNBA gets more viewers on national television broadcasts (413,000) than bothMajor League Soccer(253,000)[24]and theNHL(310,732).[25]In a March 12, 2009 article,NBAcommissionerDavid Sternsaid that in the bad economy, "the NBA is far less profitable than the WNBA. We're losing a lot of money amongst a large number of teams. We're budgeting the WNBA to break even this year."[26]Rules and regulations

End of a match.Main article:Rules of basketballMeasurements and time limits discussed in this section often vary among tournaments and organizations; international and NBA rules are used in this section.The object of the game is to outscore one's opponents by throwing the ball through the opponents' basket from above while preventing the opponents from doing so on their own. An attempt to score in this way is called a shot. A successful shot is worth two points, orthree pointsif it is taken from beyond the three-point arc which is 6.75 metres (22ft 2in) from the basket in international games and 23feet 9inches (7.24m) in NBA games. A one-point shot can be earned when shooting from the foul line after a foul is made.Playing regulationsGames are played in four quarters of 10 (FIBA)[27]or 12 minutes (NBA).[28]College games use two 20-minute halves,[29]while United States high school varsity games use 8 minute quarters.[30]15 minutes are allowed for a half-time break under FIBA, NBA, and NCAA rules[29][31][32]and 10 minutes in United States high schools.[30]Overtimeperiods are five minutes in length[29][33][34]except for high school which is four minutes in length.[30]Teams exchange baskets for the second half. The time allowed is actual playing time; the clock is stopped while the play is not active. Therefore, games generally take much longer to complete than the allotted game time, typically about two hours.Five players from each team may be on the court at one time.[35][36][37][38]Substitutionsare unlimited but can only be done when play is stopped. Teams also have a coach, who oversees the development and strategies of the team, and other team personnel such as assistant coaches, managers, statisticians, doctors and trainers.For both men's and women's teams, a standard uniform consists of a pair of shorts and ajerseywith a clearly visible number, unique within the team, printed on both the front and back. Players wearhigh-topsneakers that provide extra ankle support. Typically, team names, players' names and, outside of North America, sponsors are printed on the uniforms.A limited number of time-outs, clock stoppages requested by a coach (or sometimes mandated in the NBA) for a short meeting with the players, are allowed. They generally last no longer than one minute (100 seconds in the NBA) unless, for televised games, a commercial break is needed.The game is controlled by theofficialsconsisting of the referee (referred to as crew chief in the NBA), one or two umpires (referred to as referees in the NBA) and the table officials. For college, the NBA, and many high schools, there are a total of three referees on the court. The table officials are responsible for keeping track of each teams scoring, timekeeping, individual and teamfouls, player substitutions, teampossession arrow, and theshot clock.EquipmentMain articles:Basketball (ball),Basketball courtandBackboard (basketball)

Traditional eight-panelbasketballThe only essential equipment in a basketball game is the ball and the court: a flat, rectangular surface with baskets at opposite ends. Competitive levels require the use of more equipment such as clocks, score sheets, scoreboard(s), alternating possession arrows, and whistle-operated stop-clock systems.

