Basketball

Basketball courts

The playing area is a rectangular court, which is 28 meters long and 15 meters wide. (Older gyms have slightly smaller courts:

26 m × 14 m). Each extremity has a basket, which is placed in the middle of the width. Baskets are made of iron; they are 60 cm in diameter, and have a net to keep the ball from falling out immediately.

Basket is fixed at a height of 3,05 m and are attached to a backboard. Backboards are 180 cm wide and 120 cm high.

There are special lines on a basketball court:

• a line that divides the court in half (attack and defense), called the center line; in the middle of the center line there is a circle that has a diameter of 3,60 meters;

• 2 semicircles that are 6,75 m from each basket; these semicircles are called three throw line;

• 2 semicircles (called no break down area) with a diameter of 2,50 meters.

Basketball

Chapter 15

TARGETS

Get to know

brief history of Basketball game rules

referee’s calls

notes on 3 on 3 Basketball Get to know how to do

technical basics

team basics

Time out Pause of game.

General Rules of the Game Teams

Each basketball game is played by two teams of 5 players each. Five other players sit on the bench and can be called in (or out!) for substitutions at any time during the game.

The aim of the game is for each team to try to get the ball into the rival team’s basket, and to keep the rival team from the getting the ball and scoring points.

How long games last

Games are divided into four quarters of 10 minutes each;

between the 1 ^st and 2 ^nd quarters there is a two minute break;

likewise between the 3 ^rd and 4 ^th quarters. Instead, between the 2 ^nd and 3 ^rd quarters there is a 15 minute break.

Each team can ask for additional time out periods: one minute for each of the first 3 quarters, and two minutes in the last quarter.

The played game lasts for 40 minutes; each time it is stopped, the timekeeper stops the clock as well.

If the the score is tie at the end of the 40 minutes playing period, there are additional periods of five minutes each, until one team has scored more points. Each team is allowed another time out break during each of the additional five minute periods.

Origins of Basketball

26 - 28 14 - 15

4,80 m

5,80 m

40 - 90

Basket height 3,05 m

1,80 m

6,75 m

NEWS

Scoring

Baskets scored are worth:

• 2 points if shot from within the 3 point line;

• 3 points if shot from further away;

• 1 point if scored with a free throw.

Sanctions for breaking the rules

The rival team gets to play the ball from offside; in corrispondence to the place where the foul took place if any of the following rules are broken:

touch the ball when or while it is offside; a player is considered offside when he touches the line of field;

dribble the ball between two hands, or stop the ball and dribble it again between two hands (double dribble);

take more than 2 steps, without bouncing it (passes);

stand still for more than 3 seconds on the 3 seconds area of rival team’s side;

hold the ball for more than 5 seconds (5 seconds);

if a team is playing on its own side of the court, they must get the ball past the centerline within 8 seconds (8 seconds);

having started a play, the team must shoot a basket within 24 seconds (24 seconds);

if game action has reached the rival team’s half of the court, the ball can’t be returned to the home team’s part (return);

touch the ball as it is going into the basket. If a player does so, the rival team gets 2 or 3 points, depending on where the ball was shot from (interference).

Fouls are usually assigned when a player touches a rival teammate, or for unsporty behavior. They are often sanctoned with free shots. Usually the following kind of behavior is considered foul:

personal foul: block, hold, push, charge, trip or keep a rival teammate from moving by body-blocking;

unsporty behaviour foul: play recklessly, or purposely break a rule;

technical foul: treat the referee or a rival teammate in a unsporty way.

Any player that commits 5 fouls must

leave the court and can’t return for the

rest of the game.

If a personal foul was done against a rival teammate who wasn’t shooting a basket, a throw in from offside is assigned.

If the rival teammate was shooting a basket, and manages to score, the point is given, and he’s also assigned a free shot. If the rival teammate doesn’t score, he’s assigned two or three free shots, depending on whether the basket would have been worth two or three points.

A bonus is assigned when 4 fouls have been committed by the same team; if another foul is committed, the rival team will have free shots assigned.

Refereeing

Official games are directed by 2 referees; a jury, 1 timekeeper, 1 keeper of the 24 second clock, and a scorekeeper help the referees:

• the two referees whistle when there are infractions and fouls;

• the timekeeper keeps track of game time and stops and starts the game clock;

• the keeper of the 24 second clock lets players know how much time they have left to complete a game play;

• the scorekeeper keeps track of: the score for each team;

how many points each player has scored; how many fouls each player has done.

Referees use certain gestures and signs so that players and spectarors know what he’s communicating .

