BASKETBALL

HISTORYThe history of basketball began with its invention in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts by Canadian physical education instructor James Naismith as a less injury-prone sport than football. The game became established fairly quickly, very popular as the 20th century progressed, first in America and then throughout the world. After basketball became established in American colleges, the professional game followed; the American National Basketball Association (NBA), established in 1949, grew to a multi-billion dollar enterprise by the end of the century, and basketball became an integral part of American culture.

Born in the Ontario village of Almonte in 1861, James Naismith was a hardworking athlete who excelled at many sports, and who chafed when the long Canadian winter kept him from playing outdoors, resulting in added pounds and lost strength.

Naismith moved to Massachusetts, where he taught physical education at a small Christian college. The winter weather of New England was no better than that of Ontario, but the school had an assembly hall with moveable benches and a hardwood floor. Naismith concocted a game suited to the room’s high ceiling and rectangular plan, a game that combined elements of soccer, football, hockey, and baseball and that emphasized teamwork and friendly, nonviolent competition. Naismith’s invention made use of a regulation soccer ball that, instead of being kicked, was bounced or passed by hand from one end of the room to the other and launched into a peach basket hung at either end—which gave the new game its name, basketball.

First played with nine members on each team, Naismith’s game quickly spread throughout New England, and then elsewhere in the United States. By 1896 enough colleges had formed teams that the first extramural competition was held, but now with only five players to a team.

Two years later, the first professional basketball league was organized. In the next few years, with Naismith’s approval, new rules were devised to insure that the game would be played in a friendly spirit. Most important of the new rules were those defining fouls and the penalties for them, most of which allowed the fouled player to take possession of the ball and sometimes to throw it without opposition. Other rules helped speed the game by pitting play against a clock, and not by an accumulation of points, which could and often did take hours to achieve. The game evolved over the decades, with the addition of yet other rules over the years, including one that allowed players to shoot with one hand—an innovation that gave rise to the spectacular balletic moves of players like Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and Wilt Chamberlain in the 1960s and ’70s.

Important technical innovations to the game came early on. One was the addition of nets to the baskets, which allowed the ball to fall through and be retrieved on the court; earlier, a referee or player had to climb a ladder to pluck the ball from the wooden baskets of old. Another was the addition of a backboard to the basket—an innovation meant not for the shooter’s convenience, but instead to keep fans of the defending team from sticking their arms into the basket and blocking the opposing team’s shot.

Basketball traveled to France and England in 1893, to Germany in 1894, and to Japan in 1900. It became an official Olympic event at the 1936 Berlin Games, which hastened its spread to many other countries. Throughout the Cold War, international basketball courts took the place of battlefields, with the United States and the Soviet Union competing neck-and-neck for domination of the game. The collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s did not remove politics from basketball. In the place of the old superpower competition came rivalries among teams from the former republics of Yugoslavia, for instance, and between players from the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan.

Other countries have developed strong teams in recent years, and sometimes in the unlikeliest of places. In recent years, the tiny Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, for instance, has fielded three dozen amateur teams, while the principality of Andorra, with only 86,500 inhabitants, sponsored nine amateur teams while establishing the sport as part of the country’s physical education curriculum. Even the Himalayan nation of Nepal now boasts a professional team.

But nowhere is basketball more popular than in the United States, the game’s birthplace 122 years ago. Once restricted to the long northerly winter, basketball’s calendar has grown to embrace every season—and now that March madness has wound down and spring has begun, the NCAA Final Four competition is upon us, as it is sure to be every April for years to come.

TERMINOLOGIESAlternating-possession rule:The possession arrow changes direction after each held ball situation, alternating which team gets possession of the ball.

Assist: A pass that immediately precedes and sets up a scored basket.

Backboard:The rectangular or fan-shaped board behind the basket.

Backcourt:The half of the court that is opposite a team’s offensive basket; the court a team is attempting to defend.

Ball handler:The player with the ball; usually the point guard at the start of a play.

Ball Side:The half of the court from the middle to the sideline where the ball is currently located. May also be referred to as the ‘strong side’.

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.

Baseline:The boundary line behind each basket; also called the endline.

Basket:Attached to the backboard, it consists of a metal rim 18″ in diameter suspended 10 from the floor, from ′which a 15-18″ corded net hangs, and through which points are scored; also used to refer to a successful field goal.

Beat the defender:When an offensive player, with or without the ball, is able to get past an opponent who is guarding him.