An outdoor basketball net.A regulationbasketball courtin international games is 91.9 feet long and 49.2 feet wide. In theNBAandNCAAthe court is 94 feet by 50 feet. Most courts havewood flooring, usually constructed frommapleplanks running in the same direction as the longer court dimension.[39]The name and logo of the home team is usually painted on or around the center circle.The basket is a steel rim 18inches diameter with an attached net affixed to a backboard that measures 6 feet by 3.5 feet and one basket is at each end of the court. The white outlined box on the backboard is 18inches high and 2 feet wide. At almost all levels of competition, the top of the rim is exactly 10 feet above the court and 4 feet inside the baseline. While variation is possible in the dimensions of the court and backboard, it is considered important for the basket to be of the correct height a rim that is off by just a few inches can have an adverse effect on shooting.The size of the basketball is also regulated. For men, the official ball is 29.5inches in circumference (size 7, or a "295 ball") and weighs 22 oz. If women are playing, the official basketball size is 28.5inches in circumference (size 6, or a "285 ball") with a weight of 20 oz.ViolationsThe ball may be advanced toward the basket by being shot, passed between players, thrown, tapped, rolled or dribbled (bouncing the ball while running).The ball must stay within the court; the last team to touch the ball before it travels out of bounds forfeits possession. The ball is out of bounds if it touches or crosses over a boundary line, or touches a player who is out of bounds. This is in contrast to other sports such asfootball, volleyball, and tennis (but notrugbyorAmerican football) where the ball (or player) is still considered in if any part of it is touching a boundary line.The ball-handler may not step with both feet without dribbling, an infraction known astraveling, nor dribble with both hands or hold the ball and resume dribbling, a violation calleddouble dribbling. Any part of the player's hand cannot be directly under the ball while dribbling; doing so is known ascarrying the ball. A team, once having established ball control in the front half of their court, may not return the ball to the backcourt and be the first to touch it. The ball may not be kicked, nor be struck with the fist. A violation of these rules results in loss of possession, or, if committed by the defense, a reset of theshot clock(with some exceptions in the NBA).There are limits imposed on the time taken before progressing the ball past halfway (8 seconds in FIBA and the NBA; 10 seconds in NCAA men's play and high school for both sexes, but no limit in NCAA women's play), before attempting a shot (24 seconds in FIBA and the NBA, 30 seconds in NCAA women's andCanadian Interuniversity Sportplay for both sexes, and 35 seconds in NCAA men's play), holding the ball while closely guarded (5 seconds), and remaining in the restricted area known as the free-throw lane, (or the "key") (3 seconds). These rules are designed to promote more offense.No player may touch the ball on its downward trajectory to the basket, unless it is obvious that the ball has no chance of entering the basket (goaltending). In addition, no player may touch the ball while it is on or in the basket; when any part of the ball is in the spacious cylinder above the basket (the area extended upwards from the basket); or when the ball is outside the cylinder, if the player reaches through the basket and touches it. This violation is known as "basket interference". If a defensive player goaltends or commits basket interference, the basket is awarded and the offending team gets the ball. If a teammate of the player shooting goaltends or commits interference, the basket is cancelled and play continues with the defensive team being given possession.Fouls

The referee signals that a foul has been committed.Main articles:Personal foul (basketball)andTechnical foulAn attempt to unfairly disadvantage an opponent through physical contact is illegal and is called a foul. These are most commonly committed by defensive players; however, they can be committed by offensive players as well. Players who are fouled either receive the ball to pass inbounds again, or receive one or morefree throwsif they are fouled in the act of shooting, depending on whether the shot was successful. One point is awarded for making a free throw, which is attempted from a line 15 feet (4.6m) from the basket.The referee may use discretion in calling fouls (for example, by considering whether an unfair advantage was gained), sometimes making fouls controversial calls or no-calls. The calling of fouls can vary between games, leagues and even among referees.A player or coach who shows poor sportsmanship, such as by arguing with a referee or by fighting with another player, can be charged with a more serious foul called atechnical foul. The penalty involves free throws (where, unlike a personal foul, the other team can choose any player to shoot) and varies among leagues. Repeated incidents can result indisqualification. A blatant foul involving physical contact that is either excessive or unnecessary is called an intentional foul (flagrant foul in the NBA). In FIBA, a foul resulting in ejection is called a disqualifying foul, while in leagues other than the NBA, such a foul is referred to as flagrant.If a team exceeds a certain limit of team fouls in a given period (quarter or half) four for NBA and international games the opposing team is awarded one or two free throws on all subsequent non-shooting fouls for that period, the number depending on the league. In the US college and high school games, if a team reaches 7 fouls in a half, the opposing team is awarded one free throw, along with a second shot if the first is made. This is called shooting "one-and-one". If a team exceeds 10 fouls in the half, the opposing team is awarded two free throws on all subsequent fouls for the half.When a team shoots foul shots, the opponents may not interfere with the shooter, nor may they try to regain possession until the last or potentially last free throw is in the air.After a team has committed a specified number of fouls, it is said to be "in the penalty". On scoreboards, this is usually signified with an indicator light reading "Bonus" or "Penalty" with an illuminated directional arrow indicating that team is to receive free throws when fouled by the opposing team. (Some scoreboards also indicate the number of fouls committed.)If a team misses the first shot of a two-shot situation, the opposing team must wait for the completion of the second shot before attempting to reclaim possession of the ball and continuing play.If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is unsuccessful, the player is awarded a number of free throws equal to the value of the attempted shot. A player fouled while attempting a regular two-point shot, then, receives two shots. A player fouled while attempting a three-point shot, on the other hand, receives three shots.If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is successful, typically the player will be awarded one additional free throw for one point. In combination with a regular shot, this is called a "three-point play" or "four-point play" (or more colloquially, an "and one") because of the basket made at the time of the foul (2 or 3 points) and the additional free throw (1 point).Common techniques and practicesPositionsMain article:Basketball position

