The Rules of Basketball

The Rules
Basketball is a team sport. Two teams of five players each try to score by shooting a ball
through a hoop elevated 10 feet above the ground. The game is played on a rectangular floor
called the court, and there is a hoop at each end. The court is divided into two main sections
by the mid-court line. If the offensive team puts the ball into play behind the mid-court line, it
has 8 seconds to get the ball over the mid-court line. If it doesn't, then the defense gets the
ball. Once the offensive team gets the ball over the mid-court line, it can no longer have
possession of the ball in the area behind the line (back court violation). If it does, the defense
is awarded the ball.

The ball is moved down the court toward the basket by passing or dribbling. The team with
the ball is called the offense. They have 24 seconds to score a basket. They have 8 seconds
to cross the half court line. Offensive players are only allowed 3 continuous seconds in
the defensive key. They are also only allowed 5 seconds to hold the ball without
movement. Within those 5 seconds they have to start dribbling, pass or shoot the ball. The
team without the ball is called the defense. They try to steal the ball, contest shots, steal and
deflect passes, and win rebounds.

SCORING
 When a team makes a basket, they score two points and the ball goes to the other
team. If a basket, or field goal, is made outside of the three-point arc, then that basket
is worth three points. A free throw is worth one point. Free throws are awarded to a
team according to some formats involving the number of fouls committed in a half
and/or the type of foul committed.
  If a player is fouled while attempting to shoot and the ball does not go in. They are
allowed 2 free throws if they were shooting for a 2 pointer and 3 free throws if they
were shooting for a three pointer.
 If a player is fouled while attempting to shoot and the ball goes in. They get 2 points
(if shot inside the 3-point line) or 3 points (if shot outside the 3-point line) for the
basket, and they are allowed 1 extra free throw shot.
 Other types of fouls do not result in free throws being awarded until a certain number
have accumulated (after 5 team fouls) during a half. Once that number is reached,
then the player who was fouled is awarded 2 free throws.

Each team is assigned a basket or goal to defend. This means that the other basket is their
scoring basket. At halftime, the teams switch goals. The game begins with one player from
either team at center court. A referee will toss the ball up between the two. The player that
gets his hands on the ball will tip it to a teammate. This is called a tip-off or jump ball. In
addition to stealing the ball from an opposing player, there are other ways for a team to get
the ball.

One such way is if the other team commits a foul or violation.

Fouls and Violations

FOULS

Personal fouls:
Personal fouls include any type of illegal physical contact.
 Hitting
 Pushing
 Slapping
 Holding

Illegal pick/screen.
When an offensive player is moving. When an offensive player sticks out a limb and makes
physical contact with a defender in an attempt to block the path of the defender.

Personal foul penalties:

If a player is shooting while a being fouled, then he gets two free throws if his shot doesn't go
in, but only one free throw if his shot does go in.
Three free throws are awarded if the player is fouled while shooting for a three-point goal and
they miss their shot. If a player is fouled while shooting a three-point shot and makes it
anyway, he is awarded one free throw. Thus, he could score four points on the play.

Inbounds.
If fouled while not shooting, the ball is given to the team the foul was committed upon. They
get the ball at the nearest side or baseline, out of bounds, and have 5 seconds to pass the ball
onto the court.
If the team committing the foul has five or more fouls in the game, then the player who was
fouled is awarded two free throws.

Charging.
An offensive foul that is committed when a player pushes or runs over a defensive
player. The ball is given to the team that the foul was committed upon.
Blocking. Blocking is illegal personal contact resulting from a defender not establishing
position in time to prevent an opponent's drive to the basket.

Flagrant foul.
Violent intentional contact with an opponent. This includes hitting, kicking, and punching.
This type of foul results in free throws plus the offense retaining possession of the ball after
the free throws.

Technical foul.
A player or a coach can commit this type of foul. It does not involve player contact or the ball
but is instead about the 'manners' of the game. Foul language, obscenity, obscene gestures,
and even arguing can be considered a technical foul, as can technical details regarding
filling in the scorebook improperly or dunking during warm-ups.

VIOLATIONS

Walking/Traveling.
Taking more than 'a step and a half' without dribbling the ball is traveling. Moving your pivot
foot once you've stopped dribbling is traveling.

Carrying/palming.
When a player dribbles the ball with his hand too far to the side of or, sometimes, even under
the ball.

Double Dribble.
Dribbling the ball with both hands on the ball at the same time or picking up the dribble and
then dribbling again is a double dribble.

Held ball.
Occasionally, two or more opposing players will gain possession of the ball at the same time.
In order to avoid a prolonged and/or violent tussle, the referee stops the action and awards the
ball to one team or the other on a rotating basis or a tip-off is called.

Goaltending.
If a defensive player interferes with a shot while it's on the way down toward the basket,
while it's on the way up toward the basket after having touched the backboard, or while it's in
the cylinder above the rim, it's goaltending and the shot counts. If committed by an offensive
player, it's a violation and the ball is awarded to the opposing team for a throw-in.

Backcourt violation.
Once the offense has brought the ball across the mid-court line, they cannot go back across
the line during possession. If they do, the ball is awarded to the other team to pass inbounds.

Time restrictions.
 A player passing the ball inbounds has 5 seconds to pass the ball. If he does not, then
the ball is awarded to the other team.
 A player cannot hold the ball for more than 5 seconds when they are closely marked
unless they are dribbling the ball.
 An offensive player cannot be in the opponent’s key for more than 3 seconds

Player Positions
Center.
Centers are generally your tallest players. They generally are positioned near the basket.

 Offensive -- The center's goal is to get open for a pass and to shoot. They are also
responsible for blocking defenders, known as picking or screening, to open other
players up for driving to the basket for a goal. Centers are expected to get some
offensive rebounds and put-backs.

 Defensive -- On defense, the center's main responsibility is to keep opponents from

shooting by blocking shots and passes in the key area. They also are expected to get a
lot of rebounds because they're taller.

Forward.
Your next tallest players will most likely be your forwards. While a forward may be called
upon to play under the hoop, they may also be required to operate in the wings and corner
areas.

 Offensive -- Forwards are responsible to get free for a pass, take outside shots, drive
for goals, and rebound.

 Defensive -- Responsibilities include preventing drives to the goal and rebounding.

Guard.
These are potentially your shortest players, and they should be really good at dribbling fast,
seeing the court, and passing. It is their job to bring the ball down the court and set up
offensive plays.

1. Offensive -- Dribbling, passing, and setting up offensive plays are a guard's main
responsibilities. They also need to be able to drive to the basket and to shoot from the
perimeter.

2. Defensive -- On defense, a guard is responsible for stealing passes, contesting shots,

preventing drives to the hoop, and for boxing out.