Basketball

Basketball is a sport played by two teams of five players on a rectangular court. The objective is
to shoot a ball through a hoop 18 inches (46 cm) in diameter and 10 feet (3.0 m) high mounted to
a backboard at each end. Basketball is one of the world's most popular and widely viewed sports.
[1]

A team can score a field goal by 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 the three-
point line, and three points (known commonly as a 3 pointer or three) 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 to move without
dribbling the ball, to carry it, or to hold the ball with both hands then resume dribbling.
Violations are called "fouls". A personal foul is penalized, and a free throw is usually awarded to an
offensive player if he is fouled while shooting the ball. A technical foul may also be issued when
certain infractions occur, most commonly for unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of a player
or coach. 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
specialized player positions and offensive and defensive structures (player positioning). Typically,
the tallest and strongest members of a team will play the center or power forward positions, while
slightly shorter and more agile players will play small forward, and the shortest players or those who
possess the best ball handling skills and speed play point guard or shooting guard.


You are here:
Home
Basketball
Basketball Guides
Basketball Rules & Regulations
Basketball Rules & Regulations

Basketball is a dynamic, fast-paced game that has captured the imagination of millions of people
around the world. It produced one of the most electrifying plays in all of sports (the slam dunk) and
the one of the worlds most recognizable athletes (Michael Jordan). Despite the razzle-dazzle now
associated with the sport, basketball is essentially a simple game with a straightforward goal: Put the
ball in the opponents basket.
Official basketball games are governed by a general set of rules that regulate the size of the court,
number of players, equipment specifications and game play. Rules, however, vary slightly based on
country, region, division, and league. The information below is a general overview of basic
basketball rules and regulations.
Court and Equipment
Basketball is an adaptable game. Because of its simple equipment requirementsall you need is an
elevated hoop (10 feet above the ground) and a ballbasketball can be played in almost any
environmental setting: Outdoor, indoor, at a park, or even at the beach. Formal basketball
competitions, however, are generally played indoors on a hardwood court measuring 94 feet x 50
feet (court dimensions can vary depending on the league and/or level). For more specific information
regarding court and equipment specifications, click here to check out the Court Dimensions page
on iSport.
Principles of the Game
There are two primary objectives in basketball:
Score points by throwing or dropping the ball through the oppositions basket
Stop the opponent from scoring
Rules and regulations are in place to help maintain the flow of the game and to ensure player safety
and fair play. It is important to know and understand the major principles and/or rules of the sport, as
they dictate how the game is played. These rules are outlined below:
Time Limits
A basketball game is essentially a race against time. Most leagues/levels divide games into four
equal periods called quarters (the length of each period differs according to the level). However, it is
not uncommon to divide a game into halvestwo equal segments.
In addition to the game clock, many levels/leagues also play with a shot clocka device that limits
the amount of time a team can have the ball during each possession.
Scoring
A team scores by throwing or dropping the ball through the opponents hoop from above. An attempt
to score is called a shot. Each time a player successfully puts the ball through the hoop their team is
awarded one, two, or three points. The number of points given for each successful shot depends on
the type of shot. Below is a breakdown of the different shot values:
Foul Shot/Free Throw: The referee will grant a foul shot to a player who is fouled while in
the act of shooting. A successful free throw is worth one point.
2 Point: Any shot taken within the area between the end line and the three point arc is
worth two points if it goes in.
3 Pointer: Any successful shot taken behind the three-point line is worth three points.
And the Winner is...
The team that scores the most points within the
allotted time is the winner of the game.
Overtime
If the score is tied at the end of regulation time, an
extra period is played to determine the winner.
This period is called overtime. The length of the
extra period depends on the league/level.
Overtime begins with a jump ball and ends when the allotted time has expired. The team with the
most points at the end of the extra period is the winner. If the score remains tied at the end of
overtime, then another period will be played; this process will continue until a winner can be
determined.
Moving the Ball
There are two ways to move the basketball: The pass and the dribble. Passingthe intentional
transfer of the ball from one player to another is the preferred option, because it is the fastest way
to move the ball and involves team work. The dribblethe continuous bouncing of the ball on the
flooron the other hand, is an individual act. While it can be necessary in certain situations,
dribbling too often can easily get a player into trouble.
Rough Play
Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, despised the rough-play tactics rampant in sports like
football and rugby. Thus, when inventing basketball he did his best to create a sport that