Basketball positions in the offensive zoneAlthough the rules do not specify any positions whatsoever, they have evolved as part of basketball. During the first five decades of basketball's evolution, one guard, two forwards, and two centers or two guards, two forwards, and one center were used. Since the 1980s, more specific positions have evolved, namely:Point guard(often called the "1"): usually the fastest player on the team, organizes the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right player at the right time.Shooting guard(the "2"): creates a high volume of shots on offense, mainly long-ranged; and guards the opponent's best perimeter player on defense.Small forward(the "3"): often primarily responsible for scoring points via cuts to the basket and dribble penetration; on defense seeks rebounds and steals, but sometimes plays more actively.Power forward(the "4"): plays offensively often with their back to the basket; on defense, plays under the basket (in a zone defense) or against the opposing power forward (inman-to-man defense).Center(the "5"): uses height and size to score (on offense), to protect the basket closely (on defense), or to rebound.The above descriptions are flexible. On some occasions, teams will choose to use athree guard offense, replacing one of the forwards or center with a third guard.StrategyMain article:Basketball playbookThere are two main defensive strategies:zone defenseandman-to-man defense. In azone defense, each player is assigned to guard a specific area of the court. In aman-to-man defense, each defensive player guards a specific opponent. Man-to-man defense is generally preferred at higher levels of competition, as it is intuitively easier to understand and avoid mismatches between players who play different positions. However, zone defenses are sometimes used in particular situations or simply to confuse the offense with an unexpected look.Offensive plays are more varied, normally involving planned passes and movement by players without the ball. A quick movement by an offensive player without the ball to gain an advantageous position is known as acut. A legal attempt by an offensive player to stop an opponent from guarding a teammate, by standing in the defender's way such that the teammate cuts next to him, is ascreenorpick. The two plays are combined in thepick and roll, in which a player sets a pick and then "rolls" away from the pick towards the basket. Screens and cuts are very important in offensive plays; these allow the quick passes and teamwork which can lead to a successful basket. Teams almost always have several offensive plays planned to ensure their movement is not predictable. On court, the point guard is usually responsible for indicating which play will occur.Defensive and offensive structures, and positions, are more emphasized in higher levels in basketball; it is these that a coach normally requests a time-out to discuss.Shooting

Player releases a short jump shot, while her defender is either knocked down, or trying to "take a charge."Shooting is the act of attempting to score points by throwing the ball through the basket, methods varying with players and situations.Typically, a player faces the basket with both feet facing the basket. A player will rest the ball on the fingertips of the dominant hand (the shooting arm) slightly above the head, with the other hand supporting the side of the ball. The ball is usually shot by jumping (though not always) and extending the shooting arm. The shooting arm, fully extended with the wrist fully bent, is held stationary for a moment following the release of the ball, known as afollow-through. Players often try to put a steady backspin on the ball to absorb its impact with the rim. The ideal trajectory of the shot is somewhat controversial, but generally a proper arc is recommended. Players may shoot directly into the basket or may use the backboard to redirect the ball into the basket.

Basketball falling through hoopThe two most common shots that use the above described setup are theset-shotand thejump-shot. The set-shot is taken from a standing position, with neither foot leaving the floor, typically used for free throws, and in other circumstances whilst the jump-shot is taken in mid-air, the ball released near the top of the jump. This provides much greater power and range, and it also allows the player to elevate over the defender. Failure to release the ball before the feet return to the floor is considered a traveling violation.Another common shot is called thelay-up. This shot requires the player to be in motion toward the basket, and to "lay" the ball "up" and into the basket, typically off the backboard (the backboard-free, underhand version is called afinger roll). The most crowd-pleasing and typically highest-percentage accuracy shot is theslam dunk, in which the player jumps very high and throws the ball downward, through the basket whilst touching it.Another shot that is becoming common[citation needed]is the "circus shot". The circus shot is a low-percentage shot that is flipped, heaved, scooped, or flung toward the hoop while the shooter is off-balance, airborne, falling down, and/or facing away from the basket. A back-shot is a shot taken when the player is facing away from the basket, and may be shot with the dominant hand, or both; but there is a very low chance that the shot will be successful.A shot that misses both the rim and the backboard completely is referred to as anair-ball. A particularly bad shot, or one that only hits the backboard, is jocularly called abrick.ReboundingMain article:Rebound (basketball)The objective of rebounding is to successfully gain possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw, as it rebounds from the hoop or backboard. This plays a major role in the game, as most possessions end when a team misses a shot. There are two categories of rebounds: offensive rebounds, in which the ball is recovered by the offensive side and does not change possession, and defensive rebounds, in which the defending team gains possession of the loose ball. The majority of rebounds are defensive, as the team on defense tends to be in better position to recover missed shots.PassingSee also:Assist (basketball)A pass is a method of moving the ball between players. Most passes are accompanied by a step forward to increase power and are followed through with the hands to ensure accuracy.A staple pass is thechest pass. The ball is passed directly from the passer's chest to the receiver's chest. A proper chest pass involves an outward snap of the thumbs to add velocity and leaves the defence little time to react.Another type of pass is thebounce pass. Here, the passer bounces the ball crisply about two-thirds of the way from his own chest to the receiver. The ball strikes the court and bounces up toward the receiver. The bounce pass takes longer to complete than the chest pass, but it is also harder for the opposing team to intercept (kicking the ball deliberately is a violation). Thus, players often use the bounce pass in crowded moments, or to pass around a defender.Theoverhead passis used to pass the ball over a defender. The ball is released while over the passer's head.Theoutlet passoccurs after a team gets a defensive rebound. The next pass after the rebound is theoutlet pass.The crucial aspect of any good pass is it being difficult to intercept. Good passers can pass the ball with great accuracy and they know exactly where each of their other teammates prefers to receive the ball. A special way of doing this is passing the ball without looking at the receiving teammate. This is called ano-look pass.Another advanced style of passing is thebehind-the-back passwhich, as the description implies, involves throwing the ball behind the passer's back to a teammate. Although some players can perform such a pass effectively, many coaches discourage no-look or behind-the-back passes, believing them to be difficult to control and more likely to result in turnovers or violations.Dribbling

