Basketball is a team sport that is both fun and competitive. The entry barrier is quite low as it only requires a basketball, hoop, players, and a court. While it appears to be a simple game, it actually requires both physical and mental toughness. You should have the stamina to run up and down the court. Mentally, you have to think of the plays that your team runs and adjust according to your opponents’ defense.
I will go over the basketball basics with you in this basketball 101 to help you navigate as a beginner.
Overview
Basketball is played by two opposing teams of five players each on the court. The objective is for your team to score by shooting the ball in the opponents’ goal or basket. This is called the offense. On the other end, you have to prevent the opposing team from scoring in your basket. This is referred to as defense. The team that has scored more points after the allocated time will be declared the winner.
Positions
The official rule book does not designate any specific positions in basketball. However, mainstream basketball has broadly categorized the five players on the court into five specific positions.
- Point Guard (PG) – Best ball handler in the team. Directs and manages the execution of the team’s plays
- Shooting Guard (SG) – Best shooter in the team who has the ability to score from long distance
- Small Forward (SF) – Slightly shorter than the power forward but quicker and more agile
- Power Forward (PF) – Physically the strongest player in the team and typically shorter than the center.
- Center (C) – Tallest and biggest player in the team who imposes his/her presence under the basket
These positions are sometimes referred to as position numbers 1 (PG), 2 (SG), 3 (SF), 4 (PF), and 5 (C). The above mentioned roles are just guidelines based on the traditional way the game is played. As the game has evolved, the roles are also quickly changing to adapt to the change in speed and style of today’s game. Have a look at the article I have written about basketball positions if you need more in-depth information.
Playing Court
The basketball court consists of two baskets on both ends of the playing area. The dimension of NBA and NCAA basketball courts is 90 feet by 50 feet. The FIBA (Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur) international standard is 28 meters (92 feet) by 15 meters (49 feet).
There are boundaries drawn on the court to meet the prescribed court dimension. These are the endlines and the sidelines. The areas beyond these lines are not part of the playing court. A line is drawn in the middle of the court to separate a team’s backcourt from its frontcount. The backcourt is your team’s own basket while the frontcourt consists of your opponents’ basket.
The free throw line has a distance of 15 feet from the basket. There are also free throw rebounding spots designated for players during free throws. A radius is drawn around the basket to indicate the three-point line. A shot taken beyond this line will be counted as three points if it goes in. Any shot made inside the arc of the radius will be counted as two points.
Teams
Each team is allowed to enlist 15 players in their roster. The NBA allows only 13 of them to be activated in a game. During the course of the game, only five players from each team are allowed in the playing court. Substitution of players is allowed during logical breaks of the game like during a timeout or when the referee blows the whistle to call a violation.
The teams are required to wear their uniforms during official games. There will be assignment of dominant colors for your uniform. One team will be assigned a dark-colored uniform while the other will be assigned a light-colored uniform to avoid confusion during the game. Players will have their listed numbers visible in the front and back of their jerseys. This will allow the referees and game officials to identify the players against the submitted roster.
A team captain is designated for each team. The role of the captain is to communicate with game officials and to be the liaison officer for the players during game time. During disputes, the team captain will take the lead and represent his/her team in discussing with game officials, coaches, and opposing team’s representatives.
Regulations
In the NBA, the duration of the game is divided into halves with each half having two quarters of 12 minutes each. In the NCAA, the game time is not divided into quarters but only into two halves of 20 minutes each. If the score is tied at the end of regulation time, an additional five minutes of game time will be given. This is called the overtime.
The game starts with two players at mid-court with the referee tossing the ball to the air. This is to determine which team gets the first possession as the two players try to gain control of the ball. This is called the jump ball. Possession of the ball will then alternate after a successful shot through the basket.
The game can only be played with the hands. Running with the ball, kicking it with any part of the leg, and using the fist are not permitted. The ball can be passed from one player to another. You can pass, throw, dribble, tap or roll the ball in any direction to reach the front court.
Points are scored when the ball passes through the basket from above. A time out can be called by the coach to stop the play in order to discuss their strategy. This happens during logical breaks of the game and is referred to as a dead ball situation.
Violations
A violation is called by a game official when a rule is not followed. This can result in a penalty and the ball possession awarded to your opponent. Violations include out-of-bounds or when a player with the ball is not physically within the border lines of the court. Dribbling is mandatory when a player with the ball is in motion. Walking or running with the ball in your possession without dribbling will result in a violation. This violation is called traveling.
The area right below the basket is a restricted area. Any player in the offensive end who stays within the restricted area for three seconds will be whistled by the referee for a violation. This is referred to as the offensive three-second rule. This rule does not apply to a player on the defensive end.
Each team will be given a certain amount of time to put up a shot. This is called the shot clock. In the NBA, the shot clock is 24 seconds. In the NCAA, there is more time for each possession. The NCAA shot clock is currently 30 seconds.
Interference of the ball when it is on its way down to the basket is not allowed. This is called the goal-tending violation.
The most common violation is the foul. This happens when a player impedes the movement of another player. This results in a personal foul. The number of personal fouls allowed differ depending on the league rules. The NBA allows players to have up to six fouls per game before being disqualified. In the NCAA, the allowed number of personal fouls is five.
A technical foul is called when an unsportsman-like conduct occurs. This violation covers cursing, intentional physical contact causing harm to your opponent, fighting, and excessive timeouts.
Provisions
Each team will only be allowed a certain number of accumulated fouls per quarter or half. In the NBA, the rule is five team fouls per quarter. In the NCAA, it is seven fouls per half. A team will be in a penalty situation if they have exceeded the number of allowed team fouls.
A free throw is a situation wherein a player is given an opportunity to score one point without being defended. This is awarded to a player or team when a violation is committed by the opposing team.
Substitution of players is permitted and there is no limit to the number of times players on court can be changed. However, the number of players on court should remain at five per team at any point in time during the course of the game.
The referees will ensure that the game rules are followed. Proper conduct when communicating with referees must be followed. A violation may be incurred if players or team officials complain or argue excessively with the referees.
Differences Between NBA And NCAA
There are several differences in the way the game is played between the NBA and the NCAA. Here are a few of the differences.
- Four 12-minute quarters in the NBA while NCAA has two 20-minute halves.
- Shot clock is 24 seconds in the NBA while the NCAA rule allows 30 seconds to take a shot
- Three point distance in the NBA is 23 feet and 9 inches while in the NCAA, it is 22 feet and 1¾ inches
- Six personal fouls are allowed in the NBA while NCAA allows only five
- Technical foul penalty in the NBA is one free throw while the NCAA awards two free throws
Final Words
And there you have it, a summary of basketball concepts. I hope this article has helped you learn the basics of basketball and has armed you with the knowledge to take the next steps forward. All the best and keep enjoying the game!