Hoops! Hoops! Hoops!

Learn how to hoop! Basketball is a fun sport that is loved by individuals all around the world.

History

Guess what's back, back, back, back again? Yes it is me, Sumedha! But also. . . .BASKETBALL! Basketball is a sport that is loved by individuals all over the world, and the history of the sport is interesting too.

James Naismith, a graduate student, invented basketball in 1891. He intended to design a sport that was less prone to injury than football and kept participants indoors throughout the winter. The fundamental goal of the game was to throw the basketball into fruit baskets mounted to the gym's balcony railing. Naismith devised 13 unique rules for the game. Continue reading to discover what those rules were!

The game became immensely popular in the twentieth century, first in America and then quickly spread to other parts of the world. Basketball began in colleges and quickly evolved into a professional sport known as the NBL (National Basketball League). Soon after, the NBA (National Basketball League) was founded in 1946 and quickly expanded into a multibillion-dollar corporation by the end of the twentieth century.

Source: https://hoopheadspod.com/a-brief-history-of-basketball/#:~:text=Basketball%20began%20in%201891%2C%20it,popular%20into%20the%2020th%20century.

Nuggets practice court, hallway to locker rooms, and NBA court

Source: All images were taken by Sumedha Shrestha

Game Play

Similar to most games the winner of a basketball game is the team with the most points, however there are rules that must be followed in order to get points.

Basketball, first and foremost, is a team sport. Two teams of five players each attempt to score points by shooting a basketball through a hoop. The hoop is positioned 10 feet above the ground.

Basketball is a sport that is played on a rectangular-shaped floor, referred to as the court. A basketball hoop is put at the end of each side, and a mid-court line divides the court into two pieces.

The start of the game is signaled by a tip-off. At center court, the referee will toss the basketball between the two opposing players. The first player to touch the ball will pass it to one of their teammates. The game then starts.

Dribbling or passing the ball moves the basketball down the court toward the basketball hoop. The offensive is the team that has the ball, while the defense is the team that does not have the ball. The purpose of the defense is to steal the ball, collect rebounds, and block passes.

When a team puts the ball through the hoop, they receive two points and the ball is then given to the opposing team. A basket made outside the three-point line, on the other hand, is worth three points.

If a player fouls, the fouled player is awarded one, two, or three free throw attempts, depending on the type of violation. If a player is fouled outside the three-point line, for example, they will be awarded three free throw attempts. Fouls can occur when a player pushes, hits, holds, slaps, or otherwise hinders another player from making a play.

Basketball game clocks fluctuate based on the level of play. So, in college basketball, there are two 20-minute halves. In professional basketball, there are four 12-minute quarters. However, if the score is tied at the end of regulation, then overtime periods are played until a winner is determined.

Basketball violations include carrying, traveling, and time limits. The carrying violation kind of sounds like what the word means. It occurs when a player places their hand underneath the basketball (carries it) or dribbles the ball too far to the side with their hand. When a player travels, they take more than a step and a half without dribbling the basketball. The game of basketball has many time constraints. A common one that occurs is if a player is passing the ball into play, they only have five seconds to do so before the ball is given to the opposing team.

These are the basic basketball rules and gameplay that govern the structure of the game. You're now ready to take the court or cheer on your favorite team!

Source: https://www.thegirlfriendsguidetosports.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Court-with-labels.jpg

The 13 Original Rules

As previously stated, Naismith developed 13 original rules for the game of basketball, which are listed below.

The Ball - The basketball can be tossed with one or both hands in any direction.
The Direction - With one or both hands, the ball can be fought in any direction.
No Running - Players were not permitted to run with the ball. They must throw it from where they caught it.
Hands Only - The ball could only be held in the hands. Players were not allowed to use their arms or body to hold the ball.
Violations - Pushing, punching, shouldering, or holding was not tolerated. The first time a player does this, a foul is called, and if the player fouls again they are is disqualified until the following basket.
Foul - A foul is when a player strikes the ball with their fist.
Free Points - If either team makes three consecutive fouls, then the opposing team receives a point.
Points - When a basketball is thrown or battled from the ground into the net and stays there, a point is scored.
Out of Bounds - If the ball goes out of bounds, then it should be thrown back onto the court and played by the first player to touch it. That player only has 5 seconds to throw the ball into play.
Boundaries- Basketball must be played on a rectangular court that is no wider than 70 feet and no longer than 100 feet.
Referee - The referee’s job is to judge the ball and determine if the ball is in-bounds, in play, if a basket is made, and which side the basketball belongs to. The referee also keeps the time and keeps track of the points.
Time - The game is played in two fifteen minute halves, and a five minute half-time.
Winner - The team with the most points wins. If there is a tie the game will be continued until another basket is made.