HISTORY OF BASKETBALL

1st part: NOVEMBER 6, 1891

BASKETBALL WAS INVENTED BY DR. James Naismith (November 6, 1861 –
November 28, 1939) a Canadian of Scottish descent at Springfield College
Massachusetts. he was a physician, Christian chaplain, sports coach, physical
education instructor. He developed this indoor game so that his students could
participate in sports during the winter. In his original game, which he invented
while at the Springfield, Massachusetts YMCA (Young Men's Christian
Association), Naismith used a soccer ball which were thrown into peach baskets
(with their bottoms intact).

2ND PART: DECEMBER 21, 1891

he published rules for a new game he dreamt up. That day, he asked his class to
play a match in the Armory Street court: 9 versus 9, using a soccer ball and two
peach baskets. Frank Mahan, one of his students, wasn’t so happy. He just said:
“Harrumph. Another new game”. Someone proposed to call it “Naismith Game”,
but the inventor demurred “We have a ball and a basket: why don’t we call it
basketball?”

3RD PART: MARCH 12, 1892

With a crowd of 200 on hand, the first public basketball game was played in the
Armory Hill YMCA in Springfield. In a romp, the students bested the teachers 5-1.
It was a simple game; as Naismith often said, “Basketball is just a game to play. It
doesn’t need a coach… you don’t coach basketball, you just play it.” Originally, 9
players were on each team… Dr. Naismith once said that there could up to 40 on
each team, if the floor was big enough.
Two vegetable baskets were nailed to the railing of an elevated running track
which was about 10 feet high. The ball was a soccer ball. Of course it was a
nuisance to get out the stepladder every time someone scored, so a hole was cut
out of the basket, and a local carpenter added a wire rim with a chicken wire net
and backboards so that fans, reaching over the railing, couldn’t deflect the shots.

4TH PART: March 22, 1893

Senda Berenson, the "Mother of Women's Basketball," officiated at the first
women's basketball game on March 22, 1893, at Smith College, in Northampton,
Massachusetts.
Born in Lithuania and raised in Boston, Berenson was weak and delicate as a child.
An athletic career would have seemed unlikely for the woman whose poor health
rendered her unable to complete her training at the Boston Conservatory of
Music. But in 1890, she entered the Boston Normal School of Gymnastics, in a bid
to improve her strength and health. There, she trained in anatomy, physiology,
and hygiene, and was hired by Smith College upon her graduation in 1892.
Berenson, the director of the physical education department at Smith, first heard
about a new game called "Basket Ball" soon after her arrival in Northampton.
Invented as a class exercise for boys, the game—like most team sports—was
considered too strenuous for girls, who were instead encouraged to participate in
individual sports like swimming, archery, and horseback riding. Berenson
observed the game being played in nearby Springfield, and met its inventor, Dr.
James Naismith, who encouraged her to adopt the game as exercise for her
female students.
At the first basketball game on March 22, 1893 (some sources cite March 21),
Smith freshmen were pitted against Smith sophomores, with no male spectators
allowed. With rules intended to avoid the roughness of the men's game, the new
game became a hit, and soon swept the country. By 1895, there were hundreds of
women's basketball teams, and these teams helped open the door to other team
sports programs for women. Berenson wrote the first official rulebook for
women's college basketball, as well as a number of articles on the new sport. She
continued to edit the rules until the 1916-17 season, and many of the rules she
developed remained standard until the 1980s. Berenson died in 1954. Over 30
years later, in 1985, she was the first woman to be inducted into the Basketball
Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA.

5TH PART: 1895

Naismith decided that victims of a foul should instead be rewarded with a 20-foot
shot, the first version of the free throw. If that 20-foot shot was made, it counted
as a field goal.
The last major change took place in 1895, when the free-throw line was moved up
to 15 feet. In 1896, point totals were changed to two points for a regular field goal
and one point for a free throw.

6TH PART: 1896

The First competitive basketball leagues where all local leagues, usually within the
larger east coast cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Boston. On some
occasions’ teams from other regions would travel to play another team. Once
such occasion took place on November 7, 1896. this was the first known
professional basketball game was played in Trenton New Jersey between the
Trenton YMCA and the Brooklyn YMCA. The game was played at the Trenton
Masonic temple, and an admission fee was charged for admittance into the game.
Each player got $15 dollars except Fred Cooper who got $16 dollars, and became
the first highest paid player. Trenton defeated Brooklyn 15-1 to win the first ever
professional basketball game.

7TH PART: 1901

1901 marked a landmark year for the game of basketball as colleges began
sponsoring games. At first only a few Colleges participated including Yale,
Minnesota, Dartmouth, Columbia, Chicago, Utah, and Navy. In the early days of
collegiate sports most teams played less then 10 games with the lucky ones
playing maybe 15 or 16. In 1901 Yale would go 10 and 4 to win the first national
college championship.

8th part: 1914

The Early Professional teams. The Original Celtics where an offshoot of a team
called the New York Celtics, the New York Celtics began in 1914 but ended during
world war I.

9th part: 1921

In 1921 the Celtics joined the Eastern league, and beat Trenton in the
championship game, the Celtics where not content just sitting around the next
year they joined the Metropolitan League. After starting out 13-0 the Celtics left
the league due to a lack of competition, they rejoined the Eastern League but
again dominated so greatly they couldn’t draw in a crowd so they with drew
again.

