Basketball is a team sport. The goal is to score more points than the opposing team. When basketball is played for recreation, there are no specific number of players needed. However, for competitive basketball five players are necessary for each team. There is no limit to the number of substitutions, but teams may only substitute during a stoppage in play. Players are categorized by their position. The positions in basketball are the center, forwards and guards. Typically the tallest players are the center and forwards, while the smaller players are guards.
Regulations
Professional basketball is played in 12-minute quarters, while college basketball is divided into 20-minute halves. High school basketball is played in eight minute quarters. Overtime occurs when teams are tied at the end of regulation. Overtime is five minutes in length and cannot end in a tie. Teams may play an infinite number of overtimes until one team is victorious. The game is governed by referees who give out fouls and violations. Referees are impartial and ensure that both teams play fairly.
Scoring
Scoring is performed by shooting the ball through the basket. The basket is suspended 10 feet in the air. It is possible to score one, two or three points. When a player scores from outside the three-point line, three points are awarded to his team. All other shots are worth two points. One point is awarded for each free throw, which are shot after a foul.
Violations
Violations in basketball occur when rules are broken, which result in a loss of possession. One of the most basic rules in the basketball is the need to dribble. Dribbling a basketball is bouncing it off the floor while moving. A player cannot take more than two steps without dribbling. Breaking this rule is called traveling. Once a player has stopped dribbling and picked up the ball, she may not begin dribbling again. This violation is known as a double dribble.
Fouling
A foul is an illegal action caused by excessive or intentional contact. This contact results in an advantage for the player who commits the foul. Fouls may be called on the offensive or the defensive player. Defenders cannot push, trip or hold onto an offensive player. Offensive fouls are called when an offensive player uses excessive contact, such as charging into a defender.
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