The rules of the game!
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How the best game in the world is played.... |
“The purpose of each team is to shoot the ball into the opponents basket and prevent the other team from securing the ball or scoring, within the rules of the game.”
Set out below is a VERY brief summary of the rules...the links at the bottom of the page will take you to complete sets of the rules.
The basics...
The game of basketball is played by two teams - each with five players on court at any one time. Each team can consist of up to 12 players.
The team on court will generally consist of two guards, two forwards and a centre, but the coach can have any combination they want.
The guards (who are usually the best ball handlers in the team) tend to play further away from the basket and are the first line of defence in the event of a steal. The forwards usually play from the sides and usually shoot, make strong attacking moves to the basket and help with rebounding. Centres tend to be the tallest players on the team and they play nearest the basket in defence or along the free throw line in offence - they concentrate on shooting and rebounding.
The game is started with a jump ball in the centre circle. The two players will face the way their team will be shooting and the ball is thrown up between the players to a height greater than either player can jump. Usually the tallest or best player on the team will take the jump ball and they must try to tap the ball to one of their team mates. The person taking the jump ball must only tap the ball - they cannot catch it!
The game consists of four quarters of 10 minutes each. There is a one minute break between the of
first and second periods and the third and fourth periods. There is a break of up to 10 minutes between the second and third periods (half time). If the teams are tied at the end of the fouthr period there is a break and an additional period of 5 minutes is played - the match cannot end in a draw and additional periods of 5 minutes will continue to be played until one team is ahead at the end of a period.
The game is played to three basic rules...
1. No body contact;
2. No running with the ball; and
3. Dribbling must be continuous when started.
Scoring
A player scores when they manage to put the ball into their opponent's basket from above.
Scoring a basket increases your teams score by 3, 2 or one point depending on where the shot has been taken from. If the player successfully shoots from outside of the 3 points line, the basket is worth 3 points, other wise it is worth 2 points. It is also possible to score one point when shooting from the free throw line, after a foul for instance.
After a basket is scored any player from the defending team must pass the ball in from behind their defensive end line.
Violation
A violation occurs when a player breaks one of the rules of basketball (as mentioned above - a complete set of rules is available via the links at the bottom of this page). When a violation occurs, play will be stopped and the ball will be awarded to the opposite team - who will put the ball in from out of bounds - whichever line (end line or side line) is nearest where the violation occurred.
Main types of violation...
TRAVELLING - this is where the player takes more than two steps without bouncing the ball on the floor. A player who receives the ball whilst standing still may pivot on either foot.
DOUBLE DRIBBLE - is where a player stops dribbling and picks the ball up and then starts dribbling again OR where the player bounces the ball with both hands at once.
CARRY - this is where the player, whilst dribbling, twists their hand round so that, whilst in contact with the ball, their hand passes the vertical position. The hand must always remain on the top half of the ball whilst dribbling.
BACK COURT - once your team has advanced the ball into the front court (ie over the half way line and into the half you are attacking) and over the half way line, your team cannot pass the ball back into their defensive end (aka back court).
3 SECOND VIOLATION - an offensive player may not stay in the opponetns key for more than 3 seconds unless a shot is being taken.
5 SECOND VIOLATION - you have 5 seconds to put the ball into play from a side line or end line and you have 5 seconds to shoot a free throw.
8 SECOND VIOLATION - your team has 8 seconds to bring the ball into the front court.
24 SECOND VIOLATION - your team has 24 seconds, from when you get control of the ball, to shoot. This 24 seconds is often counted down on a specific clock which counts down from 24 seconds - and is known as "the shot clock". Each time the ball hits the rim of the basket the shot clock is reset to 24 seconds
Fouls
When a player causes contact with an opponent this will be penalised with a foul. Having said this, however, a certain amount of contact will be inevitable and allowable - the foul will be called where the player seeks to gain an unfair advantage or behaves in a way as to deliberately cause contact.
Any player receiving five personal fouls is disqualified from play for the remainder of that game.
When a team has accumulated four fouls in any quarter, any further fouls will cause the opposition to be awarded two free throws.
If a player is fouled while shooting they receive two free throws. However if they score and are fouled they only receive one free throw.
Court Layout.
Referee Signals
In case you've ever wondered what those silly stripey people running around the court waving their arms were doing - this might help...
Administrative Signals
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Scoring signals
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Violation signals
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A complete set of rules can be downloaded from the FIBA website |