10TH PART: 1936

Staged on an outdoor clay court in Berlin in 1936, the first-ever Olympic
basketball final took place in heavy rain, with the USA defying the muddy
conditions to beat Canada 19-8
Basketball at the 1936 Summer Olympics was the first appearance of the sport of
basketball as an official Olympic medal event. The tournament was played
between 7 August and 14 August 1936 in Berlin, Germany. 23 nations entered the
competition, making basketball the largest tournament of the team sports, but
Hungary and Spain withdrew, meaning 21 competed.
The IOC and International Basketball Federation, which is the governing body of
international basketball, used the 1936 tournament to experiment with outdoor
basketball. Lawn and dirt tennis courts were used for the competition, but this
caused problems when the weather was adverse, especially during the final of the
tournament.

Proper and Acceptable Behavior in participating basketball:

Play by the rules
Never argue with an official. If you disagree, have your captain, coach or
manager approach the official during the break or after the competition
Control your temper. Verbal abuse of officials and sledging other players,
deliberately distracting or provoking an opponent are not acceptable or permitted
behaviors in any sport
Work equally hard for yourself and/or your team. Your team's performance will
benefit, so will you
Be a good sport. Applaud all good plays whether they are made by your team or
the opposition
Treat all participants in your sport as you like to be treated. Do not bully or take
unfair advantage of another competitor
Co-operate with your coach, team-mates and opponents. Without them there
would be no competition
Participate for your own enjoyment and benefit, not just to please parents and
coaches
Respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of their
gender, ability, cultural background or religion

1) Be Patient.
The gains from difficult training and countless hours of working on your craft
may not be apparent after a week or two. It may take an entire summer or
longer to see the work you put in pay off in some tangible way. Just like a
lumberjack cutting down a tree. It takes repeated swings of the axe until finally
the desired result is achieved and the tree is down. It was not just the final
swing that felled the tree, it was the patience to keep swinging repeatedly.
Great players realize that they must sacrifice now in order to achieve a greater
result in the future. To quote Daniel Coyle, author of The Talent Code, the great
athlete must do “x” like crazy now in order to achieve “y” later. Our society
doesn’t encourage delayed gratification, but great players understand growth
doesn’t happen overnight.

2) must Be Consistent.
This quote from Jerry West sums up the need for consistency in training, “If you
only work hard on the days you feel good, you’ll never accomplish much.” Great
players understand that one great practice, one great play, one great game, or
one great tournament doesn’t make them great. What makes them great is the
ability to produce at a high level consistently, day after day, regardless of the
circumstances. That means consistent championship practice habits. What you
do as a player every day translates into the type of player you are or will
become.

3) must be Goal Oriented.

I believe that great players have a vision for what they want to achieve. The
recent article, The Rocky Road of Success by John O’ Sullivan tells players to ask
themselves, “What am I willing to sacrifice to achieve my goal?” I was willing to
sacrifice many other things in my life to achieve my basketball goals as you can
read about here. Great players set goals and then do what is necessary to
achieve them.

4) must be Intrinsically Motivated.

Great players get that way because they WANT it. Not because their Dad wants
it, or their Mom wants it, or their Coach wants it. They are great because they
WANT it. I have worked with thousands of players and the ones that were most
successful were those that were driven by their own inner desire to be great.
They looked at training or practice as an opportunity to do something they
loved, not a chore. They weren’t looking for praise or a trophy or a handout,
they simply loved practicing, playing, and getting better.

5) Growth Mindset.
I’ve written about the growth mindset before, but all great players have a
tremendous thirst for knowledge. They want to be coached. They want to be
challenged. A coach can never give them enough feedback. They read about the
game, they watch the game, they take every opportunity they can to learn and
grow. Quoting Kevin Eastman VP of Basketball Operations for the LA Clippers,
“Don’t be a know-it-all, be a learn-it-all.”

6) must Love Feeling Tired.

One of the things I miss most about being a competitive athlete is feeling TIRED.
I know it sounds weird, but in my life now as a parent, coach, and teacher I
rarely, if ever, feel physically tired. I am often tired, needing more sleep or
feeling general fatigue, but I am talking about being totally wiped out after a
practice or game. Great players love that feeling because they know that they
left their best effort on the court. When I played at Kent State we used to have
practice at 7 am on Saturday morning in the pre-season after a long week of 3
hour practices. Usually the practice involved an intrasquad game that pushed
me to the limit. I loved the feeling of being physically fatigued when that
Saturday practice was over. Great players love that feeling and push themselves
to get to that place where they feel physically exhausted.

7) must Have Grit.

I’ve written in detail here about grit as well, but great players without grit don’t
exist. Every player faces moments when things don’t go their way, they have a
bad game, their training feels unproductive, or something in their life outside of
basketball feels too daunting to overcome, but those with grit are able to push
through those rough patches and come out better on the other side.

The Basic Skill and Tactics in Basketball

FIVE BASIC SKILLS IN BASKETBALL
DRIBBLING
- A dribble is movement of the ball, caused by a player in control, who
throws or taps the. ball to the floor. a. The dribble ends when the dribbler:
Touches the ball simultaneously with both hands.

STEPS ON HOW TO DRIBBLE:

1. Use your fingers instead of your palm
You will find it easiest to control the basketball if you hold it with the tips of your
fingers. Use your forearm and wrist to bounce the ball, and make sure you are
comfortable bouncing the ball with both hands.
2. Keep your knees bent
Your body should be kept low, with your knees bent to maintain a lower centre of
gravity. Be sure to keep your body weight on the balls of your feet, instead of
your heels, and your knees caps shouldn’t be covering your toes when you look
down. This is the best form to keep your balance while dribbling.
Additionally, your knees should be squared out, so you have the possibility to
move in any direction and not provide any indication of your path to your
opponents.
3. Your back should be straight
Instead of having your back hunched over, it should be kept in straight posture
while dribbling, and this will also be helpful in keeping your centre of gravity low.
4. Keep your eyes up
Beginners tend to keep their eyes on the ball or on their hands as they dribble,
but you should avoid doing that. Instead, try to keep your eyes up to look out for
oncoming opponents and to watch the happenings on court.
5. Dribble the ball below the waist or knees
According to Hanbin, the ball should be kept below your knees as you dribble, to
keep it out of reach from your opponents, and to maintain a low centre of gravity.
If you’re a beginner, you can try keeping the ball below your waist as a start.