thumbnail

A U.S. Naval Academy ("Navy") player, left, posts up a U.S. Military Academy ("Army") defender.Main article:DribbleDribbling is the act of bouncing the ball continuously with one hand, and is a requirement for a player to take steps with the ball. To dribble, a player pushes the ball down towards the ground with the fingertips rather than patting it; this ensures greater control.When dribbling past an opponent, the dribbler should dribble with the hand farthest from the opponent, making it more difficult for the defensive player to get to the ball. It is therefore important for a player to be able to dribble competently with both hands.Good dribblers (or "ball handlers") tend to bounce the ball low to the ground, reducing the distance of travel of the ball from the floor to the hand, making it more difficult for the defender to "steal" the ball. Good ball handlers frequently dribble behind their backs, between their legs, and switch directions suddenly, making a less predictable dribbling pattern that is more difficult to defend against. This is called a crossover, which is the most effective way to move past defenders while dribbling.A skilled player can dribble without watching the ball, using the dribbling motion orperipheral visionto keep track of the ball's location. By not having to focus on the ball, a player can look for teammates or scoring opportunities, as well as avoid the danger of having someone steal the ball away from him/her.BlockingMain article:Block (basketball)A block is performed when, after a shot is attempted, a defender succeeds in altering the shot by touching the ball. In almost all variants of play, it is illegal to touch the ball after it is in the downward path of its arc; this is known asgoaltending. It is also illegal under NBA and Men's NCAA basketball to block a shot after it has touched the backboard, or when any part of the ball is directly above the rim. Under international rules it is illegal to block a shot that is in the downward path of its arc or one that has touched the backboard until the ball has hit the rim. After the ball hits the rim, it is again legal to touch it even though it is no longer considered as a block performed.To block a shot, a player has to be able to reach a point higher than where the shot is released. Thus, height can be an advantage in blocking. Players who are taller and playing the power forward or center positions generally record more blocks than players who are shorter and playing the guard positions. However, with good timing and a sufficiently high vertical leap, even shorter players can be effective shot blockers.HeightAt the professional level, most male players are above 6feet 3inches (1.91m) and most women above 5feet 7inches (1.70m). Guards, for whom physical coordination and ball-handling skills are crucial, tend to be the smallest players. Almost all forwards in the men's pro leagues are 6feet 6inches (1.98m) or taller. Most centers are over 6feet 10inches (2.08m) tall. According to a survey given to all NBA teams, the average height of all NBA players is just under 6feet 7inches (2.01m), with the average weight being close to 222 pounds (101kg). The tallest players ever in the NBA wereManute BolandGheorghe Murean, who were both 7feet 7inches (2.31m) tall. The tallest current NBA player isHasheem Thabeet, who stands at 7feet 3inches (2.21m). At 7feet 2inches (2.18m),Margo Dydekwas the tallest player in the history of the WNBA.The shortest player ever to play in the NBA isMuggsy Boguesat 5feet 3inches (1.60m).[40]Other short players have thrived at the pro level.Anthony "Spud" Webbwas just 5feet 7inches (1.70m) tall, but had a 42-inch (1.07 m) vertical leap, giving him significant height when jumping. While shorter players are often not very good at defending against shooting, their ability to navigate quickly through crowded areas of the court and steal the ball by reaching low are strengths.Variations and similar gamesMain article:Variations of basketball

Schoolgirls shooting hoops among theHimalayasinDharamsala, India.

