Basketball
Basketball
Basketball is
a team sport in
which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a
rectangular court, compete with the primary objective
of shooting a basketball (approximately
9.4 inches (24 cm) in diameter) through the defender's hoop (a basket 18
inches (46 cm) in diameter mounted 10 feet (3.048 m) high to a backboard at each end of the court, while
preventing the opposing team from shooting through their own hoop. A field goal is worth two points,
unless made from behind the three-point line,
when it is worth three. After a foul, timed play stops and the player fouled or
designated to shoot a technical foul is
given one, two or three one-point free throws.
The team with the most points at the end of the game wins, but if regulation
play expires with the score tied, an additional period of play (overtime)
is mandated.
Players advance the ball by bouncing it while walking or running
(dribbling) or by passing it to a teammate, both of which require considerable
skill. On offense, players may use a variety of shots – the layup, the jump shot, or a dunk;
on defense, they may steal the ball from a dribbler, intercept passes, or block shots; either offense or defense may
collect a rebound, that is, a missed shot that bounces
from rim or backboard. It is a violation to lift or drag one's pivot foot without dribbling the ball,
to carry it, or to hold the ball
with both hands then resume dribbling.
The five players on each side fall into five playing positions. The tallest player is
usually the center, the second-tallest and strongest is
the power forward, a slightly shorter but more
agile player is the small forward, and the shortest players or the
best ball handlers are the shooting guard and
the point guard,
who implements the coach's game plan by managing the execution of offensive and
defensive plays (player positioning). Informally, players may play
three-on-three, two-on-two, and one-on-one.
Invented in 1891 by Canadian-American gym teacher James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States,
basketball has evolved to become one of the world's most popular and widely
viewed sports.
The National Basketball Association (NBA)
is the most significant professional basketball league in the
world in terms of popularity, salaries, talent, and level of competition. Outside
North America, the top clubs from national leagues qualify to continental
championships such as the EuroLeague and
the Basketball Champions League Americas.
The FIBA Basketball World Cup and Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament are
the major international events of the sport and attract top national teams from
around the world. Each continent hosts regional competitions for national
teams, like EuroBasket and FIBA AmeriCup.
Original rules
On 15 January 1892, James Naismith published his rules for the game of "Basket Ball" that he invented:[1] The original game played under these rules was quite different from the one played today as there was no dribbling, dunking, three-pointers, or shot clock, and goal tending was legal.
- The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.
- The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands (never with fist).
- A player cannot run with the ball, the player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man who catches the ball when running at a good speed.
- The ball must be held in or between the hands; the arms or body must not be used for holding it.
- No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping or striking in any way the person of an opponent shall be allowed. The first infringement of this rule by any person shall count as a foul; the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made or, if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game. No substitute allowed.
- A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violation of rules 3 and 4, and such described in rule 5.
- If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count a goal for the opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the meantime making a foul).
- A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there (without falling), providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edge, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.
- When the ball goes out of bounds it shall be thrown into the field and played by the first person touching it. In case of dispute the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower in is allowed five seconds, if he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on them.
- 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. He shall have power to disqualify people according to Rule 5.
- The referee shall be judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made and keep account of the goals with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.
- The time shall be two fifteen minute halves, with five minutes rest between.
- The side making the most goals in that time is declared the winner. In case of a drew game may, by agreement of the captain, by continued until another goal is made.
Naismith's original 1892 manuscript of the rules of basketball, one of the most expensive manuscripts in existence, is publicly displayed at Allen Fieldhouse on the campus of the University of Kansas. Naismith was the first coach in the history of Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball.
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