SHOOTING
- Throwing A ball in an attempt to score a goal.
Common types of shooting in basketball
1. A jump shot is most frequently used for a mid to long-range shots,
including shooting beyond the arc.

To achieve balance when facing the basket for a jump shot, you have to take a
wide stance, usually, shoulder width apart, bend your knees and square your
shoulders.

Make a fluid, explosive upward leap and at the apex of the jump, follow through
by shooting the ball.

When the ball is released at the apex of the jump shot, keep your elbows straight
to ensure that it is pointed in the direction of the basket. Concentrate on the
flicking of your wrist and holding it in position to provide the ball with momentum
and spin.
2. Hook Shot
A hook shot is when the shot is made while your body is not directly facing the
basket.

To execute a shoot shot, you need to face the basket sideways so that your
shooting hand dribbling the ball is facing away from the basket. This is also the
stance to help guard the ball against your opponent. This makes it difficult for
your opponent to try to block the shot due to the distance created between you
and your defender.

To make the shot, jump with your left foot pushing off the ground if you’re
making a right-handed shot or vice versa. The shooting arm should be slightly
bent, and it should thrust upwards as the ball is lobbed with a flick of the wrist.

The hook shot is a staple of many players in the National Basketball Association,
including notable stars such as George Mikan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic
Johnson, and Yao Ming.

3. Bank Shot
A bank shot is when any shot made where the ball hits the backboard before
heading into the net.

To execute a bank shot, treat it as though you’re taking a jump shot but this time,
aim slightly higher by shooting for the backboard.

Jumping higher can also sometimes mean jumping slightly backwards when
aiming for the basket to prevent defenders from blocking the shot.

The ball should not be hitting the rim too much after bouncing off the backboard.
The ball should then bounce off the backboard and into the net.

4. Free Throw
A free throw is a shot attempt given to a player that was fouled and it is taken on
the free throw line. The player must stay behind the free throw line when taking
the shot.
Before attempting to shoot, one must maintain their balance. Find the nail or dot
in the middle of the free throw line and line your shooting foot against it. For
right-handed shooters, the shooting foot will be the right foot and vice versa.

Your elbow on your shooting hand must be lined up to make an “L” right under
the ball with fingers spread out for the backspin.

Aim for the back of the rim with your eyes focusing on the rims, do not look at the
ball while you execute the shot.

Follow through your shot by keeping your hands up in the air for a second or two
after releasing the ball.

5. Layup
A layup is a shot made from short range by a player moving towards the basket.
Usually utilising the backboard if he approaches the hoop from an angle. This is
also one of the most basic and common way of scoring a basket in the game.

To execute a layup, dribble the ball towards the basket. If you’re on the right
flank, dribble the ball with your right hand.

At the three-point line, or within two metres from the basket, take two giant
strides towards the hoop and attempt to score by throwing the ball at the top
corner of the backboard or lay the ball gently into the basket.

6. Slam Dunk
The dunk is usually the most spectacular shot and is one of the toughest feats in
basketball.

It usually requires more jumping ability than shooting skills.

To execute a slam dunk, dribble and charge towards the hoop when ready to
execute the dunk.

Jump explosively to get as high as possible and leap towards the hoop. Lift the ball
above the rim and push or slam it forcefully through the rim.
Most people jump off one foot, but you might find that you can jump higher off
both feet. So there you have it, six ways of scoring in basketball. Start practicing
and perhaps find out which way works for your best, depending on your role and
position in the team.

PASSING
- The deliberate attempt to move a live ball between two teammates
Types of passing
1. Bounce pass
When to use:
At the end of a fast break, when passing to a player in the post, or to a player
making a backdoor cut.
Most effective when it begins with a shot fake or pass fake up high.
To pass under the hands of a defender whose hands are up.
It's the slowest of all passes. Never throw a cross-court bounce pass because the
pass is easily intercepted.
How to execute:
Passer should aim to bounce the ball about 2/3 the distance between himself and
the receiver. For a visual aid, place a piece of tape on the spot where the pass
should bounce.
Receiver should catch the ball at the waist.
Pass should be pushed outward, not thrown down.
Pass should start at the waist with arms extending out toward the spot where the
ball should bounce.
Pass should never begin from the chest or overhead. This causes the ball to
bounce too high.
Hands should follow through about waist high.
Passing a Basketball
2. Chest pass
When to use:
Most efficient and effective pass for ball movement.
To get the ball to a teammate when there's no defender in the passing lane.
How to execute:
basketball pass
Pass should begin at the passer's chest and be caught at the receiver's chest area.
Ball's flight should not have much of an arc. It should be a pretty direct flight.
Hands should follow through chest high.
Pay careful attention to your players' elbows. Make sure they're tucked close to
the body, not flying out into "chicken wings." Elbows sticking out force the hands
to rotate incorrectly and ultimately reduce accuracy and strength of the pass.
Passing a Basketball
3. Overhead pass
When to use:
To pass over a defender whose hands are down.
Great for skip passes across the court, for outlet passes, or to feed a post.
How to execute:
basketball passing
Passer should begin with the ball just above the forehead with elbows facing the
target. Don't bring the ball behind the head. It can be stripped from the back, and
it takes longer to throw the pass.
Grip the ball with the fingers pointed upward and thumbs on the back of the ball
pointing inward.
A good rule of thumb is that if the arms were rotated downward, the elbows
would graze the ribs.
This pass should be aimed toward the partner's forehead. She should receive it at
about chin level.
Many kids are weak in their upper body and triceps muscles, so they will find this
to be a more difficult pass.
The hands should follow through forehead high and should look just like a bounce
pass or a chest pass, just higher.
Once your players feel comfortable with the first 3 basic passes and they're strong
enough to throw a ball with one hand, it's time to add the one-handed push pass
and the baseball pass.

