Explanation Short History Set of Simple Rules Basketball Explanation Short History Set of Simple Rules

What is basketball? Basketball is a team sport. It is played indoors. Two teams of five players each try to score points against one another by throwing a ball through a 3 m high hoop. Each hoop is placed at the end of a rectangular court.

Basketball is one of the most popular and widely viewed sports in the world.

History of Basketball James Naismith, a Canadian physical education instructor invented basketball in 1891. Back then the game was played with an ordinary soccer ball and peach baskets between 2 teams of 9 players each. There were 13 rules.

Soon metal rims replaced the peach baskets with netting underneath Soon metal rims replaced the peach baskets with netting underneath. Later people cut the netting so that the ball could go through. Senda Abbott first introduced basketball to woman in 1892. Professional basketball started in 1869 in New Jersey, USA.

How basketball is played Basketball is played by two teams who score points by throwing a ball into the opposing team's basket. The team who scores the most points are the winners. Each team has a squad of 12 players to choose from. Five of those players are allowed on the court at any one time, with unlimited substitutions. Players can move the ball around the court by passing, tapping, throwing, rolling or dribbling.

Duration The game consists of four quarters of 10 minutes each, with a 15-minute break at half-time. There are also two-minutes interval between the first and second periods, and between the third and fourth periods. If the game is tied after the fourth period, it continues with an extra period of five minutes, then as many five-minute periods as are necessary to break the tie.

Main Officials Main officials include one referee and one umpire. The court is divided between them and they swap places after each foul involving a free throw penalty, as well as after each jump ball decision. They use whistles and hand signals to make and explain their decisions. Each game begins with a jump ball. The referee throws the ball into the air in the centre circle and two opposing players leap up and try to tap it away. Each player is allowed two taps before the ball hits the ground, a basket, a backboard or another player.

Set of simple rules The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands. A player cannot run with the ball. A player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, or dribble the ball with one hand while they are running. The ball must be held by the hands.

Shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping or striking in any way a player of the other team is allowed. A foul is striking the ball with the fist. A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball goes over the backboard, hits the side or the top of the backboard, then the ball is officially out of play.

SCORING Points are scored for shooting the basketball through the hoop. Two points for a goal inside the three-point semi-circle, and three points for goals scored from outside. Free throws, taken from the free-throw line and awarded after a foul, are worth one point.

NBA BASKETBALL COURT

FIBA BASKETBALL COURT

SPANISH NATIONAL TEAM