A basketball training course at the Phan nh Phng High School,Hanoi, Vietnam.Variations of basketballare activities based on the game of basketball, using common basketball skills and equipment (primarily the ball and basket). Some variations are only superficial rules changes, while others are distinct games with varying degrees of basketball influences. Other variations include children's games, contests or activities meant to help players reinforce skills.There are principal basketball sports with variations on basketball includingWheelchair basketball,Water basketball,Beach basketball,Slamball,StreetballandUnicyclebasketball. An earlier version of basketball wasSix-on-six basketballplayed until the end of the 1950s.Horseballis a game played on horseback where a ball is handled and points are scored by shooting it through a high net (approximately 1.5m1.5m). The sport is like a combination ofpolo,rugby, and basketball. There is even a form played on donkeys known asDonkey basketball, but that version has come under attack from animal rights groups.

MECVOLLEYBALL GROUNDHalf-courtPerhaps the single most common variation of basketball is thehalf-courtgame, played in informal settings without referees or strict rules. Only one basket is used, and the ball must be "cleared" passed or dribbled outside the three-point line each time possession of the ball changes from one team to the other. Half-court games require lesscardiovascularstamina, since players need not run back and forth a full court. Half-court raises the number of players that can use a court or, conversely, can be played if there is an insufficient number to form full 5-on-5 teams.Half-court basketball is usually played 1-on-1, 2-on-2 or 3-on-3. The latter variation is gradually gaining official recognition as3x3, originally known as FIBA 33. It was first tested at the2007 Asian Indoor GamesinMacauand the first official tournaments were held at the2009 Asian Youth Gamesand the2010 Youth Olympics, both inSingapore. The firstFIBA 3x3 Youth World Championships[41]were held inRimini,Italyin2011, with the firstFIBA 3x3 World Championshipsfor senior teams followinga year laterinAthens. The sport is highly tipped to become anOlympic sportas early as2016.[42]There are also other basketball sports, such as: 21(also known asAmerican,cutthroatandroughhouse)[43] 42 Around the world Bounce Firing Squad Fives H-O-R-S-E Hotshot Knockout One-shot conquer Steal The Bacon Tip-it Tips "The One" BasketballWar. One-on-One, a variation in which two players will use only a small section of the court (often no more than a half of a court) and compete to play the ball into a single hoop. Such games tend to emphasize individual dribbling and ball stealing skills over shooting and team play.Wheelchair basketballWheelchair basketball, created by disabledWorld War IIveterans,[44]is played on specially designed wheelchairs for the physically impaired. The world governing body of wheelchair basketball is theInternational Wheelchair Basketball Federation[45](IWBF).Water basketballWater basketball, played in a swimming pool, merges basketball andwater polorules.Beach basketballA modified version of basketball, played on beaches, was invented by Philip Bryant.[46]Beach basketball is played in a circular court with no backboard on the goal, no out-of-bounds rule with the ball movement to be done via passes or 2 steps, as dribbling is next to impossible on a soft surface.[47]Beach basketball has grown to a very popular, widespread competitive sport. 15 Annual World Championships have been organized.Dunk HoopsDunk Hoops (aka Dunk Ball) is a variation of the game of basketball, played on basketball hoops with lowered (under basketball regulation 10 feet) rims. It originated when the popularity of the slam dunk grew and was developed to create better chances for dunks with lowered rims and using alteredgoaltendingrules.SlamballSlamball is full-contact basketball, withtrampolines. Points are scored by playing the ball through the net, as in basketball, though the point-scoring rules are modified. The main differences from the parent sport is the court; below the padded basketball rim andbackboardare four trampolines set into the floor which serve to propel players to great heights forslam dunks. The rules also permit some physical contact between the members of the four-player teams.StreetballStreetball is a less formal variant of basketball, played onplaygroundsand in gymnasiums across the world. Often only one half of the court is used, but otherwise the rules of the game are very similar to those of basketball. The number of participants in a game, or arun, may range from one defender and one person on offense (known asone on one) to two full teams of five each. Streetball is a very popular game worldwide, and some cities in the United States have organized streetball programs, such asmidnight basketball. Many cities also host their own weekend-long streetball tournaments.Unicycle BasketballUnicycle basketball is played using a regulation basketball on a regular basketball court with the same rules, for example, one must dribble the ball whilst riding. There are a number of rules that are particular to unicycle basketball as well, for example, a player must have at least one foot on a pedal when in-bounding the ball. Unicycle basketball is usually played using 24" or smaller unicycles, and using plastic pedals, both to preserve the court and the players' shins. In North America, popular unicycle basketball games are organized.[48]Spin-offs from basketballthat are now separate sports include: Korfball(Dutch: Korfbal,korfmeaning 'basket') started in the Netherlands and is now played worldwide as a mixed gender team ball game, similar to mixed netball and basketball Netball(formerly known as Women basketball but now played by both males and females), a limited-contact team sport in which two teams of seven try to score points against one another by placing a ball through a high hoop.Social forms of basketball

