Basketball is a popular team sport played by trying to shoot a ball through a stationary basket. Basketball can be played anywhere with a flat surface and a basketball hoop, including outdoors for recreational purposes or inside in a professional setting. Regardless of the competition level, the main rules and objective of the game remain the same.
Objective
The objective of basketball is to score more points than your opponent. Scoring is done by shooting the ball through the basket. There are different point values for different types of shots. A regular field goal is worth two points. If a player shoots from behind the three-point line, it is worth three points. A foul shot however, is worth only one point.
The Court
Professional basketball is played on a court 94 feet wide and 56 feet wide. Youth courts may be smaller in size. The foul line is 15 feet from the basket. The three-point line is formed by an arc 23 feet 9 inches from the basket. In lower levels of play, the three-point line is closer. The basket is typically 10 feet above the ground and has a backboard.
Rules of the Game
Players must always dribble the ball when they are moving with the ball. When a player stops dribbling, she is allowed to take two steps before releasing the ball and is not allowed to dribble again.
Professional basketball uses a 24-second shot clock. This means a team has 24 seconds to shoot the ball or it loses possession. Other leagues employ a longer shot clock or have no shot clock at all.
When 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.
If the ball goes out of bounds, the last team to touch the ball losses possession. Additionally, offensive team members cannot step back into the backcourt after crossing mid-court.
Fouls
Fouls in basketball are categorized as either personal, technical or flagrant. Most fouls occurring during the course of the game are personal fouls. These fouls include, hitting, pushing, holding or blocking an opposing player. If a foul is committed in the act of shooting, two foul shots are given to the offensive player. If the player made the shot while being fouled, only one shot is given. Teams or players are given technical fouls for misconduct, while flagrant fouls are called if the official believes a foul was excessive or done intentionally.
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