Basketball is one of the most popular games in the United States and around the world. Professional leagues in Europe, South America and Asia have given career options to many talented players. While the skill levels in the United States and North American leagues are higher than they are elsewhere, the rules of the game are basically the same everywhere.
Fouls
Contact is officially not allowed between players. However, anyone who has seen a game at the high school, college or professional level and has watched opponents battle for rebounds under the backboard know that contact is allowed. However, it is against the rules to physically block or impede any offensive player who has the ball or is moving to the basket. Players who are in the process of shooting get two free throws when they are fouled if they miss the original shot. If they make the shot while being fouled, they get a bonus free throw. If an offensive player is called for a foul, the defensive team gets possession of the ball. Players who are called for six individual fouls in a professional game have fouled out and must be replaced in the lineup immediately.
Key Numbers
A basketball court is 94 by 50 feet. The distance between the rim and the 3-point line is 23 feet, 9 inches. The foul line is 15 feet from the rim. Professional games consist of four 12-minute periods. If the game is tied at the end of regulation time, the teams play five-minute overtime periods until a winner has been determined. Teams have 24 seconds after taking possession to shoot the ball at the rim. Teams have eight seconds to bring the ball across halfcourt.
Standard Violations
When a team commits a violation of the rules, possession of the ball goes to the defending team. Common violations include traveling with the ball, double-dribble, 24-second violation, out of bounds, lane violation on a free throw attempt, three-second violation (offensive player can't be in the lane for three seconds) and backcourt (player with possession of the ball returns to the back court after crossing midcourt line).
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