Basic Techniques Change direction

To get rid of a rival defenser, players often suddenly change the direction where they’re running, or how they’re handling the ball:

• put bodyweight on the foot that is in front and flex torso;

• push hard with the inner part of the front foot;

• turn torso and take a long step with the back leg in the direction you want to go;

• if dribbling the ball, change the hand doing so.

Andrea

Bargnani

Abc’s of the referee

Stop

A stop is a complete stop while running, or while dribbling or after receiving the ball, and is often followed by a shot or an assist ; it can be done in one or two steps.

One Step Stop. A player jumps, lands on both feet and grabs the ball with both hands.

Two step stop:

• place one foot firmly on the court and grab the ball;

• put the other foot down and come to a complete stop.

When a player has completely stopped, he can move one foot freely, but not the other one, called the pivot foot; when you do a one step stop the pivot foot can be either one, but in a two step stop the pivot must be the foot that first touched the court.

Assist

Passing the ball to a teammate who then tryies to shoot a basket.

Passing

Passing is throwing the ball from one player to another and is used to get to the teammate who most likely can shoot a basket. Passes must be quick and precise so that the receiving teammate gets the ball easily. There are different kinds of passes, use depends on how far the teammate is, and where the rival players are.

Chest pass:

• stand in the base position (legs slightly bent, torso straight and slightly flexed, hands on the ball), throw the ball to the receiving teammate at chest level;

• one can lean on either leg to reinforce throws.

One Step Stop

Two step stop

Baseball pass

Dribbling

Dribbling is pushing the ball towards the ground so it bounces back up, and is used to run on the court while keeping possession of the ball.

It’s important to be able to do this naturally and with ease, while keeping an eye on the court and where the other players are:

Pass bounced on the court: used to keep a rival player from intercepting the ball:

• throw the ball towards the floor using base position so that when it bounces it is at teammate’s chest level.

Over the Head Pass: used to keep rival teammates from getting the ball from above:

• bring ball above the head;

• throw it to a teammate, bypassing rival player.

Baseball pass: used to make passes from further distances:

• bring the ball back, at eye level;

• bring forward the foot opposite of the hand holding the ball;

• throw the ball forward, helping with bodyweight.

• using base position bring arm down at the side of the body, pushing ball with fingers;

• repeat this action with the ball as quickly as possibile.

Low Dribbling: keep the ball at knee height to prevent rival players from interfering.

High Dribbling: used when there are no rival players nearby; the ball must never go higher than the hip.

Pass bounced on the court Passing

Dribbling

Shooting

A shot towards the basket is fundamental, and is a gratifying moment.

A shot while stopped:

• using base position, grab the ball with fingertips;

• lift the ball sideways to eye-level, with wrist tilted backwards, while the other hand holds the ball on the other side;

• extending the arm, push the ball with fingers and form a high curve, helping movement along pushing up with feet.

Three step shot (player on right):

• after receiving or dribbling the ball, step closer using right foot (step one);

• lift left leg (step two), while raising the ball to eye-level;

• while jumping, push (step 3) the ball towards the basket, using a whipping flick of the wrist before foot touches the ground.

Shooting

Three step shot

Playing strategies and player lineup Places taken on the court, in accordance with other players.

Cut

Player movement across the free throw lane.

Team Basics Defense

Man to man defense. Every player keeps an eye on a rival teammate with similar physical characteristics. The defender must always be between the basket and rival teammate, trying to interviene to intercept the balls that are shot towards the basket.

Zone Defense. Every player must keep an eye on a specific part of the court, intervening when rival players enter that zone.

Zone defense goes hand in hand with player lineup ; the most common are 2-1-2; 2-3; 3-2.

Mixed defense. These are used mostly to bother rival attackers and keep them from using their attack tactics.

Attack

Block. When an attacker stops on the court allowing a teammate who has the ball to pass and, at least temporarily, get rid of rival defenders.

Give and Go. The attacker passes the ball to a teammate in front of him; then cuts towards the basket, gets the ball and shoots.

Player lineup 2-1-2

Player lineup 2-3

Player lineup 3-2

Give and Go

Block

Pick and Roll. The attacker passes the ball to a teammate, and goes behind the receiving teammate, who re-passes the ball and blocks rival defender, allowing the attacker to go towards the basket.

Back Door

(Attack against defense zone)

The play maker dribbles the ball towards the rival team’s free throw

line, which his teammates surround; ^{Play maker} (in English) The person who makes plays: player who decides offense tactics.

Team passes Quickly passing the ball from teammate to teammate.

the play maker signals which play (usually using agreed upon sign language) they are going to use, and the ball is passed from teammate to teammate, causing rival attackers to continuously change position, creating empty spaces to shoot baskets.

