Basketball is a team sport that was invented in the United States by Dr. James Naismith at the end of the 19th century in Springfield, Massachusetts. An internationally played game, with professional leagues in North America, Europe and Asia, basketball has numerous official rules focused on the management of game play.
Team Logistics
Each team is permitted to have five players on the court during live play, for a total of 10 players. Coaches are allowed to make substitutions during dead ball opportunities--such as timeouts, changes of possession and foul shots--but are not allowed to substitute players during live game play. Players who are injured, or who have visible blood on their body or uniform, can be substituted when the game has been stopped by officials.
Live Scoring
Teams earn 2 points when a player makes a standard shot during live game play that is within the established 3-point line. Teams earn 3 points when a player makes a shot from beyond the 3-point arc, the radius of which is established by extending an imaginary line from beneath the basket to all points of the arc. In various amateur and professional leagues, the distance of the 3-point line from the basket is different. For women's college basketball, governed by the NCAA in the United States, the 3-point line is 19 feet, 9 inches from the hoop. Both the WNBA in the United States and international games governed by the Internation Basketball Federation, or FIBA, set the 3-point line at 20 feet, 6 inches from the hoop. Men's college games overseen by the NCAA have the 3-point line set at 20 feet, 9 inches. The NBA has set the 3-point line farther than any organized amateur or professional league in the world at 23 feet, 9 inches.
Turnovers
A player must maintain a constant dribble when moving and in possession of the basketball. If a player takes more than two steps after ending a dribble in motion, such as on a layup attempt, it is a turnover, and the opposing team is awarded possession. If a player in possession of the ball throws it out-of-bounds, or steps on the out-of-bounds line while in possession of the ball, the ball is given to the opposing team. If an offensive team does not take a shot that hits the rim of the basket within the allotted amount of time established by the shot clock it is a turnover, and the opposing team gets the ball.
Personal Fouls
Defensive players are not allowed to intentionally make contact with an offensive player, and are not allowed to accidentally make contact with a player while shooting. Violations include grabbing, pushing and knocking a player out of an established position. Offensive players are forbidden from removing a defensive player from a legally established defensive position. Violations include hooking a defensive player's body and charging into a set defensive player. Any offensive player who is fouled while shooting a standard shot receives two foul shots. Those attempting a 3-point shot receive three foul shots when fouled during the act of shooting.
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