Basketball Rules &

Terminologies
 How to play basketball
• Basketball is played by 2 teams with 5 players each. You score by putting the ball through the hoop.
• Dribble or pass to move the ball. Players are not allowed to take more than two steps after picking the ball up before
shooting or passing it.
• Points scored inside of the round arc on the floor are worth 2 points. If you shoot and make the ball outside of the
arc, it’s worth 3 points.
• Games of basketball are divided into 4 quarters of varying length depending on the level of play. When the game
ends, the team with the most points wins.
 Basketball Offensive Rules
The player must bounce, or dribble, the ball with one hand while moving both feet. If, at any time, both hands touch the
ball or the player stops dribbling, the player must only move one foot.

The basketball player can only take one turn at dribbling. In other words, once a player has stopped dribbling they cannot
start another dribble. A player can only start another dribble after another player from either team touches or gains control
of the basketball. This is usually after a shot or pass.

The ball must stay in bounds. If the offensive team looses the ball out of bounds the other team gets control of the
basketball.

The players hand must be on top of the ball while dribbling. If they touch the bottom of the basketball while dribbling and
continue to dribble this is called carrying the ball and the player will lose the ball to the other team.

Once the offensive team crosses half court, they may not go back into the backcourt. This is called a backcourt violation.
If the defensive team knocks the ball into the backcourt, then the offensive team can recover the ball legally.
 Basketball Defensive Rules
The main rule for the defensive player is not to foul. There is some interpretation that has to be made by the
referee, but, in general, the defensive player may not touch the offensive player in a way that causes the
offensive player to lose the ball or miss a shot.
 Basketball Violations
Acts that breaks or violates the rules of the game defined in the rulebook

• Traveling – a violation that occurs when a player takes too many steps without dribbling the ball
• Double dribble – a violation that occurs when a player uses two hands to dribble the ball
• Three seconds – a violation where a player stands for more than three seconds without guarding an opponent
• Ten seconds – a violation when a team don’t advance past center line within ten seconds of gaining possession
• Over-and-back – a violation when a player that has the ball cross the center line multiple times
• Carrying – a violation when the player allow their hand to go underneath the ball while dribbling
• Kicking – a violation when a player strikes the ball intentionally with any part of the leg
• Goaltending – a violation that occurs when a player interferes with the downward trajectory of the shot towards the basket
• Out of bounds – a violation when a player goes beyond the boundary lines
 Basketball Fouls
Acts that involve contacts between opponents that results in unsportsmanlike conduct

• Personal foul – a foul that is physical in nature, like grabbing and pushing
• Flagrant foul – a foul that involves violent contact with an opposing player in a dangerous way
• Technical foul – a foul that is unsportsmanlike, including screaming at the referee of opponent
• Blocking foul – a foul where an offensive player makes contact to a defender causing them to loose balance
• Charging foul – a foul whenever offensive player use illegal contact to try to stop defensive players
• Defensive foul – a foul whenever defensive player use illegal contact to try to stop offensive players
• Double foul – a foul when two opponents commit personal foul at the same time
• Intentional foul – a foul the is deemed to have been committed purposefully
• Shooting foul – a foul when a defensive player makes illegal contact to a player shooting the ball
• Loose ball foul – a foul when a player commits a foul on an opponent that doesn’t have the ball
• Illegal screen foul – a foul when player setting a screen extend their arm or leg to inhibit defender’s progress
 Basketball terminologies
• Air ball: A shot that misses the rim or backboard.
• Assist: A pass to a teammate that results in a made basket.
• Backdoor: An offensive move where a player cuts behind the defenders and receives a pass for a field-goal attempt.
• Ball Handler: The player with the ball. Usually the guard at the start of the play.
• Bank Shot: A shot where the ball is first bounced or banked off the backboard at such an angle that it then drops
into the basket.
• Blind Pass: A pass from a ball handler who does not see their receiver but is estimating where they should be.
• Boxing out: The defensive player turns and faces the basket following a shot and with his or her back to the
opponent, and ensures that the player being guarded can’t ‘rebound’ the ball.
• Crossover dribble: When a ball handler dribbles the ball across their body from one hand to the other.
• Defense: The act of preventing the offense from scoring. Defense is the team without the ball.
• Drive: The movement of an offensive player while aggressively dribbling towards the basket in an attempt to score.
 Basketball terminologies
• Dunk: A shot in which a jumping player slams the ball down into the opponent’s basket from above.
• Fake: A movement made with the aim of deceiving an opponent.  This can be done with either a pass or a shot fake.
• Fastbreak: The act of moving the ball quickly down court by an offensive team in hopes of getting ahead of the defense to
score.
• Field Goal: When the ball enters the basket from above the rim during play. It is worth two points.
• Free Throw:  The act of shooting the ball from the marked free throw line Guarding: The act of following an opponent
around the court to prevent them from getting close to the basket, taking an open short or making easy passes.
• Half time: The rest period between two halves of the game.  Usually 5 minutes in length.
• Hoop: The basketball rim and backboard players shoot the ball towards in attempt to score points.  Also referred to as the
‘basket’.
• Inside Shooting: Shots taken by a player near or under the basket.
• Jump shot: Field-goal attempt by a player with both feet off the floor, enabling the player to shoot over the defender.
 Basketball terminologies
• Pass: When a player throws the ball to a teammate to advance the ball during a possession.
• Lay-up: A shot taken after driving to the basket by leaping up under the basket and using one hand to shoot the ball off
the backboard.
• Outside Shooting: Shots taken from the perimeter, further away from the hoop.
• Possession: To be holding or in control of the ball.
• Rebound: A term used to describe the actual retrieving of the ball as it rebounds from the backboard or the ring after a
missed shot.
• Referee: The person(s) assigned to the game to maintain the flow and integrity of the game.
• Scrimmage: Practice play between squads of one team.
• Shooting Range: The distance from which a player is likely to make their shots.
• Steal: To take the ball away from an opponent.
• Substitute: A player who comes into the game to replace a player on the court.
 Basic skills in Basketball
• Dribbling - a repetitive action in which a player uses one hand to bounce the basketball continuously, that
is, without interruption, on the court
• Shooting - throwing the ball at a trajectory towards the basket
• Defense - the defensive strategies, alignments, and positioning that a team uses to prevent the opposing
offense from scoring baskets
• Rebounding - a player gains possession of the basketball after a missed shot
• Passing - a way for players to move the ball on the court between teammates