Typical privately owned basketball hoopBasketball has been adopted by various social groups, which have established their own environments and sometimes their own rules. Such socialized forms of basketball include the following. Recreational basketball,where fun, entertainment and camaraderie rule rather than winning a game; Basketball Schools and Academies,where students are trained in developing basketball fundamentals, undergo fitness and endurance exercises and learn various basketball skills. Basketball students learn proper ways of passing, ball handling, dribbling, shooting from various distances, rebounding, offensive moves, defense, layups, screens, basketball rules and basketball ethics. Also popular are thebasketball campsorganized for various occasions, often to get prepared for basketball events, andbasketball clinicsfor improving skills. College and University basketballplayed in educational institutions of higher learning. This includesNational Collegiate Athletic Association(NCAA) intercollegiate basketball. Disabled basketballplayed by various disabled groups, such as Bankshot basketball,[49] Deaf basketball, Wheelchair basketball, a sport based on basketball but designed fordisabledpeople inwheelchairsand considered one of the majordisabled sportspracticed. Ethnic and Religion-based basketball: Examples of ethnic basketball include Indo-Pak or Russian or Armenian leagues in the United States or Canada, for example, or Filipino expatriate basketball leagues in the Gulf or the United States. Religion-based basketball includes, most notably, church-related Christian basketball leagues, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu basketball leagues, and so on. or denominational leagues like Coptic, Syriac/Assyrian basketball leagues in the United States or Canada. Gay basketballplayed in gay, lesbian,bisexualandtransgendercommunities in gay basketball leagues. The sport of basketball is a major part of events during theGay Games,World OutgamesandEuroGames. Midnight basketball, a basketball initiative to curb inner-city crime in the United States and elsewhere by keeping urban youth off the streets and engaging them with sports alternatives to drugs and crime. Mini basketballplayed by underage children. Maxi Basketballplayed by more elderly individuals. Prison basketball, practiced in prisons and penitentiary institutions. Active religious basketball missionary groups also play basketball with prisoners. Some prisons have developed their own prison basketball leagues. At times, non-prisoners may play in such leagues, provided all home and away games are played within prison courts. Film directorJason Moriartyhas released a documentary relating to the sport, entitledPrison Ball. Rezball, short for reservation ball, is the avidNative Americanfollowing of basketball, particularly a style of play particular to Native American teams of some areas. School or High school basketball, the sport of basketball being one of the most frequently exercised and popular sports in all school systems. Show basketballas performed by entertainment basketball show teams, the prime example being theHarlem Globetrotters. There are even specialized entertainment teams, including Celebrity basketballteams made of celebrities (actors, singers, and so on.) playing in their own leagues or in public, often for entertainment and charity events; Midget basketballteams made up of athletes ofshort statureoffering shows using basketball; Slamballoffered as entertainment events.Fantasy basketballMain article:Fantasy basketballFantasy basketballwas inspired byfantasy baseball. Originally played by keeping track of stats by hand, it was popularized during the 1990s after the advent of the Internet. Those who play this game are sometimes referred to as General Managers, who draft actualNBAplayers and compute theirbasketball statistics. The game was popularized byESPNFantasy Sports,NBA.com, andYahoo!Fantasy Sports. Other sports websites provided the same format keeping the game interesting with participants actually owning specific players.The Physics of BasketballIntroIronically, physics in basketball is fairly irrelevant. Instead the physics in basketball is simply interesting to people who really try to break down the art of shooting, passing, and dribbling. What I mean is that the physics in basketball is a product of a persons memory. A person has a kinesthetic memory in how they remember how they shot from where and with a certain amount of velocity. This is achieved by hours of practice and playing. Basketball then becomes more of a series of reflexives behaviors and playing on instinct. However, understanding the physics of basketball can be very beneficial to a teacher of the game. Specifically, understanding the physics behind shooting, passing, and dribbling the basketball are the most beneficial and critical.ShotPerhaps the most interesting piece of the physics of basketball is seen in the shot. There are two main points of emphasis on shooting the basketball: the shot itself and the spin on the ball. First of all lets establish two different types of shots the jump shot and the lay up. For the jump shot, there is little horizontal movement because the jump shot deals more with vertical movement. The ball itself is pushed off of his or her finger tips and the force and angle is applied upon release. Jeff Hornacek, NBA player, uses a different type of jump shot. He uses more of a running jump shot. Therefore, in the case of his jump shot there is more of a horizontal movement and a lesser amount of the vertical movement. By not pushing the shot toward the basket, he doesnt add velocity to the ball. Rather, allowing his running speed that he is traveling to be the horizontal velocity (Kentridge). The running jump shot is a fairly rare type of shot used by players. The lay up, however, is a shot based more on momentum. The velocity on the ball is the sum of the shooters speed and the balls speed (Flores 2) so on the case of a lay up the ball doesnt need as much force and is basically dropped into the basket, especially in a dunk. For anyone interested in knowing the required angle and velocity of a shot from anywhere on the court within 78 feet from the basket they can go to the websitehttp://www.fearofphysics.com/Proj/proj.html.Shooting a Free ThrowLet us now look specifically at a free throw. A free throw, just like any other shot, has the best chance of going in the more arc the shot has. When the ball comes straight down it makes the rim seem bigger than when a shot has more of a straight trajectory. Therefore, the most ideal shot would be one that comes nearly straight down into the basket; however, when shooting that type of shot it is nearly impossible to aim. Rick Barry, former NBA player, was an advocate of shooting a granny or underhand shot as his free throws. He shot his