discouraged excessive roughness. The modern rules reflect his desire.
By rule, basketball is a non-contact sport. This does not mean that any physical contact between
opponents is illegal. What it does mean however, is that players are not allowed to engage in
rough/excessive physical contact and/or use contact to gain a competitive advantage on the
opponent.
Referees and Their Duties
The referee(s) are in charge of enforcing the rules.
When a rule has been violated, the referee will use
a whistle to stop play and subsequently
communicate said infraction using pre-designated
hand signals. For a detailed guide to deciphering
the referees hand signals click here. The number
of officials presiding over a given game depends
on the level of play. Youth and high school games
generally have two referees, while the college and professional ranks employ three officials.
Referees are usually dressed in white-and-black stripped shirts and black pants. Officials in the NBA
are required to wear a gray shirt and black pants.
Game Play
Though it can be played on an individual basiswhen two people play against each other it is called
one-on-onebasketball was designed to be a team sport. Teams can be made up of anywhere
from two to five players, but traditionally, the sport is played between two teams of five. Each team
can have more than five players, but only five players per team are allowed on the court at one time.
The five players who are on the court when the game begins are called the starters. The other
players are reserves or substitutes. Substitutions are allowed to enter the game during dead ball
situations (when play is stopped).
Once the starters are on the court and ready to get the game underway, play is initiated by a tip-off
(also called a jump ball). Two opposing players gather at midcourt and subsequently attempt to
gain control of the ball after it is tossed into the air in by an official between the two opposing
players.
As soon as a team gains possession of the ball, that team is on offense; that means it will be actively
trying to score points. A team will remain in possession of the ball until it commits a violation/foul,
scores, or turns the ball over to the defense.
When a team does not have possession of the ball, it is on defense. In other words, it is trying to
prevent the offensive team from scoring. Defenders are allowed to contest a shot in an attempt to
prevent scoring, but are not allowed to use excessive physical contact. Doing so is a violation of the
rules and considered a foul.
Breaking the Rules
Rule infractions generally fall into one of two categories: Fouls or violations. The penalty for a
violation is less severe than the penalty for a foul. Also, a player may commit any number of
violations, but only five fouls (six in the NBA) during a game.
For a better understanding of the difference between a foul and a violation (and a few examples of
each), see the descriptions below.
Fouls
A foul is a breach of the rules concerning illegal contact between opponents and/or unsportsmanlike
conduct. There are two distinct types of fouls in basketball: The technical foul and the personal foul.
A technical foul is issued when a player, coach, or team commits an infraction of the
games administrative rules (any rules that have to do with equipment specifications,
sportsmanship, or game procedure). These fouls generally do not involve live-ball
infractions, but can be issued in response to physical contact between two opponents
during a dead-ball situation. Examples of actions/behavior that may result in a technical
foul include:
o Unsportsmanlike conduct by either a coach or player. Inappropriate language is not
tolerated and will be penalized with a technical foul.
o Submitting an incorrect roster.
o Wearing uniforms that do not comply with regulations outlined in the rules.
Because the rules regarding the administration of technical fouls are fairly cut and dry,
much of the focus here will be on the personal foul.
A personal foul is a player foul that involves illegal contact with an opponent while the
ball is live. The offender is charged with one foul per violation, and if it is the players fifth
foul he/she is disqualified from the game (in the NBA players are allowed six fouls before
disqualification). One of the officials main duties is to ensure that the game is always
played fairly and they have to think about the effect of player contact when determining its
legality. If the contact creates a disadvantage for either player, then it is called a foul. If it
does not, no violation has occurred.
Violations
In basketball, a violation is when a player breaks one of the non-foul related rules. Violations can be
called on both the offense and the defense, but are most commonly called on the offensive team. An
offensive violation results in the loss of possession.
Here is a breakdown of a few of the most common violations:
Traveling: It is illegal to take more than one step while holding the ball doing. Players are
allowed to establish a pivot foot, but once a pivot foot is determined it cannot be lifted off
the ground before the player shoots, passes, or dribbles the ball.
Illegal dribble: A player shall not dribble a second time after his/her first dribble has
ended.
Carrying/palming: Allowing the ball to come to a rest in one or both hands while
dribbling.
Out of bounds: The court boundaries are marked by a sold line that is at least two inches
thick. It is a violation if a player contacts a boundary line while in possession of the ball.
Backcourt violation: Once a team establishes possession in the frontcourt, no person
from that team may be the first person to touch a ball that is knocked into the backcourt.


Read more at: http://basketball.isport.com/basketball-guides/basketball-rules-regulations