Basketball is an enjoyable and healthy sport for children of all ages, although the rules can sometimes be confusing to moms on the sidelines. Overall, the basic rules of basketball are easy to understand once you are exposed to the game for a short period of time. A better understanding of basketball will make it a much more enjoyable experience for both parents and children.
Fouling/Free Throws
A defender commits a foul when he uses his hands or feet to hinder the offensive player's progress in any way. The only exception is when the offensive player uses his elbow to clear out, or simply runs directly into, the defender who has his feet planted firmly on the floor. When an offensive player is fouled in the act of shooting the ball, she is rewarded one free throw if she hits the basket in the act of being fouled and two shots if she misses the shot. Each free throw is worth one point. An offensive player who is fouled in the act of shooting a three-pointer is rewarded three free throws, unless she makes the shot, in which case she is granted one free throw and can try to complete a four-point play.
Substitutions
Substitutions may occur only when play is stopped. This may occur during a free throw situation, a timeout or when the ball has gone out of bounds. The player coming into the game must wait for the referee to waive her into the game before she enters the floor; she must also notify the scorer's table she is entering the game.
Scoring
Two points are awarded for a made basket from anywhere on the floor, except when the shot is made from behind the three-point line. The offensive player's feet cannot land on or cross the three-point line during a three-point attempt or it will count as a two-pointer. Free throws always count as one point.
Three Second Violation
Though not all youth basketball leagues implement a three second violation rule, your child eventually will encounter this rule as he progresses into more advanced leagues, such as high school basketball. Players cannot spend more than three seconds at one time inside the lane, also called the paint, in the offensive or defensive zone. The lane encompasses the rectangle beneath the basket and extends out to the free throw line.
Shot Clock
Most youth leagues do not implement a shot clock, but some high school and all college basketball leagues utilize this rule. This rule simply states that a player have a certain amount of time to shoot the ball once she takes possession of it from the other team. In college, the rule as of 2010 is that the offensive team has 35 seconds to score or hit the rim, in which case the shot clock is reset. A shot clock violation results in a turnover and the other team gets the ball.
Backcourt Violation
A backcourt violation includes two basic rules. First, the offensive team must bring the ball up the court into the offensive zone, which is defined as the crossing the half court line, within a certain amount of time; usually the rule is eight seconds, but this may vary from league to league. Secondly, once the offensive team crosses the half court line, members may not bring the ball back over that line unless possession temporarily changes over to the defensive team, such as with a ball deflection. A backcourt violation results in a change of possession to the defensive team.
Traveling/Double Dribble
Any moving player in control of the ball must dribble the ball one hand at a time. Using two hands to dribble the ball is also known as double dribbling, and this will result in a change of possession. Double dribbling also occurs when the player interrupts the dribble, then starts to dribble the ball again. Traveling is another violation in which the offensive player moves with the ball without dribbling the ball. This will also result in a change of possession. The only exception is that an offensive player is allowed two steps---one with each foot---when going up for a shot.
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