Basketball is a sport that requires a significant amount of athletic ability to play well. It takes speed, quickness, hand-eye coordination, strength and vision. In addition to these athletic characteristics, basketball is a game of rules. To have a chance to become a quality player on a high-level team, you must know the rules and understand how they affect your ability to play basketball.
Positions
Five different players man five positions on the basketball court. Those positions are point guard, shooting guard, center, power forward and small forward. The rules of the game say that five players must be on the court at all times. A basketball team can have as many as 12 players or more, but only five of those players can be on the court at the same time.
Scoring
Basketball has three types of scoring plays. The shot from within the arc -- located 19 feet, 9 inches to 22 feet from the rim, depending on the level of play -- that is painted on the floor is worth 2 points. The shot from outside the arc is worth 3 points. A shot from the free-throw line -- 15 feet from the rim -- is taken when time is out after a player has been fouled. This shot is worth 1 point.
Length of Game
Depending on the level at which the game is being played, a basketball game will have a specific length of time. A game played at the high school level will consist of 32 minutes. The game is divided into four 8-minute periods. A game played at the college level is 40 minutes. It consists of two 20-minute halves. A professional game is 48 minutes and it consists of four 12-minute quarters. The team that scores the most points in the game wins the contest. If games are tied, they go into overtime. The overtime period can last 3 to 5 minutes at the high school level and is 5 minutes at the college and professional levels.
Fouls
Basketball does not allow intentional contact between opponents. When this happens, fouls are called. When the player with the ball is fouled by an opponent during the act of shooting, that player will be awarded free throws. If an offensive player fouls a defensive player, the defensive team gets possession of the ball. Players at the professional level are allowed to commit five fouls in a game and then must leave the floor after they commit their sixth foul. Five fouls is the limit at all other levels of play.
Violations
Players must dribble and pass the ball properly when they are on the basketball court. If they do not, the opponent will be awarded the basketball. Common violations include traveling, double-dribble, 24-second violation, out of bounds and kicking the basketball.
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