Passing a Basketball
4. One-hand push pass
When to use:
To pass under the arms of players or past a defender who is guarding closely.
It can be a direct pass or a bounce pass.
It works best when the passer fakes high and then passes low.
How to execute:
Just like a regular bounce pass, the passer should aim to bounce the ball about
2/3 the distance between herself and her partner.
The partner should receive the ball in the waist area.
The pass should be pushed outward, not thrown down.
To teach this pass, a player needs to have an obstacle to step around. I suggest
using a cone or something small at first, which is placed about two feet from the
passer directly in between the passer and the receiver.
If passing on the left side of the body, the left hand is used to pass. If passing on
the right side, use the right hand.
Crossover step - Passer steps around the obstacle with the foot opposite the
passing hand to protect the pass with the body. The ball is passed around the
obstacle to her partner.
Side step - A quick push pass can also be done with a short side step using the
same foot as the passing hand. The short step creates enough distance for a safe
passing lane.
The problem most young kids have is being strong enough to throw this pass with
one hand, especially using the non-dominant hand. Don't worry if the pass is
weak at first. It's a new skill that will improve with time.
Passing a Basketball
5. Baseball pass
When to use:
To make a long pass to a player down the court. It's a difficult pass to control.
How to execute:
The baseball basketball pass is thrown just like throwing a baseball.
It's a very difficult pass for kindergarten and early elementary basketball players
to execute because they have difficulty controlling the ball with their small hands
and generating enough strength to throw it very far with any accuracy.
The passer faces sideways to the target (parallel to the sideline) with the throwing
hand behind.
Body weight starts on the back foot.
Keep two hands on the ball as long as possible to stop the pass or ball fake, if
necessary.
Passer begins with the ball behind his ear with his opposite arm extended and
pointing toward the target.
The fingers are spread behind the ball.
Bring the ball forward past the ear by leading with the elbow and stepping with
the opposite foot.
Shift the weight to the front foot and follow through in the direction of the throw.
Passing a Basketball
Quick basketball passing tips
Place hands on the sides of the ball, fingers spread, with thumbs facing up.
Keep elbows loose and at sides (no chicken wings!)
As arms extend, the palms rotate naturally outward and the thumbs rotate
downward, causing ball to spin backwards as it flies.
Step in the direction of the target, extending legs, back, and arms.
Force wrists "through" the ball. The strong hand tends to dominate, so emphasize
forcing the weak hand through the ball.
Ball goes where the fingers direct it. Releasing it off the first and second fingers of
both hands provides backspin and gives the ball direction.
Follow through by pointing fingers at the target with palms facing down.

A REBOUND is credited to a team when it gains possession of the ball after any
missed shot that is not cleared by a single player
TWO TYPES OF REBOUND:
Defensive Rebounds in Basketball
As soon as the shot goes up, you want to turn and find your man. You will put
your forearm on him/her about chest level, and then you will turn and put your
butt/hip on them to box out. If you don’t first put your forearm on them, they will
sidestep your box out. When you box out, you want to keep your hands up. This
will make you wider and harder to get around. It will also keep you from wrapping
your arms around the offensive player, which is a foul.

After you box out, you need to be ready to release and get the rebound. Don’t
wait for the basketball to fall into your lap, but jump up and get it. If you wait for
the basketball to come to you, then someone else on the other team might get to
it before you do for an offensive rebound. Locate the basketball off of the rim and
then react to the rebound as quickly as you can.

Offensive Rebounds in Basketball

Most of the time, as the offensive rebounder in basketball, you aren’t going to
have the best position because the defender is naturally going to be between you
and the basket already. That means that you need to use different moves to get
by them when they go to box you out. Here are three different offensive
rebounding basketball moves that you can use to get the offensive board.
Swim Move: The reason it is called the swim move is because you are making a
downward swimming motion with your arm to get past the person boxing out.
You will fake one way and then go the opposite, and as you do, you will bring your
inside arm down and help propel yourself past the box out man.
Spin Move: This is similar to the swim move, but instead of bringing your inside
arm down, you will fake one way and then spin off the box out and go the other
way to get the rebound.
Drive Under: Sometimes, the person boxing out won’t do a good enough job
coming to you to box out, and that puts them right next to the basket. When this
happens, you want to use your body to help drive them under the basket so that
they don’t have a good rebounding angle, and the ball will come out over their
head to you. Make sure that you use your body and not your hands to drive them
under because that is a foul.

A basketball DEFENSE refers to the defensive strategies, alignments, and

positioning that a team uses to prevent the opposing offense from scoring
baskets. In basketball, good defense requires quickness, footwork, and a deep
understanding of the fundamentals.

