Basketball Rules

Object of the Game

The object of basketball is to throw the ball (basketball) into a hoop to score points. The game is
played out on a rectangular court and depending on which section of court you successfully throw a
ball into the basket will depend on how many points are scored. The ball can be moved around the
by dribbling or passing the ball. At the end of the game the team with the most points is declared
the winner.

Rules of Basketball
- Each team can have a maximum of 5 players on the court at any one time. Substitutions can
be made as many times as they wish within the game.
- The ball can only be moved by either dribbling (bouncing the ball) or passing the ball. Once a
player puts two hands on the ball (not including catching the ball) they cannot then dribble
or move with the ball and the ball must be passed or shot.
- The team trying to score a basket is called the offence whilst the team trying to prevent
them from scoring is called the defence. The defence must do all they can to stop the
offence from scoring by either blocking a shot or preventing a shot from being fired.
- After each successful basket the ball is then turned over to the opposition.
- Fouls committed throughout the game will be accumulated and then when reached a
certain number will be eventually be awarded as a free throw.
- A free throw involves one player from the offensive team (the player fouled) to take a shot
unopposed from the free throw line. Depending on where the foul was committed will
depend on the number free throws a player gets.
- Violations in basketball include travelling (taking more than one step without bouncing the
ball), double dribble (picking the ball up dribbling, stopping then dribbling again with two
hands), goaltending (a defensive player interferes with the ball travelling downwards
towards the basket) and back court violation (once the ball passes the half way line the
offensive team cannot take the ball back over the half way line).

Players & Equipment

Each team is made up of 12 players with only 5 allowed on the court at any time. The positions are
broken up into Point Guard, Defensive Guard, Centre,
Offensive forward and Defensive Forward. Each player
will then take up a position on the court but are allowed
to move around as they please.

The court is a rectangular shaped and measures 91 feet

long and 50 feet wide. There is a halfway line in which a
small circle is found in the centre; this is where the game
starts with a tip off (the ball is thrown in the air by the
referee and a player from each team tries to win
possession for their team). At each end of the court are
two baskets both 10 feet in height. A three point arc is the
outside ring, whilst in the middle of that is the key which
includes a free throw line.

All that is needed to play is a court and basketball. Teams

must wear matching strips with some players choosing to
wear gum shields and face masks for protection.

The game is split up into 4 twelve minute quarters. In

between the 2nd and 3rd quarter is a 15 minute half time interval.
Scoring
There are three scoring numbers for basketball players. Any basket scored from outside the three
point arc will result in three points being scored. Baskets scored within the three point arc will result
in two points being scored. Successful free throws will result in 1 point being scored per free throw.

Winning the Game

Winning a game of basketball is pretty simple; score more points than your opponents in the
allotted game time. If the scores are tied at the end then an extra quarter will be played until a
winner is found.

(Breakthrough Basketball, 2019: Rules of Sport, n.d)