Modern basketball is a competitive, team sport based upon the concept developed by Dr. James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1892. The sport is played professionally on several continents, including North America, Asia and Europe, and contains numerous rules and regulations governing violations.
Live Scoring
The offensive team earns two points for a standard made shot taken within the three-point line during live play. Shots that are taken during live play beyond the three-point line--the radius of which is measured from an imaginary line extending from the center of the basket outward--are worth three points. The distance of the three point line from the basket differs for each league and governing body. NCAA women's basketball measures the three-point at 19 feet, 9 inches. For international play governed by FIBA and for the WNBA, the three-point line is 20 feet, 6 inches from the basket. NCAA men's basketball sets the three point line 20 feet, 9 inches away from the basket. The three-point line in the NBA is the farthest for any professional league, set at 23 feet, 9 inches from the hoop.
Personal Fouls
It is a violation for the defensive player to initiate contact with an offensive player; this includes pushing, grabbing and intentionally obstructing the progress of an opponent. It is a violation for an offensive player to intentionally dislodge a defensive player who has established a legal defensive position; this includes charging into a defensive player, hooking a player's body and grabbing a player's arm. Offensive players who are fouled during the act of shooting receive two, dead-ball foul shots. In addition, teams are awarded with foul shots after the opposing team has reached their quota of personal fouls for a given period.
Technical Fouls
It is a violation for players to exhibit conduct detrimental to the game, and officials have the freedom to assess technical fouls to coaches and players who commit an unsportsmanlike act. Such behavior includes intentionally delaying a game, taunting, excessive arguing and hanging onto the rim. When a technical foul is called, the opposing team is awarded one or two foul shots, depending upon the league and the severity of the technical foul.
Turnovers
Several instances result in a turnover, thus giving the opposing team possession of the basketball. It is a violation for an offensive player to take more than two steps without dribbling the basketball. This is called traveling, and results in a turnover. An offensive player also cannot stop dribbling and then start again. This is called double-dribble, and results in a turnover. If an offensive team throws the ball out-of-bounds, or steps on the out-of-bounds line while in possession of the ball, the opposing team gains possession. If the offensive team commits a foul while in possession of the ball, the opposing team is given possession of the basketball.
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