TYPES OF DEFENSE:
Man-to-man defense: is a defensive formation in which a coach assigns each
player on the line-up a specific offensive player to follow and defend on the court.
For example, a small forward will guard a small forward in this defense. However,
a coach may decide to switch assignments if the opposing team begins to exploit
a defender’s weakness. It's also common for a player to briefly abandon their
assignment to double-team the opposing team's star player in this defense. Man-
to-man defense lets you force the dribbler towards the sidelines and baseline so
you can trap them in a difficult location. This defense also makes it easier to box
out in the paint and collect the rebound. Man-to-man can be useful for youth
programs and high school teams because it's an effective way to teach
fundamental skills and develop better basketball players.
Zone defense: is a defensive formation in which a coach assigns each player to
cover a specific area of the court. In a zone scheme, a defender begins to guard an
opponent when the opponent enters the defender's designated zone. Once the
offensive player leaves the defender's zone, the defender continues protecting
their zone instead of following the offensive player as they would in a man-to-
man defense. Within the zone defense, there are different types of defensive
schemes, each named after the alignment of the player zones. The first number in
a zone scheme refers to the players closest to the top of the key, and the last
number refers to players closest to the baseline under the hoop.
Combination defense: (also called a junk defense) is a combination of man-to-
man and zone defensive schemes. Teams don't typically use combination
defenses as their primary defensive strategy, but rather as a way to confuse their
opponents at a point in the game when they need the momentum to change to
their side. Combination defenses are risky because there's a higher chance that
coverage will break down, so you should usually only utilize them when your team
is outmatched. Some traditional combination defense schemes include match-up
zone, box and one, diamond and one, and triangle and two.
Full-court press defense: is a defensive strategy where the defense applies
constant pressure to the offensive team across the entire length of the court,
beginning with the initial inbound pass (also called a throw-in). When executing a
full-court press, teams can guard the offense using either man-to-man or zone
schemes. Basketball teams most frequently start using a full-court press when
they're losing late in the game and are desperate to force turnovers since the
added pressure increases the chance of deflections and steals. You can also use a
full-court press to fatigue your opponent. Full-court is a good defense to use
against teams with mediocre ball handlers and teams who lack depth on the
bench (since the offense will have to choose between playing fatigued starters or
second-rate bench players).
Half-court press defense: is a defensive strategy where the defense applies
pressure to the offense as soon as they begin to dribble or pass the ball over the
half-court line. When executing a half-court press, teams can guard the offense
using either man-to-man or zone schemes. Unlike the full-court press, which
teams typically only utilize sporadically during a game, you can apply half-court
press throughout an entire game. Like the full-court press, this defense’s goal is to
force turnovers, fatigue the offense, and disrupt the game’s flow. From a strategic
standpoint, the half-court press is much less risky than the full-court press
because all of your defenders are already on the offensive half of the court
(known as the frontcourt). Defensive basketball drills can be especially beneficial
for players who want to improve their defensive stance and positioning. Learn
more about basketball drills in our complete guide
Hybrid Defenses
During the course of a game, teams usually change their defensive strategy often
from man on man to zone defense to keep the opponents on their toes.
Theoretically, teams can also use a mix of both styles of defense, but the teams
rarely use them.

Tactics in basketball is understood as all organized measures to attack and

defend, which are used by players to reach a premeditated conclusion. There are
two types of tactics: defensive and offensive tactics.

In addition, a distinction can once again be made between pre-tactics and team
tactics:
Pre-tactics describes moves in offense and defense that are only played by certain
players in a team.
With the team tactics all five players will try to reach a certain goal at the same
time together.
Ad

Through the targeted use of different tactics, the team can get decisive
advantages in the basketball game, which can ultimately lead to winning the
match.

Only a common tactic leads to victory - the basketball team holds hands in the
middle.
ALL FIVE PLAYERS MUST BE ON THE SAME PAGE TO WIN THE GAME.
The Positions
In order to understand the tactics involved in basketball, it's important to have a
grasp on different positions. Important to know: In basketball, there are no fixed
offensive or defensive positions, as is the case with football or handball. All five
players on the playing field must be able to both attack and defend. Nevertheless,
each player usually has a specific role. Players are usually divided into two groups
Forwards and Guards.

In basketball there are always five players on the field. There are up to seven
substitutes who can be switched as often as needed. The starting line-up in
basketball is called the Starting Five. Today, the positions are usually the
following: one center, two forwards (wing or attacking players) and two guards.
This is also known as the 2-1-2 formation. However, other starting positions are
also possible, like three guards.
Player positions in basketball
IN BASKETBALL EACH POSITION HAS A SPECIFIC ROLE.
The Center
The Center is usually the biggest and physically strongest player on the court. He
normally stands with his back to the basket and works in the paint, i.e. directly
under the basket. His goal is to gather rebounds.

The Guard
The guards are usually the smallest yet fastest players on the court. They can be
divided into "shooting guards" and "point guards". The shooting guard focuses on
distance 3 pointers while the point guard brings the ball to half court and calls the
plays. He needs both ball handling skills and a solid grasp of the game. The
position is therefore also called "playmaker".

The Forward
Forwards can fall into two categories: The "small forward" and the "power
forward". Both forwards are offensive players who, like the center, play in the
paint and get rebounds. The biggest difference between the two positions is the
size of the players.

The Power Forward is larger and plays with his back to the basket similar to the
center. His goal is to snag rebounds on offense and defense. The Small Forward
focuses primarily on working the ball to the paint. Good ball handling, speed and
strong passing are prerequisites for a small forward.

All positions are numbered from the smallest to the largest player. The counting
starts with the smallest player with number 1 (Point Guard) and goes up to the
largest player with number 5 (Center).

In the following video the different game positions will be explained simply and
clearly.

What are the basic basketball tactics?

In basketball, a distinction is made between attack and defense setups. However,
a quick turnover can change this quickly: The defense serves a team to be able to
attack quickly again. Because the general goal in basketball is to score more goals
at the end and thus more points than the opponent. Here we present you the
most well-known moves for offense and defense.

Defensive Plays in Basketball

In basketball, the goal of the defense is to gain possession of the ball by stealing
the ball or getting a defensive rebound . Their task is to prevent the opponent
from scoring. Basketball players do this by blocking and stealing the ball.

