The scoring rules in basketball are simple, but the rules governing the actions of the offensive and defensive players are a little more complicated. The key is to remember that, by design, basketball is a non-contact sport (though there's plenty of physical play, especially in the college and pro levels), so if you play in control and observe the rules regarding traveling, double dribble and smart defense, you'll have most of what you need to know to play the game right and have fun in the process.
Scoring
Shooting the ball through the hoop counts for two points, with two exceptions. In most leagues, there's a three-point arc on the floor, usually around 20 feet from the basket (the actual distance varies with high school, college and NBA games, as well as with men's and women's leagues), and shots made from behind that arc count for three points. A free throw is a shot made from the free-throw line that is 15 feet from the basket (except in some youth leagues, where it may be 12 feet) and it counts for one point. A free throw, where no defensive players can attempt to harass the shooter, is awarded a team after certain fouls.
Contact Fouls
The most serious fouls in basketball are contact fouls, and they can be called on the team with the ball and without it. This often happens when players are trying to get a rebound after a missed shot, or when offensive or defensive players are trying to move around other players. Offensive fouls include charging, in which the player with the ball runs into a defensive player who has established position on the court. Defensive players cannot make contact with the player who has the ball. If an offensive player is hit while shooting, he is awarded two free throws (unless the shot is made, in which case one free throw is awarded). A foul called on the offensive team results in a loss of possession, while a defensive penalty allows the opposing team to maintain possession of the ball.
Court
Court sizes vary from the 90-foot-long courts used in the NBA to the smaller courts used in high school and recreation leagues. But all basketball courts have a line drawn down the middle of the court, halfway between the two baskets. Once the team with the ball has crossed midcourt, its players cannot bring the ball back across the midcourt line (unless it is struck by the opposing team). Backcourt violations result in a loss of possession. The lines separating in-bounds from out-of-bounds near the baskets are called the baselines, while the lines running length-wise on both sides of the court are called the sidelines.
Free Throw Lane
Most courts have a rectangle drawn from the free-throw line down to the baseline. This is called simply "the lane" or "the key." Offensive players cannot spend more than three seconds in the lane without stepping all the way out before returning. If the ball is shot and teams are fighting for a rebound, or the ball is loose and touched by the defensive team, players may spend more than three seconds in the lane. The NBA's official rules describe it this way: "The 3-second count shall not begin until the ball is in control in the offensive team's frontcourt. No violation can occur if the ball is batted away by an opponent." The frontcourt is the end of the court where a team is trying to score baskets.
Player Movement
The player with the ball cannot run without dribbling the ball. A violation of this rule is called "traveling." A player with the ball cannot stop her dribble and then start dribbling again unless the ball is touched by another player in between. This violation is called "double dribble." A player with the ball may not step on or over the baseline or sideline, and a player without the ball who steps out of bounds cannot be the first player to touch the ball once she returns inbounds.
Other Rules
The offensive team has 10 seconds to bring the ball across midcourt to its frontcourt; no player may kick the ball or trip another player, either intentionally or accidentally; a defensive player who interferes with the ball while it is going through the hoop, or is in the imaginary cylinder sticking up from the basket, will be called for "goaltending" and the shot will be considered good (if an offensive player does the same thing the basket, if made, will be disallowed); and only five players per team may be allowed on the court at the same time (substitutions can only be made when play has stopped and the referee signals that a player substitution can be made).
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