Offense against man to man defense

Because all attackers (including the play maker) are guarded by rival defenders, attackers must try to get free by faking changes in speed, and use all of his technical know-how to pass or shoot the ball.

Roles and Positions

There are generally five roles in basketball.

Point guard. The player who best handles the ball and has a great court vision. He/she is responsible for setting up the team’s scheme and initiating offensive plays at the right time, bringing the ball down the court.

Shooting guard. The best shooter of the team, he/she is able to shoot and score from long distance. When needed, he/she is also able to break through the opponents’ defence and shoot from inside their area.

Power forward. Usually a tall and strong player who is able to shoot and help the Center under the basket, and with rebounding.

Small forward. A long limbed player who is a good shooter from the outside, but who can also penetrate the opponent’s defence, steal the ball and seek the rebounds. In practice, he/she has to be able to play both in position 2 and 4.

Centre. The tallest and strongest player in the team, he/she takes advantage of his/her own height and size to play within the area where he/she can shoot the basket, defend, seek rebounds and intercept opponents’ passes.

Centre

Point guard Shooting guard

Power forward.

Small forward

3-on-3 basketball

In recent years, particularly in schools, a new sport is emerging:

3-on-3 basketball. This newer kind of basketball began on streets and in parks; in fact, any place with enough room for a hoop just for a few shots. This newer form requires fewer player and has simpler rules.

General rules of the game

1. There are two main categories: Male Junior High league and Female Junior High league.

2. The game is played on a half-court and with only one basket.

3. Every team has 4 players; 3 on court, one on the bench for substitutions; each player must use equipment and uniforms provided by the organizers.

4. Referees will be present in order to judge the match, keep the time and the score.

5. Possession of the ball is decided by drawing.

6. Whenever a shot is scored, the ball passes to the other team.

7. The score

• A successful throw from beyond the arc is awarded 2 points.

• A successful throw from within the arc is awarded 1 point.

• Free throws are worth 1 point.

8 Game periods and winning team

• There are 2 periods of regulation play, lasting 5 minutes each, without stopping the clock. A 1 minute break between the two periods is allowed.

• The team scoring 21 or more points at the end of the regulation time or during the overtime period wins the game.

• If the two teams are tie at the end of the regulation time, the first one scoring two points will be the winner of the game. Possession in the overtime period is granted to the team who was holding possession at the beginning of the game.

• A team wins by default (21-0) if the opponents are 3 minutes late with respect

to the time fixed for the game to start, or if they are not able to display three players in the court.

• 3-second and 24-second rules are not applied.

• Teams are not allowed to repeatedly do not shoot the

basket on purpose. It is a deliberate violation of the aim

of the game and therefore they will be sanctioned if so

acting: the first time with a call, the second time with the

loss of ball possession.

9. Fouls and free throws

• A team will enter the bonus or penalty situation after having committed four fouls.

• A player who commits four fouls must leave the game.

• Any foul committed inside the arc on a player attempting to shoot the basket, is worth one free throw to that player.

• Any foul committed outside the arc on a player attempting to shoot the basket, is worth two free throws to that player.

• Any foul committed on a player successfully shooting the basket, is worth one free throw to that player.

• Any foul committed during the bonus situation is worth one free throw.

10. How to play the ball

• When a team is in possession of the ball, this needs to be played by, at least, two teammates. They have to bring the ball beyond the arc, dribbling or passing it. Violation of this rule means loss of possession for the team.

• After a team scores, a player of the other team will begin the action directly in the court beyond the arc.

• After each unsuccessful attempt to the basket or free throw: if the rebound is caught by the offence team, they can try to shoot the basket again without leaving the arc.

Otherwise, if the defence team catches the rebound, they have to bring the ball beyond the arc.

• If the ball is intercepted or stolen inside the arc, it must be taken outside passing or dribbling it.

• When a change of possession is needed in case of fouls (except for those awarded one or more free throws), violations or ball gone out of bounds, a player of the team holding possession must give the ball to an opponent player anywhere inside the arc, near to where the violation has occurred.

11. Substitutions are allowed when the ball is considered dead.

12. No time-outs are allowed to any team in any case.

13. During national tournaments in Italy, if two teams are tie, the following criteria are used to decide which team goes to the next level: 1) direct clashes; 2) percentage of baskets as to direct clashes; 3) percentage of baskets in all games;

4) higher scores; 5) younger players.

14. Anything not specified above can be found in FIP rules.

Questions

Concept Map