In basketball there are different defense strategies to choose from. The best
known moves in defense are usually man-on-man defense and zone defence.

Man-on-Man Defense
In man-on-man defence or one-man defence - as the name suggests - each
attacker is assigned an individual defender. The defender has the task making life
for that player difficult.

Offense in Basketball
On offense, there are many different tools available to your team. The goal of the
attack is to break through the opponent's defense and set up an uncontested
shot. For this you will need strong fundamentals: dribbling, passing and shooting.

Here we present the most important tactical plays and attacking moves in
basketball. The attackers should choose their play based on what the opponent is
doing. Find the flaws and exploit them.

Fast Break versus Playing for Position

Basically two basic tactics can be distinguished in basketball: The "fast break" and
the play-centred game.

In a fast break the offense attempts to move the ball forward as quickly as
possible so that the defense is out of position and outnumbered. The focus here is
on speed and quick passes.

EVERY BASKETBALL PLAYER MUST KNOW HIS POSITION ON THE FIELD WELL.
In positional play, however, the offense tries to adjust to the opponent's defense.
A good line-up (positions) builds up the game. Good targeted movement, passing
and blocking (in man-on-man defense) and cutting (in zone defense) dictate
whether a ball possession will lead to scoring points.

In basketball, however, there are many more plays. These are also called systems.
This refers to variants of well-rehearsed plays where every attacker has a certain
path. However, they are quite complex and have to be rehearsed and practised
well in advance. You can find examples of these moves below.

The Pick and Roll

The pick and roll is a popular move in basketball. It's often used in 2 on 2
scenarios.

With this move, the attacker without the ball blocks the path of the defender
covering the leader. The attacker with the ball is then free to make an
uncontested shot.

The remaining three attackers are responsible for blocking the other three
defenders. Here's an example of how this looks on the court:

Triangle Offense
The Triangle Offense is also a popular attack strategy in basketball. A good team
relationship is very important: The attackers form a triangle of three players.

This triangle is usually formed by the center, a forward and a guard. The players
are positioned close to the basket, in a corner of the playing field next to the
basket and on the wing.

This formation promotes fast passing and movement, making it very difficult for
the opponent's defense to block the attackers. In the video you can see how it
looks on the court.

Princeton Offense
A lesser known but very effective attack setup is the Princeton Offense. This tactic
is characterised by high passing and quick mobility and an avoidance of the paint
close to the basket.

In a classical attack set up in basketball, the center and power forward are usually
near the basket. The small forward is usually around the free throw line and the
two guards players are at the three-point line.

The Princeton offense is different: The center is usually located at the top of the
key, while the remaining players are placed outside the three-point line. This
forces the opposing team to defend far away from the basket, creating a lane in
the zone for a lay-up. The goal of this system is to confuse the defense by
constant passes and running. With this, the offense creates an opportunity to
penetrate into this free space with a backdoor pass to make an unchallenged
shot.

The tactics used in the NBA finals can be likened to principles used in war
strategy.
Basketball fans have been on the edge of their seats for the National Basketball
Association (NBA) finals, as the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers
go head-to-head for the ultimate title.

The first two games both went into overtime, the first time that's happened in the
NBA finals. The Warriors won Game 1 largely owing to the so-called "Splash
Brothers," the duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, whose counter attack in
the latter half of the game was quick and swift.

In Game 2, with Kyrie Irving out, the Cavaliers played tough defense and forced
Curry to miss several shots. LeBron James helped the Cavaliers score a 95-93
victory over the Warriors with 39 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists.

At the time of going to print, the teams were heading into Game 3 in Cleveland,
Ohio tied at 1-1 with hometown advantage for the Cavaliers.

Last week, Chinese sports brand Peak, invited two domestic basketball experts Su
Qun and Yang Yi to interpret the final stages of Game 2 using the principles of The
Art of War by the renowned Chinese militarist, Sun Tzu.
The text contains a war tactic translated as, "Let your rapidity be that of the wind,
your compactness that of the forest. In raiding and plundering be like fire, be
immovable like a mountain." Su and Yang believe that this principle can be used
to describe the final clash between the Warriors and the Cavaliers.

From Su's perspective, "let your rapidity be that of the wind" could be used as an
analogy for describing the changing speed between the offense and defense in a
game.

Su believed the Warriors demonstrated this the best. Their accurate three-point
shots were often scored when their opponents were not adequately prepared to
defend. The advanced battle formation adopted by the Warriors also contributed
to their good performance.

The offensive of the game could be explained through the analogy: "in raiding and
plundering be like fire". Su believed that both the Warriors and the Cavaliers were
good at displaying this principle. Warriors Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green
are both passionate players, as are J.R.Smith and Iman Shumpert of the Cavaliers.

But it is the Cavaliers who best displayed the concept of "[let] your compactness
[be] that of the forest", said Su. Compared with the young and inexperienced core
players of the Warriors, the Cavaliers boast sophisticated teammates such as
James whose control and leadership contributed immensely to the discipline and
cohesion of the team.

The idea of being "immovable like a mountain" is all about battle formation and
the defense of a team. In this respect the Warriors' formation was inadequate,
especially because of the slow action of centre forward, Andrew Bogut, said Su.

Yang's interpretation of the game is similar to that of Su's. He thought that prior
experience of the NBA finals would have been to the advantage of the Cavaliers.
James, Kendrick Perkins and Mike Miller have all played in previous finals, and this
time round, one would have expected their experience to reduce the pressure.
Yang thought that with James in the team, the Cavaliers would have made fewer
mistakes and expected him to have been more like the "compactness of the
forest" and "immovable like a mountain."
THIS QUOTES FROM THE ART OF WAR BY SUN TZU LEADS THE HIGH SCHOOL
BASKETBALL TEAM INTO TRIUMPH
"In war, victory usually goes to the army who has better trained officers and
men."

