How do I play basketball?
Fancy a game of basketball but want to do something more with your game than just dribble? Then you’ve come to the right place, because here you can find out everything you need to know about the rules of basketball as well as other exciting information about the popular ball sport.
What is basketball?
Although basketball is a team sport, it was invented by a single person. That was 1891 James Naismith, a doctor and educator by trade, had the idea of offering his students a sport that was different from what was known to date. Also, he didn’t like the combative nature of the game, so he looked for a solution that consisted of moving the baskets to a different level from where the players are. What is meant by this is that the goals are not tied with the two teams on the ground, as in soccer or American football. When basketball made its first attempts, the entire field was very rudimentary, but it didn’t stop the fun – you see what came of it: A world-renowned and popular sport that even made it to the Olympic Games and offers sports fans real career opportunities.
General Basketball Rules
Team
In basketball, two teams play against each other. Each team consists of 5 players, called field players, who are the “Starting Five”. In addition, each team has 5 to 7 substitutes who wait on the substitutes’ bench during the game to be called on. You can use substitute players at any time during a break in the game, there is no limit.
Basketball equipment
In addition to good sports shoes and a comfortable sports outfit, you need a ball. You should choose the right size for the players, because small and delicate people need a different ball than those who are tall and strong. You have the choice between sizes 3 to 7.
A size 7 ball comes into play for men’s official basketball and a size 6 for women’s.
Matchfield
The rectangular playing field is – according to FIBA - 28 meters long and 15 meters wide and not only has a hard floor, but is also divided using various circles and lines. In the hall, a ceiling height of 7 meters is required. In private circles, the fields are often smaller and not necessarily marked, because theoretically two baskets are enough and you can have a match.
Around the baskets is a relatively large space, the three-point space, from which a successful shot counts as 2 points instead of 3. There is also a small free-throw space directly below and around the basket, in which the opposing players are only allowed to stay for 3 seconds. At a relative distance from the basket is the free-throw line, from which the player is free to throw at the basket after a foul by the opponent.
Lineup
After a basket is scored, play resumes with possession for the opposing team on the end line under the basket.
Referee
Officially, a game must be equipped with 2 skiers, with many official games such as the NBA or NCAA even having three at the start. You don’t need one in private if you don’t want to. In official games, each referee gets a different job, because in the fast games hardly anyone can pay attention to everything. There is also a timekeeper and scorer who form the judging panel at the scorer’s table and also make sure that all players play according to the rules.
The Basketball Rules
The game
You play four quarters that officially last 10 minutes (NBA 12 minutes)
In the event of a tie, there is a 5-minute overtime period
It starts at the center circle, where the referee stands in the middle of two players and throws the ball up. The players try to get possession of the ball and then it starts.
Once a team has possession of the ball they have 24 seconds to make the basket, anything beyond which results in a forced pass. As soon as one of these happens, the ball goes to the baseline, from where you throw it back into play.
Movement rules
The game thrives on throwing and dribbling. It can happen that you hold onto the ball – in this case you can only take a star step and either go to a teammate or try to make a basket.
You can block a ball that flies to a basket, but only as long as it has not reached the highest point. Only after that or when it bounced off can you grab it.
Time rules
There is also a whole package of time rules that should speed up the gameplay. S
Wait 8 seconds before playing the ball into the opponent’s half of the field
each attack can only last 24 seconds
whoever has the ball must perform an action with the ball after 5 seconds
teams are only allowed to remain in the opponent’s free-throw area for 3 seconds
Points
2 points: successful throw before the 3-point line or a successful layup
3 points: successful throw behind the 3-point line
1 point: free throws
free throws
Although free throws bring the fewest points, they can make the cabbage fat – depending on the fouls in the game.
1 free throw: If you still hit a jorb during the foul
2 free throws: foul while throwing in front of the 3-point line,
2 free throws per foul: Your team has been fouled more than 4 times per quarter
3 free throws: foul behind the 3-point line, there are three free throws
Rule violations
For personal and technical fouls, a fouled player’s team is allowed either a free pass or the team is awarded one or more free throws. This depends on whether the foul happened during a throw and whether the throw was successful. Personal fouls are fouls aimed directly at another player that involve bumping, blocking, pushing, and generally obstructing. Technical fouls can be a variety of things such as obscene language, nagging, arguing, playing for time and illegal substitutions.
In what year were basketball players first paid to play?
November 7, 1896 – The Brooklyn YMCA and the Trenton Basketball Team played at the Masonic Temple in downtown Trenton in a game that is believed to be the first professional contest in which the players were paid to play.
When did Michael Jordan start playing basketball?
Jordan made his NBA debut at Chicago Stadium on October 26, 1984, and scored 16 points.
How many people play basketball?
The Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA) estimates that a minimum of 450 million people play the sport around the world, be it recreationally or through structured competitions.
When was basketball first played?
On December 21, 1891, 30-year-old James Naismith introduces the first game of basketball.
How many calories do you burn playing basketball?
Just shooting hoops helps burn around 300 calories an hour. Playing a half court game brings it to about 558 an hour, and stepping up to a full court game will burn around 747 calories an hour.
Does playing basketball make you taller?
Unfortunately, no evidence suggests that basketball or any other physical activity increases your maximal height. The same is true for supplements and any other tricks marketed to increase your height. Height is determined primarily by genetic factors and secondarily by nutrition during childhood and adolescence.
How does teamwork play a role in basketball?
In sports, teamwork is essential to achieving a victory as it requires the effort of every member on the team. Young athletes are able to develop a number of skills through sports that coincide with teamwork such as cooperation and social skills.
How many countries play basketball?
There are currently 197 countries in the world. Nearly all of them play basketball in one way or another. While that may be surprising to some, the sport is currently ranked as the seventh most popular on Earth.
