Basketball, invented by the Canadian James Naismith in 1891, has grown into a highly popular international sport. Though the game has taken on a whole host of rules and procedures over the years for fair play, for all practical purposes knowing a few simple rules can get you started enjoying the game almost right away.
Teams
Basketball is played by two opposing teams. Each team is composed of five players. On offense, one player--the point guard--generally controls ball movement, constantly seeking the unguarded teammate for a quick pass and an easy score. A second player, the shooting guard, assists the point guard in moving the ball around the court, particularly around the top of the court away from the basket, and exists as a viable outside scoring threat. The third and fourth players--the power forward and the small forward--play closer to the basket, typically looking to score inside and capture rebounds. A fifth player, the center, likewise tends to play down low, looking for easy layups, dunks, short jump-shots and rebounds.
Scoring
To score, the basketball must be placed through the team's hoop. A shot from within the three-point line (the large outer arc that is the last line before the half-court line) is worth two points. A shot from beyond the three-point line is worth three points.
Turnovers
The ball can be turned over to the other team in a number of ways. These include the double-dribble, when a player with the ball dribbles (or bounces) the ball, then stops, then starts again (or dribbles with both hands at once); throwing the ball or stepping out of bounds; having the ball stolen by the other team; a bad dribble, perhaps off of a foot, that results in recovery of the ball by the other team; or a foul (when a player bumps into or otherwise physically contacts an opposing player), particularly with the arms and hands.
Shooting Fouls
If a player is fouled while in the act of taking a shot, the defender receives a foul and the fouled player is allowed to take a shot from the free-throw line (the short line parallel to the baseline about a quarter-way up the court on both sides). If, due to the foul, the player missed his or her original shot, the player gets a second foul shot. If, however, the shooter had made the shot despite the foul, he or she receives only the single foul shot.
Winning
The team with the most points at the end of regulation time is the winner. Some leagues play with two halves of 20 minutes each, others with four quarters of 10, 12 or 15 minutes each.
Teams
Basketball is played by two opposing teams. Each team is composed of five players. On offense, one player--the point guard--generally controls ball movement, constantly seeking the unguarded teammate for a quick pass and an easy score. A second player, the shooting guard, assists the point guard in moving the ball around the court, particularly around the top of the court away from the basket, and exists as a viable outside scoring threat. The third and fourth players--the power forward and the small forward--play closer to the basket, typically looking to score inside and capture rebounds. A fifth player, the center, likewise tends to play down low, looking for easy layups, dunks, short jump-shots and rebounds.
Scoring
To score, the basketball must be placed through the team's hoop. A shot from within the three-point line (the large outer arc that is the last line before the half-court line) is worth two points. A shot from beyond the three-point line is worth three points.
Turnovers
The ball can be turned over to the other team in a number of ways. These include the double-dribble, when a player with the ball dribbles (or bounces) the ball, then stops, then starts again (or dribbles with both hands at once); throwing the ball or stepping out of bounds; having the ball stolen by the other team; a bad dribble, perhaps off of a foot, that results in recovery of the ball by the other team; or a foul (when a player bumps into or otherwise physically contacts an opposing player), particularly with the arms and hands.
Shooting Fouls
If a player is fouled while in the act of taking a shot, the defender receives a foul and the fouled player is allowed to take a shot from the free-throw line (the short line parallel to the baseline about a quarter-way up the court on both sides). If, due to the foul, the player missed his or her original shot, the player gets a second foul shot. If, however, the shooter had made the shot despite the foul, he or she receives only the single foul shot.
Winning
The team with the most points at the end of regulation time is the winner. Some leagues play with two halves of 20 minutes each, others with four quarters of 10, 12 or 15 minutes each.
