Basketball is a common sport played between two teams. Basketball is played both competitively and for recreation. Therefore, some of the rules of basketball vary depending on age and level of play. However, the basic regulations and objective remain the same, wherever basketball is played.
Logistics
A professional basketball court is 94 feet wide and 56 feet wide. Youth courts may be smaller. The foul line is 15 feet from the basket. The three-point line has straight, parallel lines extending from the baseline, 3 feet inside the sideline. The parallel lines are connected by an arc that is 23 feet 9 inches from the basket.
The backboard is a flat, hard and transparent board placed behind the basket. It is 6 feet wide and 3-½ feet high. The basket is 10 feet above the floor. Basketballs should weigh between 7-½ and 8-½ lbs. when properly filled with air.
Teams must have five players on the court. All players on the same team must wear identical jerseys with different numbers. Basketball games vary in length depending on the level of play. Professional basketball uses four 12-minute quarters.
Game Rules
The game begins with a tip-off, where the official throws the ball straight up in the air and two opposing players attempt to tip the ball to a teammate. Once a team gains possession, the players attempt to score in the opposing team's basket. If a team scores, the opposing team then gets possession.
Players must dribble the ball when moving if they have possession of the ball. A player is only allowed two steps without dribbling after she picks up the ball. Depending on level of play, there may or may not be a shot clock. If there is, the length of the clock varies. In professional basketball, there is a 24-second shot clock, meaning a team has 24 seconds to shoot or lose possession.
Once a team crosses half-court with the ball, it cannot go back into the other half of the court. If the ball goes out of bounds, the team that did not touch the ball last gains possession.
Fouls
There are threes categories of fouls in basketball, personal, technical or flagrant. Personal fouls are the most common and occur during play. Personal fouls include pushing, holding, charging into or impeding the progress of an opposing player. Technical fouls are called for player or coach misconduct, such as arguing with an official or fighting another player. A player is given a flagrant foul if it is deemed his foul was excessive or intentional.
Scoring
When a team shoots the ball through the basket, it is awarded two points. However, if a player is standing behind the three-point line when she shoots, the basket is worth three points. When a player is fouled, she is awarded foul shots. Each foul shot made is worth one point. The team with the most points at the end of the games wins.
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