Bench Points:The number of points scored during a game from players that began the game on the bench. All points scored by non-starters.

Blocked shot:The successful deflection of a shot by touching part of the ball on its way to the basket, thereby preventing a field goal.

Blocking:The use of a defender’s body position to illegally prevent an opponent’s advance; the opposite of charging.

Bonus free throw:See “One-and-One.”

Bounce pass:A pass that strikes the floor before it reaches the receiver.

Boxing out:A player’s attempt to position his body between his opponent and the basket to get rebounds and prevent the opponents from doing so. Also referred to as Blocking out.

Carrying the ball:Also called “palming;” a violation committed by a dribbler that involves placing the dribbling hand under the ball and momentarily holding or carrying it while dribbling.

Center:Also called the “pivot player;” an offensive position typically played by a tall player who plays mainly in the key areas (at the post).

Center court circle:The circular area at midcourt from which jump balls are taken.

Charging:A personal foul committed when an offensive player illegally contacts a defensive player who has established position or is stationary.

Chest pass:A two-handed pass thrown from the passer’s chest in a straight line to the chest area of the receiver.

Controlling the boards:Securing a majority of the rebounds.

Conversion:A made basket or free throw.

Court vision:A player’s ability to see everything on the court during play — such as where his teammates and defenders are set up — which enables him to make better choices in passing; the best players possess this trait.

Crossover dribble:A dribble in which the ball is moved from one hand to the other while the dribbler changes directions.

Cut:A quick movement by an offensive player to elude an opponent or to receive the ball.

Cylinder:The imaginary area directly above the basket where goaltending or basket interference can occur.

Dead ball:Occurs whenever the whistle blows to stop play and after a field goal, but before the opponent gains possession of the ball.

Defense:The team not in possession of the ball whose objective is to keep the opponent from scoring; also a specific pattern of play used by a defending team.

Defensive rebound:A rebound of an opponent’s missed shot.

Double-double:When a player scores double-digits in 2 categories during one game (points, assists and rebounds are most common, but it can also be blocks or steals); a sign of great versatility.

Double dribble:A violation that occurs when a player dribbles the ball with two hands simultaneously or stops dribbling and then dribbles again.

Double foul:A situation in which two opponents commit a foul against each other simultaneously.

Double team:A defensive tactic in which two defenders temporarily guard one player.

Downcourt or down the court:The direction a team on offense moves, from its backcourt into its frontcourt and towards its own basket.

Dribble or dribbling:Process by which a player repeatedly bounces the ball off the floor so that it returns to his/her possession. It’s the only legal means by which a single player may move the ball across the court.

Drive:A quick dribble directly to the basket in an effort to score.

Dunk:When a player close to the basket jumps and strongly throws the ball down into it; an athletic, creative shot used to intimidate opponents.

Elbow:A term often used to indicate the area of the court where the free-throw line and side of the key meet.

Elbowing:It is a violation if a player vigorously or excessively swings his elbows, even if there is no contact; it is a foul if contact is made.

End line: See ‘baseline’.

Established position: When a defensive player has both feet firmly planted on the floor before an offensive player’s head and shoulder get past him; the offensive player who runs into such a defender is charging.

4-point play:A made 3-point field goal in which the shooter was fouled, followed by a successful free-throw.

Fake or feint:A deceptive move to throw a defender off balance and allow an offensive player to shoot or receive a pass; players use their eyes, head or any other part of the body to trick an opponent.

Fastbreak:An offensive strategy in which a team attempts to move the ball downcourt and into scoring position as quickly as possible so that the defense is outnumbered and does not have time to set up.

Field goal:A basket scored on any shot other than a free throw, worth two or three points depending on the distance of the attempt from the basket.

Flagrant foul:Unnecessary or excessive contact against an opponent.

Forward:An offensive position played to the sides of the basket near the key area and out toward the sideline along the baseline.

Foul (also referred to as ‘personal foul’):A violation resulting from illegal contact with an opposing player.

Foul line:See “Free-throw line.”

Foul shot: See “Free-throw.”

Free throw:An unguarded shot taken from behind the free-throw line after a foul. If successful, the shot counts one point.

Free-throw lane:Also called the “key” or “lane;” a 12-foot wide area extending from the baseline to the free-throw line. Players may not be in this area during a free-throw attempt.

Free-throw line:A 12-foot-long line that is parallel to and 15 feet from the backboard.