free throws underhand and for his career shot around 80 percent. He believes that more professional players, for example Shaquille ONeal, that shoot a poor free throw percentage should shoot a granny shot even though it looks really goofy. Another advantage of the underhand shot is that it minimizes the drift of the ball. The trick to keeping the ball moving along a single plane toward the basket lies in minimizing the x-axis motion In other words you have to keep your elbows tucked in (Rist). The underhand shot allows a player to have a lot more control over their shot. The traditional overhand shot requires movement from the wrist, elbow, and shoulder to make it easier for a person to shoot the ball with more error. However, despite all of these positive attributes to an underhand shot both Rist and Barry acknowledge that asking a professional player, or any player, would make them look kind of stupid (Rist).SpinThe spin on the ball and its significance can be a fairly surprising topic to most people. The spin used on a shot during its time in the air is really irrelevant. The spin really only comes into use when the ball hits either the rim or the backboard. The effects of air resistance of the ball are so small because of small velocities, so spin of a shot in air is not useful. What spin is useful for is for a better chance of the ball going in if the ball hits the rim (Kentridge). Obviously, once the ball hits the backboard the velocity of the ball changes. Backspin on the ball will allow the ball to continue in a vertical path allowing the ball to have a greater chance of going in. The backspin, after contact with the back rim or board, will result in a change in velocity opposite to the spin direction, changing an equal-angle rebound into a velocity more toward the net (Willis). A ball without backspin will more than likely just bounce off the rim or backboard and will have a significantly lesser chance of going in. Another aspect of the importance of spin is that it transfers energy. With the spin on a shot, some of the energy is transferred to the basket. This transfer of energy is from friction. When the spinning ball hits the rim, more energy is transferred (Kentridge). One argument showing that physics isnt really that important to basketball dealing with backspin is that The backspin is mostly a calibration for the shooter to produce and reproduce the same shot. This is sometimes referred to by sports sciences and biosciences as muscle memory (Cull).PassingAnother aspect of basketball where calculating the physics can be interesting lies in passing. The idea of catching a pass can be analyzed using the equation m*v = F*t or F= (m*v)/t. In using this idea the greater the time is the lesser the force will be and thus the pass will be a lot easier to catch and not drop.The idea of catching the perfect pass comes from the laws of motion and energy. If the ball is initially received with the elbows slightly bent the arms should be allowed to absorb the force of the on coming basketball and the ball should end up being caught close to the chest. This can be more easily explained in physics with the help of a couple simple formulas. It is known that in physics that the mass of an object multiplied by the velocity of the object equals the liner momentum of the object. It is also known that the momentum divided by the time it takes the object to impact is equal to the net force the object will have upon impact. In other words by the player catching the ball with arms extended and slightly bent elbows and allowing their arms to slow down the ball before hitting their chest they are increasing the time it takes the ball to impact. Since the momentum is divided by the time in the formula discussed above increasing the time will make the net force smaller when the ball is received into the chest. This will result in a nice soft reception of the basketball and smaller chance that the ball will be dropped. FloresThe art of passing the ball and receiving the ball shouldnt be a very complicated process. Basically, as long as a person tries to catch the ball with their arms slightly bent it will be much easier as the person will be able to reduce the force by increasing the time of the pass.DribblingAnother important part of the game of basketball is dribbling the basketball. Obviously, a ball with more air in it will bounce higher than a ball that has no air in it. The more air pressure a basketball has inside it, the less its surface will bend or deform during a bounce, and the more its original energy will be stored in the compressed air inside. Air stores and returns more energy than the material that the ball is made from (Willis). Another way to look at dribbling the ball can be concerned with the potential and kinetic energy the ball has. When the ball is held the ball has potential energy. Upon its release to the floor, the potential energy converts to kinetic energy. As the ball hits the floor the kinetic energy is stored as elastic potential energy. Because of this elastic energy the ball and the floor dent (Flores).Miscellaneous InformationOf course there are other miscellaneous pieces of basketball related to physics too. For example, the shoes must have good traction. Good traction means that the coefficient of friction between the shoe and the floor must be high. Also, a player uses static friction when planting their foot. This static friction allows a player to stop and turn without sliding across the floor because the static friction is greater than the sliding friction (Willis). A misconception that some people have is that great athletes seem to have a way of defying gravity and gliding in the air. However, all players fall at the same rate and the fact that they look like they are gliding is merely an illusion usually done by players extending their arms at the peak of the jump, bending their legs, and the fact that they are stopped by the rim but their legs continue gliding all allowing for this illusion to occur.ConclusionThe physics used in basketball can be very educational and fun. However, it is not very practical as some other applications of physics. It is not very practical for a person to stop and calculate the angle, velocity, and position from which they shoot in order to consistently make a shot. Players instead rely on a kinesthetic memory built on repetition. However, for a real student of the game breaking down the pieces of the game into the physical reasoning can be extremely valuable. Often times coaches will present these physics applications without even realizing it and almost always without mentioning anything in the realm of physics. As much as the physics of basketball seems unimportant and ludicrous to calculate the principles are in fact very present and very valuable to a player without them even knowing they are doing physics.