"Treat the captives well, and care for them."

"Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in
peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy but know yourself, your chances of
winning or losing are equal. If ignorant both of your enemy and of yourself, you
are certain in every battle to be in peril."

"One who has few must prepare against the enemy; one who has many makes
the enemy prepare against him."

"And therefore only the enlightened sovereign and the worthy general who are
able to use the most intelligent people as agents are certain to achieve great
things. Secret operations are essential in war; upon them the army relies to make
its every move." "An army without secret agents is exactly like a man without
eyes or ears."

"Therefore when I have won a victory, I do not repeat my tactics but respond to
circumstances in an infinite variety of ways."

"And to control many is the same as to control few. This is a matter of formations
and signals. The musical notes are only five in number but their melodies are so
numerous that one cannot hear them all. The primary colors are only five in
number but their combinations are so infinite that one cannot visualize them all."

"When his troops lean on their weapons, they are famished. When the enemy
sees an advantage but does not advance to seize it, he is fatigued. If the officers
are short tempered they are exhausted."

"In local ground I would strengthen my alliances." "I reward my prospective allies
with valuables and silks and bind them with solemn covenants. I abide firmly by
the treaties and then my allies will certainly aid me."
"Pay heed to nourishing troops; do not unnecessarily fatigue them. Unite them in
spirit; conserve their strength. Make unfathomable plans for the movements of
the army."

"And therefore it is said that enlightened rulers deliberate upon the plans, and
good generals execute them."

The 13 Original Rules of Basketball

After brainstorming some new ideas, Naismith developed basketball’s original
13 rules and, consequently, the game of basketball.

1. The ball can be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.

2. The ball can be batted in any direction with one or both hands, but never with
the fist.

3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on
where he catches it.

4. The ball must be held in or between the hands. The arms or body must not be
used for holding it.

5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, striking, or tripping an opponent.

6. A foul is striking the ball with the fist.

7. If a side makes three consecutive fouls, it counts as a goal for the opponents.

8. A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the ground into
the basket and stays there.

9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field and played
by the first person touching it.

10. The umpire shall be the judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify
the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made.
11. The referee shall be the judge of the ball and decide when it is in play in
bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time.

12. The time shall be two 15-minute halves with a five-minute rest between.

13. The side scoring the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner.

General Rules:

1) Basketball is a game in which five players from each team play at a time on the
basketball court.

2) The aim of the players to score a basket by putting the ball inside the hoop
elevated 10 ft above the ground.

3) The team with the ball in possession is the team on the offence, and the
opposite one is the team on defence.

4) Once the offensive team has the ball, they have 24 seconds to shoot it towards
the basket. If It fails to do so, the team on defence is awarded the ball.

5) There can be a total of 12 players on the team roster, but only five can play at a
time.

6) The game of basketball consists of four quarters of 10 minutes each, and if

scores are tied at the end of it, there is a five minutes’ extension called
“overtime”.

7) The scoring rules are simple. If you shoot from behind the arc, you will get
three points whereas shot from inside the arc receives two points. Also, each free
throw is worth a single point.

8) A player playing on the court can be substituted from the players on the bench
by the coach. A coach can make an unlimited number of substitutions.
The rules of basketball can vary slightly depending on the level of play (for
example professional rules differ from college rules) or where the game is played
(international rules are different from USA professional rules). These rule
differences, however, are usually just variations on the basic game of basketball
and the majority of the rules discussed below can be applied to most any game of
basketball played. The winner of a basketball game is the team with the most
points. You get points by throwing the basketball through the opponent's hoop or
basket. In regular play a basket made from within the three point line is worth 2
points and a basket shot from outside the three point line is worth three points.
When shooting a free throw, each free throw is worth 1 point.
Rules for the offense The basketball team on offense is the team with the
basketball. When a player has the basketball there are certain rules they must
follow:
1) The player must bounce, or dribble, the ball with one hand while moving both
feet. If, at any time, both hands touch the ball or the player stops dribbling, the
player must only move one foot. The foot that is stationary is called the pivot
foot.
2) The basketball player can only take one turn at dribbling. In other words, once
a player has stopped dribbling they cannot start another dribble. A player who
starts dribbling again is called for a double-dribbling violation and looses the
basketball to the other team. A player can only start another dribble after another
player from either team touches or gains control of the basketball. This is usually
after a shot or pass.
3) The ball must stay in bounds. If the offensive team looses the ball out of
bounds the other team gets control of the basketball.
4) The players hand must be on top of the ball while dribbling. If they touch the
bottom of the basketball while dribbling and continue to dribble this is called
carrying the ball and the player will lose the ball to the other team.
5) Once the offensive team crosses half court, they may not go back into the
backcourt. This is called a backcourt violation. If the defensive team knocks the
ball into the backcourt, then the offensive team can recover the ball legally.
Defensive Rules The team on defense is the team without the basketball.
1) The main rule for the defensive player is not to foul. A foul is described as
gaining an unfair advantage through physical contact. There is some
interpretation that has to be made by the referee, but, in general, the defensive
player may not touch the offensive player in a way that causes the offensive
player to lose the ball or miss a shot.
 Rules for everyone
1) Although the foul rule is described above as a defensive rule, it applies exactly
the same to all players on the court including offensive players.
2) Basketball players cannot kick the ball or hit it with their fist.
3) No player can touch the basketball while it is traveling downward towards the
basket or if it is on the rim. This is called goaltending. (touching the ball on the rim
is legal in some games). Every player on the court is subject to the same rules
regardless of the position they play. The positions in basketball are just for team
basketball strategy and there are no positions in the rules. Basketball Court

Health benefits
1. Strengthens muscular endurance
Playing basketball requires agility, strength, and stamina. You must quickly move
and change directions using high-intensity, short-duration muscle contractions.