Free-throw line extended:An imaginary line drawn from the free-throw line to the sideline to determine the location for certain plays.

Front court:The half of the court (divided by the center line) that contains the offensive team’s basket; the offensive half of the court.

Full–court press:A defensive tactic in which a team guards the opponents closely the full length of the court.

Game clock:Shows how much time remains in each quarters or halves of games.

Guard:An offensive position played primarily at the perimeter, or away from the basket.

Guarding:The act of following an opponent around the court to prevent him from getting close to the basket, taking an open shot or making easy an pass, while avoiding illegal contact.

Half-court or set offense:When a team takes the time to develop a play in its frontcourt, such as the give-and-go or a screening play; opposite of fast break.

Held ball:Formerly called a “jump ball.” When two players on opposite teams are in joint control of the ball.

Help Side:The half of the court from the middle to the sideline opposite to where the ball is currently located.

Hesitation Dribble:A dribbling action with a change-of-pace intended to confuse and/or freeze the defender. The basic action is a stutter step in which the dribbler momentarily slows his or her pace and speed.

High percentage shot:A shot that is likely to go in the basket, such as a layup.

High post:An imaginary area outside either side of the foul lane at the elbow / free-throw line extended area.

Inbounds:The area within the baselines and sidelines of the court; also the act of bringing the ball into this area by means of a throw-in.

Incidental contact:Minor contact usually overlooked by officials.

Inside shooting:Shots taken by a player near or under the basket.

Intentional foul:A personal foul that the official judges to be premeditated.

In the paint:In the “key” area, so named because this area of the floor is painted.

Jump ball:The procedure for starting play at the beginning of a game or an overtime period. The official tosses the ball into the air between the two opponents positioned at the center-court circle; the two players jump up and try to tap the ball to a teammate.

Jump shot:A shot that is released after the shooter has jumped into the air.

Jump stop:A method used to come to a complete stop. Both feet must land simultaneously – either parallel or staggered – in order for it to be a jump stop.

Key:Also called the “free-throw lane” or “lane;” the area measuring 12 feet in width and extending from the free-throw line to the end line.

Layup or layin:A shot taken close to the basket that is usually banked off the backboard towards the basket.

Loose ball: A ball that is alive but not in the possession of either team.

Low post:An imaginary area outside either side of the foul lane close to the basket.

Lower percentage shot:A shot that is less likely to go in the basket, such as one thrown by a player who is off balance or outside his shooting range.

Man-to-man defense:A team defense in which each player is assigned to guard a particular opponent.

Offense:The team that has possession of the basketball. Also, a structured pattern of play that a team uses while attempting to score.

Offensive rebound:A rebound of a team’s own missed shot.

Officials:The referees who control the game, stop and start play, and impose penalties for violations and fouls.

One-and-one:The “bonus” free-throw situation awarded for non-shooting fouls after the opposing team exceeds a certain number of team fouls in a half. The person fouled shoots one free throw; if successful, the shooter takes a second shot.

Out of bounds:The area outside of and including the end lines and sidelines.

Outside shooting:Shots taken from the perimeter.

Over-and-back violation:A violation that occurs when the offensive team returns the ball into the backcourt once it has positioned itself in the front court.

Overhead pass:A two-handed pass thrown from above the forehead.

Overtime:An extra period played to break a tie score at the end of a regulation game.

Palming:See “Carrying the ball.”

Pass:An intentional throw to a teammate.

Passer:The player who passes the ball to a teammate.

Period:Any quarter, half or overtime segment.

Perimeter:The area beyond the foul circle away from the basket, including 3-point line, from which players take long-range shots.

Personal foul:Contact between players that may result in injury or provide one team with an unfair advantage; players may not push, hold, trip, hack, elbow, restrain or charge into an opponent; these are also counted as team fouls.

Pick:See “Screen or Screener”

Pick and Roll:A play in which an offensive player sets a pick for the dribbler, then cuts off that pick, or ‘rolls’, toward the basket looking for a pass from the dribbler for a shot.

Pick-up games:Impromptu games played among players who just met.

Pivot:A footwork technique in which a player keeps one foot in contact with a “spot” on the floor while moving the other foot to adjust the position of the body or to evade a defensive player.

Point guard:An offensive position played by a guard who usually brings the ball up the court and initiates the offense.

Possession:To be holding or in control of the ball.

Possession arrow:

Used to determine which team’s turn it is to inbounds the ball to begin a period or in a held ball situation.Post:An offensive position played close to the basket along the key.

