Basketball fundamentals

• Basketball is played between two teams of five players
• The game's objective is to shoot a ball through a basket
• Basketball is one of the most popular and widely viewed team sports

Commonly Used Skills

• Shooting
• Passing
• Dribbling
• Rebounding
• Running
• Player positioning, defense, strategy and technique also feature

Player Positions

• Centers, power forwards, and small forwards are usually the tallest players
• Point guards and shooting guards tend to be shorter and possess the best handling skills and speed

History

• James Naismith, a Canadian educator and physician, invented basketball in December 1891
• The game was created at the International Young Men's Cristian Association (YMCA) Training School, now Springfield College, in Springfield, Massachusetts
• Luther Hasley Gulik, Naismith's supervisor and the college's first physical education director, challenged Naismith to invent a new indoor game for students
• A peach basket was used as the first basket
• A soccer ball was used for the first two years

Dribbling

• Dribbling is an important skill
• It allows players to move around the court and maneuver past defenders

Shooting

• Shooting is the act of attempting to score points by throwing the ball through the basket
• It requires the ability to properly hold and throw the ball into the air toward the basket while avoiding defenders

Passing

• A pass occurs when one player throws the ball to another to set up a play or a shot

Basic Passes

• Chest Pass: Originated from the chest, thrown by gripping the ball on the sides with thumbs directly behind.
• Bounce Pass: Thrown with the same motion as a chest pass, but aimed at the floor so it bounces waist high to the receiver
• Overhead Pass: Used as an outlet pass, bringing the ball above the forehead with both hands and following through

Ball (Equipment)

• Basketballs are typically made of leather
• A men's ball has a 29.5 to 30 inch circumference
• A women's ball has a 28.5 inch circumference
• Balls should weigh 18 to 22 ounces
• When bounced from 6 feet, a well-inflated ball should bounce 49 to 54 inches

Uniforms (Equipment)

• Uniforms differentiate teams
• Uniforms consist of a jersey (shirt), shorts, and numbers on the front and back for identification

Water Bottle (Equipment)

• Used to hold water or beverages for consumption

Basketball Sneakers (Equipment and Facilities)

• Basketball shoes prevent injuries by providing adequate ankle support
• High top sneakers offer the best ankle support and should lace up for a snug fit

Scoreboard (Equipment and Facilities)

• Scoreboards display the score

Whistles (Equipment and Facilities)

• Referees use whistles to give signals

Timer (Equipment and Facilities)

• Timers regulate playing time

Court (Facilities)

• A flat, hard surface free from obstructions
• It measures 28m long and 15m wide from the inner edge of the boundary line

Backboard and Rim (Facilities)

• The rim's height above the ground is 10 feet, and the rim is 18 inches in diameter
• The backboard is 72 inches wide by 42 inches tall
• The inner square is 24 inches wide by 18 inches tall

Backcourt (Facilities)

• Consists of the team's own basket and infields part of the backboard
• The boundary line on the playing court consists of their own end, side and center lines

Front court (Facilities)

• Consists of the opponent’s basket and infields part of the backboard
• The boundary line on the playing court consists of the end line behind the opponent’s basket, side lines, and front edge of the centerline nearest to the opponent’s basket

Rules for the Offense

• While moving, dribble only with one hand while both feet are moving.

• If both hands touch the ball simultaneously or dribbling stops, the player can only move one foot; the motionless foot is known as the pivot foot.

• Players can dribble only once

• After stopping, a player cannot dribble again

• Resuming dribbling results in a double-dribbling infraction with loss of possession

• Dribbling can resume after another player touches the ball

• The ball must stay in bounds

• When the offensive team loses the ball out of bounds, possession is turned over

• While dribbling, the player's hand must be on top of the ball

• Carrying the ball occurs if one touches the bottom of the ball and continues to dribble

• The offensive team cannot return to the backcourt after crossing the half-court, resulting in a backcourt violation

• If knocked in by defence, the team can lawfully reclaim the ball

Fouls

• Gaining an unfair advantage via physical contact constitutes a foul
• Referees make decisions, but defensive players shouldn't contact attacking players enough to cause loss of the ball or a missed shot.
• The foul rule applies to all players
• Players can't kick or hit the ball with their fist
• No player can touch a ball falling towards the hoop or resting on the rim, known as goaltending

Points

• Free Throw: 1 point
• Goal Shot within Perimeter: 2 points
• Beyond 3-Point Line: 3 points