Basketball is a game of rules and strategy. While many fans are impressed by great athletes who can make no-look passes and dunk the ball with ease, more often than not, it's the way a team executes down the stretch that helps bring about victories. Figuring out the correct strategy to exploit your opponent and knowing the rules will help your team prepare itself to play well when the game is on the line.
Fouls
The team with the ball has the advantage on the defensive team. They know where they are going and that helps with play execution. When the offensive player gets open and has the ball, the defensive player cannot put his hands on him or impede him in anyway. When this happens, a foul is called. If the player is fouled when he is shooting, he will get two free throws awarded by the referee if he does not make the shot from the field. If he did make the shot, he gets one free throw, with a chance for a second if he makes the first. If a player on the team with the ball gets called for a foul--for charging, for instance--the defensive team is awarded possession.
Violations
When players make errors on the court without fouling the opponent, these are called violations, and they result in the opponent getting possession of the ball. Traveling is a call made when the player with the ball moves without dribbling. Over-and-back is called when the team with the ball goes past the midcourt line into the offensive zone and then returns to the backcourt. A three-second violation is called when the offeensive team has the ball and a member of that team stands in the lane (the painted area in front of the basket) for three seconds. All of these violations result in the ball going to the defensive team.
Game Entry
All players who are preparing to come into the game must report to the scorer's table before they are legally allowed to come into the game. They must report their number and tell the official scorer who they are replacing as they move into the lineup. At the ensuing stoppage of play, the referee will check to see who has reported in correctly to the scorer and wave them into the game. If a player goes directly to the bench without reporting, the opponent is given a technical free throw.
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