A basketball player can jump as much as 4 feet in the air (vertically). And the higher he jumps the greater the hang time (the total time he is airborne), and the greater the time he will appear suspended in mid-air during the high point of the jump.

Typically, there is a horizontal and vertical component in the jump velocity at take-off. The magnitude of the vertical component of the velocity at take-off will determine the time the player spends airborne (since gravity acts in the vertical direction and will act on the player to bring him back down). Thus, the vertical component of velocity, after take-off, will change with time.

The horizontal component of velocity remains constant throughout the jump since it is not affected by gravity.

The figure below shows the typical trajectory a basketball player might travel as he makes a jump.

You can visually see that almost half the hang time is spent near the top of the arc.

Using some mathematics one can calculate the time spent in the top part of the jump.

The following formula is used for linear motion with constant acceleration:

d = V1t 0.5g(t)2

Where:

d is the vertical jump distance

V1is the vertical component of jump velocity at take-off

t is time

g is the acceleration due to gravity, which is 9.8 m/s2

Maximum jump height is reached at t = V1/g.

Using the above formula for d, the maximum height reached isdmax= (V1)2/(2g).

Now, set t = V1/(2g), this is half the time it takes to reach maximum height. Call this time thalf.

Using the above formula for d, the height reached during thalfisdhalf= 3(V1)2/(8g).

Now, calculate the following ratio:

dhalf/dmax= 0.75

This interesting result tells us that half the hang time is spent in the bottom 75% of the jump. The remaining time is spent in the top of the jump (the top 25% of the jump). In other words, half the jump time is spent in the highest 25% of the jump (the top part of the arc). This explains why a basketball player appears to "hang" during the jump.

So, a player who can jump 4 feet vertically will have a hang time of around a second, with half a second spent in the high part of the jump.

Physics Of Basketball Backspin

Backspin is used by players to improve their chances of getting the basketball into the net. When an object is spinning and bounces off something, it will have a tendency to bounce in the direction of the spin. This is useful for players who bounce the ball off the backboard, or the back of the net. The resulting bounce will more likely send the ball downwards into the net. Without backspin the ball is more likely to bounce away from the net.

Physics covers all mass and motion, which is about all most sports are.

Ball and player motions all involve displacement, velocity, acceleration, and force vectors. This includes 'sub-motions' of hand, arm, leg, head and torso.

Player interactions involve relating inertia, motion, and force vectors. Ch