BASKETBALL

HISTORY
James Naismith was the Canadian physical education
instructor who invented basketball in 1891. James
Naismith was born in Almonte, Ontario and educated at
McGill University and Presbyterian Cllege in Montreal.
He was the physical education teacher at McGill
University (1887 to 1890) and at Springfield College in
Springfield, Massachusetts (1890 to 1895). At Springfield
College (which was then the Y.M.C.A. training school),
James Naismith, under the direction of American physed specialist Luther Halsey Gulick, invented the indoor
sport of basketball.

HISTORY
The first formal rules were devised in 1892.
Initially, players dribbled a soccer ball up and
down a court of unspecified dimensions. Points
were earned by landing the ball in a peach
basket. Iron hoops and a hammock-style basket
were introduced in 1893. Another decade
passed, however, before the innovation of openended nets put an end to the practice of
manually retrieving the ball from the basket each
time a goal was scored.

BASKETBALL COURT
Basketball courts come in different shapes and sizes and
colors. In the NBA, the court is 94 feet by 50 ft (28.65m by
15.24m). Under International Basketball Federation (FIBA)
rules,[1] the court is minutely smaller, measuring exactly
28 m by 15 m (91'10.4" by 49'2.6"). A high school court is
slightly smaller, at 84' by 50' and some elementary
schools have courts measuring 74' x 42'. In amateur
basketball, court sizes vary widely. The baskets are
always 10' (3.05m) above the floor (except possibly in
youth competition). Basketball courts have a three-point
arc at both baskets. A basket made from behind this arc is
worth three points; a basket made from within this line, or
with a player's foot touching the line is worth two points.
The free-throw line, where one stands while taking a foul
shot, is located within the three-point arc.

BASIC SKILLS

BASIC SKILLS
Dribbling
-is an important skill for all basketball
players. This skill will allow you to move up
and down the court, maneuver past
defenders and execute plays. Proper
dribbling requires ball-handling skills and
knowledge of how to spread your fingers for
ball control. It is also best if you know how to
dribble equally well with both hands.

BASIC SKILLS
Shooting
-in order to score points in basketball, you
need to shoot the ball into the hoop. This
requires the ability to properly hold and
throw the ball into the air toward the basket
while avoiding defenders. A proper shot
requires precise aiming, arm extension and
lift from the legs. There are different types of
shots you need to learn, including jump
shots, layups and free throws.

BASIC SKILLS
Running
-is a big part of basketball. In a full-court
game, you will find yourself running back
and forth as the game quickly transitions
between offense and defense. When you
have the ball, running will help you to avoid
defenders and get to the basket quicker. On
defense, you often will find yourself needing
to run after the opponent, especially during
fast breaks.

BASIC SKILLS

Passing
-is another skill that when mastered can help
you become a complete basketball player.
Basketball is a team sport that involves
finding a teammate who is open for a shot.
The ability to pass the ball to this player can
make the difference between scoring and
not scoring. Really great passers are an
important part of a basketball team and
usually the ones who set up scoring plays.

BASIC SKILLS
Jumping
-is another skill that can define how good a
basketball player is. Jumping is involved in
offense during the jump ball in the
beginning, while taking shots and
sometimes while trying to catch a pass. On
defensive you will need the ability to jump
when trying to block a shot or a pass. Being
able to out jump your opponent for a
rebound also is important.

BASIC RULES/REGULATIONS

ORIGINAL RULES
January 15, 1892
The ball may be thrown in any direction
with one or both hands.
The ball may be batted in any direction
with one or both hands.
A player cannot run with the ball. The
player must throw it from the spot on
which he catches it, allowance to be made
for a man who catches the ball when
running at a good speed if he tries to stop.

 The ball must be held in or between the

hands; the arms or body must not be used
for holding it.
No shouldering, holding, striking, pushing,
or tripping in any way of an opponent. The
first infringement of this rule by any person
shall count as a foul; the second shall
disqualify him until the next basket is
made or, if there was evident intent to
injure the person, for the whole of the
game. No substitution shall be allowed.

 A foul is striking at the ball with the fist,

violation of rules three and four and such
described in rule five.
If either side makes three consecutive
fouls, it shall count a goal for the
opponents (consecutive means without the
opponents in the mean time making a
foul).

 A goal shall be made when the ball is

thrown or batted from the grounds into the
basket and stays there (without falling),
providing those defending the goal do not
touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests
on the edges, and the opponent moves
the basket, it shall count as a goal.

 When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall

be thrown into the field of play and played
by the first person touching it. In case of
dispute the umpire shall throw it straight
into the field. The thrower-in is allowed five
seconds. If he holds it longer, it shall go to
the opponent. If any side persists in
delaying the game, the umpire shall call a
foul on that side.

 The umpire shall be the judge of the men

and shall note the fouls and notify the
referee when three consecutive fouls have
been made. He shall have power to
disqualify people according to Rule 5.
The referee shall be judge of the ball and
shall decide when the ball is in play, in
bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall
keep the time. He shall decide when a
goal has been made and keep account of
the baskets, with any other duties that are
usually performed by a scorekeeper

 The time shall be two fifteen-minute

halves, with five minutes rest between.
The side making the most points in that
time is declared the winner.

MODERN RULES

 The Rules
-basketball 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 midcourt 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.

 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

FOULS AND VIOLATIONS

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.

 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

PLAYER POSITIONS
Center. 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.