Press:An aggressive defense that attempts to force the opponents to make errors by guarding them closely from either half court, three-quarter court or full court.

Quadruple double:A triple double with double-digits scored in 4 categories.

Rebound:The act of gaining possession of the ball after a missed shot.

Run:Occurs when one team scores several field goals in quick succession while its opponents score few or none.

Scoring opportunity:When a player gets open for a shot that is likely to score.

Screen or screener:The offensive player who stands between a teammate and a defender to gives his teammate the chance to take an open shot.

Scrimmage:An unofficial game between two teams, or five-on-five play between team members in a practice situation.

Shot clock:A clock that limits the time a team with the ball has to shoot it; 24 seconds in the NBA; in college, 35 seconds for men, 30 seconds for women.

Shooter:A player who takes a shot at the basket.

Shooter’s roll or shooter’s touch:The ability to get even an inaccurate shot to bounce lightly off the rim and into the basket.

Shooting range:The distance from which a player is likely to make his shots.

Sidelines:2 boundary lines that run the length of the court.

Sixth man:The best substitute on a team; usually the first player to come off the bench to replace a starter.

Slam dunk:See “dunk.”

Squaring up:

When a player’s shoulders are facing the basket as he releases the ball for a shot; considered good shooting position.

Substitute:A player who comes into the game to replace a player on the court.

Swing man:A player who can play both the guard and forward positions.

3-point play:A made 2-point field goal in which the shooter was fouled, followed by a successful free-throw.

3 seconds:A violation in which an offensive player remains within the key for more than three seconds at a time.

Team fouls:Each personal foul committed by a player is also counted against his team; when a team goes over the limit, its opponent is awarded free-throw opportunities.

Technical foul:A foul that does not involve contact with an opponent; a foul that involves unsportsmanlike conduct by a player, coach or non-player; or a contact foul committed by a player while the ball is dead.

Ten-second line:The mid-court line over which the offensive team must advance the ball from the backcourt within 10 seconds to avoid a violation.

Three-point field goal:A made basket from a distance greater than 19 feet and nine inches during a high school or college game.

Three-on-two:A common fastbreak situation in which three offensive players attempt to score on two defenders.

Timeout:When play is temporarily suspended by an official or at the request of a team to respond to an injured player or discuss strategy.

Transition:The shift from offense to defense, and vice versa.

Traveling:A violation occurring when a player with the ball takes a step without dribbling (moving the established pivot foot).

Triple double:When a player scores double-digits in 3 categories during one game (points, assists and rebounds are most common, but it can also be blocks or steals); a sign of great versatility.

Triple Threat Position:Triple threat is an offensive position a player can use who has not dribbled yet. The offensive player stands with knees flexed, feet slightly wider than shoulder width, and both hands on the basketball. From this position, the offensive player can either shoot, dribble, or pass to a teammate … thereby being a ‘triple threat’ with the basketball.

Turnover:A loss of possession of the ball by means of an error or violation.

Upset:When a higher-seeded (better) team loses to a lower-seeded (inferior) one.

Violation:An infringement of the rules that’s not a foul. The penalty for a violation is the awarding of the ball to the opponent.

Weakside:The side of the court away from the ball.

Zone defense:A team defense in which each player is responsible for defending an area of the court and the opponents within that area.

Zone offense:An offensive pattern of play designed to attack (score against) a particular zone defense.

DIMENSIONS OF THE COURT AND THE BALLBasketball courts come in different sizes and colors. In the NBA, the court is 94 feet (29 m) by 50 feet (15 m). Under International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules, the court is minutely smaller, measuring exactly 28 metres (92 ft) by 15 metres (49 ft). A high school court is slightly smaller, at 84 feet (26 m) by 50 feet (15 m). In amateur basketball, court sizes vary widely. The baskets are always 10 feet (3.0 m) 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.

The ball is molded, 29½ to 30 inches in circumference and weighs 20 to 22 ounces when inflated. Dropped from a height of 6 feet to a solid wood floor, it should bounce to a height of from 49 inches to 54 inches. The National Basketball Assn. considers the official ball to be size 7.

RULES AND REGULATIONSBasketball 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.

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.

FOULSPersonal fouls: Personal fouls include any type of illegal physical contact.

HittingPushingSlappingHoldingIllegal 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.

EQUIPMENTS AND FACILITIES- basketball court- backboard- basket net- ball- jersey and shorts- shoes- game clock- scoreboard