You’ll also need muscular endurance, which is the ability of muscles to repeatedly
apply force for an extended period. You can increase your muscular endurance by
playing basketball and doing exercises to build lower and upper body strength.

You can also focus on strengthening your core and back muscles. This will have a
positive effect on your stamina, energy, levels, and performance.

2. Builds healthy bones

The physical part of basketball also helps improve and build bone strength. Any
physical activity that involves weight-bearing new bone tissue to form, and this
makes the bones stronger. Both muscles and bones in your body become stronger
because it is a physical activity that involves the tugging and pushing of muscles
against bone.

3. Improves balance and coordination

Playing basketball requires you to develop hand-eye and foot coordination as you
maintain your balance throughout the movements. As you play, you need to
move your body quickly as you jump, pivot, or change direction.

Basketball requires you to use motor skills such as shooting, passing, and
dribbling. You’ll also become skilled in rebounding and defensive moves.
Maintaining a strong body will help you perform all of these movements with
greater ease.

4. Develops fundamental movement skills

Playing basketball offers youth the opportunity to develop the motor skills
necessary for development. Research from 2018Trusted Source points to the
effectiveness of basketball in enhancing the fundamental movement skills that
children need to learn.

Playing basketball helps to improve motor coordination, flexibility, and

endurance. It also encourages speed, agility, and strength. These skills are shown
to have a positive effect on promoting a healthy body weight and encouraging
more physical activity, which can enhance cardiorespiratory fitness and self-
esteem.

5. Improves body composition

Playing basketball can also help you burn calories. The quick lateral movements,
running and jumping give you an aerobic workout, which allows a person who
weighs 165 pounds to burn about 600 calories. A person who weighs 250 pounds
can burn approximately 900 calories. This demonstrates it is highly effective as a
fitness routine that is also fun, so it doesn't necessarily feel like you're hitting the
gym with a goal of burning calories.

6. Boosts heart health

Regular physical activity helps to improve heart health and overall fitness levels.
According to research from 2019, basketball increases resting heart rates, which
has a positive effect on cardiorespiratory fitness. This is linked to a lower chance
of developing cardiovascular disease. Basketball is a contact sport, and it requires
a large variety of skill development. When conditioning for basketball, players
need aerobic and anaerobic training. Aerobic training involves endurance, and
anaerobic training involves short burst activities. During playtime, there is a lot of
starting and stopping, so while it is not considered an aerobic sport, it still
provides a heart-pumping workout and promotes cardiovascular health. Because
you keep moving, your heart rate increases and also helps build endurance, which
is important to keeping your heart healthy. It will also help lower the risk of stroke
and heart disease later in your life.
Emotional benefits
7. Develops self-confidence
You may develop self-confidence as you find your voice and learn more about
who you are in a new situation. As a team, members can encourage, motivate,
and support each other. They can also point out areas that need improvement,
which can lead to positive growth.

Success on the court can extend into other areas of your life, and you may find
that you have a newfound belief in yourself and your abilities.

8. Lowers stress
Engaging in physical activity releases endorphins, which are the feel-good, or
happiness, hormones. Endorphins may boost your mood, promote relaxation, and
reduce pain. They can also alleviate depression, boost self-esteem, and enhance
your work performance. When stress is decreased, you will have more energy and
focus to complete tasks. It also makes you more social, which can help prevent
depression. Your immune system will receive a boost when stress is lowered,
making you overall healthier and your body naturally combative. This may also
help you develop present-moment awareness or mindfulness. These tools may be
effective in allowing you to deal with anxiety in other areas of your life.

Social benefits
9. Encourages team spirit
Playing basketball helps foster a sense of community and teamwork. You may
have the chance to positively interact with people from different backgrounds,
which can broaden your perspective.

Plus, you’ll learn to play fairly and graciously regardless of the outcome of your
performance. Your teammates and you can aim to be supportive, positive role
models for each other.
10. Develops communication skills
As you interact with your teammates, you may learn new ways to communicate
verbally and nonverbally. You’ll have the chance to talk to your teammates and
listen to what they have to say.

Most likely, there will be time to communicate before, during, and after a game
or practice. Whether you learn to speak up or stay silent more often, positive
communication skills will bring benefits to your athletic, personal, and
professional life.

11. Full-Body Toning and Workout

When you play basketball you get full-body workout, this helps develop lean
muscle in your lower back, neck, deltoids, traps and core. It also makes your legs
stronger, and shooting and dribbling help strengthen your arms, hand and wrist.

12. Impulsive Decision-Making and Quick Thinking

Basketball is not only a fast-paced game that requires a lot of physical skill, but
also a mind game that requires you to think on your toes. This sport requires
heavy focus so you can accurately and quickly process what is happening on the
court, then make the correct decisions to direct the ball. You also have to assess
the court environment around you and make split second decisions based on the
actions of other players on the court.

Health benefits of basketball

Basketball involves a lot of starting and stopping. While not renowned as an
aerobic sport, it is still a great workout that can help you:
burn calories (an hour of basketball can burn 630–750 calories)
build endurance
improve balance and coordination
develop concentration and self-discipline
build up muscle.
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Other benefits of basketball
As well as being a great way to stay fit, basketball can also:
help you to make new friends and see them regularly teach you about being a
good team player
be played by people of all ages and all abilities
be played all year round because it’s usually an indoor sport
be a fun game that kids of all levels and ages can enjoy
be practiced alone – all you need is a ball and a hoop (and you can find a hoop in
most local parks and school grounds)
be played and enjoyed with as few as two people (although official games require
10 players).