BASKETBALL

HISTORY

Basketball is one of the only major sports that originated in the USA. It was invented by James Naismith on or about December 1, 1891. Naismith was an instructor in physical education at the International Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Training School, in Springfield, Massachusetts; which is now Springfield College. His invention of the game was motivated by a desire to relieve the boredom of students in what were called, gymnasium classes, where marching, calisthenics, and apparatus work were the usual activities.

After considerable trial and error, Naismith, borrowed, modified, and inserted ideas from other sports such as football, soccer, hockey, and other outdoor games; coming up with a set of 13 simple rules that still embody the 5 principals of the game played today:

1. There must be a ball – large, light, and handled with the

hands.

2. There shall be no running with the ball.

3. No member of either team shall be restricted from getting

the ball at any time it is in play.

4. Both teams occupy the same area, yet there is to be no

personal contact.

5. The goal shall be horizontal and elevated.

Originally, Naismith planned to nail square boxes as targets at opposite ends of the overhead gymnasium track. Boxes were not immediately available, so he used two half-bushel peach baskets instead, thus the game got it’s name, basketball. It took a few more years for players to realize that if you cut out the bottom of the baskets, there was no need to climb a ladder to retrieve the ball following each successful goal.

THE GAME

Basketball is a game which requires shooting, catching and throwing a fairly large ball (men’s ball has a 29.5” - 30” circumference and women’s ball has a 28.5” – 29” circumference), and the ability to move quickly in any direction, including jumping upward. Players are required to move up and down the length of the court, with or without short rests, for 4 equal quarters. Each game is started with a jump ball in the center restraining (jump) circle by two opponents.

Quick starts, agility, shorts bursts of speed, explosive strength for jumping, and perception of spaces and players moving in a relative small area are among the necessary skills of a successful basketball player.

The object of the game is to score points by throwing the ball in such a manner as to have it pass through a basket on its downward flight. The basket is 10 feet from the floor. A field goal is a shot during a game scores that scores 2 points, a free throw scores 1 point, and a shot from outside an arc (19 feet 9 inches from the basket) scores 3 points.

TERMS

Air Ball - A shot that completely misses the rim and the backboard.

Alley-Oop Pass - A pass thrown with a high arc near the basket so a

teammate can make a leaping catch and score in a single

motion.

Alternating-Possession Rule - In high school and college basketball,

jump balls have been eliminated in favor of a rule that the teams

take turns gaining possession for a throw-in after a held ball and

similar stoppages of play when possession is in question. The

possession arrow indicates which team gets the ball on the next

such occasion.

Assist - A pass to a teammate that results in an immediate score.

Backboard - The flat surface directly behind the basket. The basket is

connected to the backboard.

Backcourt - That half of the court that is the farthest from the

offensive basket. Also, the position played by the guards.

Ball - The basketball is 9 ½ inches in diameter and weighs 20 to 22

ounces.

Ball Fake - A fake pass or shot.

Ball Handler - Player controlling the ball; can also mean a player

known for skillful handling of the ball.

Baseline - Also called the end line. This line extends across both ends

of the court behind the baskets.

Basket - Consists of the rim and the net. The rim is 10’ above the

floor. Also a goal scoring 1, 2 or 3 points.

Blocked Shot - Deflection of a shot by touching part of the ball on its

way to the basket.

Blocking - The use of a defender’s body position to prevent an

opponent’s advance.

Bounce Pass - A pass that hits the floor between the passer and the

receiver.

Box Out - Establish and maintain a rebounding position between the

basket and your opponent.

Carrying - You may not dribble the ball with both hands at once or

turn the ball over in your hands. You'll be called for carrying if

you do. This is also called "palming". To avoid this offense, be

sure to always keep your palms facing the floor while you dribble

the ball.

Center - Often the tallest player on the team. Normally plays close to

the basket and is responsible for getting rebounds and blocking

shots.

Chest Pass - A two-handed pass thrown from the chest.

Closely guarded – A player who is guarded by an opponent, whose

torso faces the ball handler, and remains within 6 feet of that

player.

Court - The area on which a basketball game is played; bounded by 2

sidelines and 2 end lines, containing a basket at each end.

Defense - The team without the ball; also the act of trying to stop the

opponent from scoring.

Dribble - The act of bouncing the ball up and down. The offensive

player with the ball uses the dribble to move around the court.

Drive - Dribbling toward the basket; also called a dribble drive.

Dunk - Score a basket by driving or stuffing the ball into the basket

from above the rim. (this is illegal at the high school level and

results in a technical foul)

End Line - Also called the baseline. This line extends across both ends

of the court behind the baskets.

Fake - A technique used to get a defensive player off balance or out of

position.

Fast Break - The act of moving the ball quickly down court by an

offensive team in hopes of getting ahead of the defense to score.

Field Goal - A basket made while the ball is in play.

Five-Second Violation - When passing the ball inbounds after

gaining possession, players have five seconds to get the ball to a

teammate.

Forwards - Two players generally positioned closer to the basket than

the guards. They often assume a floor position along the

perimeters of the free-throw lane and maneuver both inside and

outside.
Foul - Actions by players which break the rules but are not floor

violations.

Foul Line - The line 15 feet from the backboard and parallel to the

end line from which players shoot free-throws.

Free Throw - An unguarded attempt to score from a line 15 feet from

the basket.

Free Throw Line - See the basketball glossary term "foul line".

Frontcourt - The offensive area of the court from the midcourt line to

the baseline. Also the positions played by the forwards and

center.

Full-court Press - When defenders guard the offense in the

backcourt.

Guarding - Following an opponent around the court to prevent him

from getting the ball, taking a shot or making a pass.

Guards - The two players who typically move the ball from the

backcourt into the frontcourt and then position themselves

farthest from the basket.

Held Ball - When two opposing players both possess the basketball

but neither one can gain sole possession. Teams use the

alternate-possession rule to resume play.

High Post - An area of the court located near the free-throw line.

Holding - Using the hands to interfere with or limit an opponent's

freedom of movement.

Hoop - The basket.

Incidental Contact - Minor, usually inadvertent contact, that is

usually ignored by officials.

Intentional Foul - A foul committed on purpose by a defensive player

to stop the clock. The team that was fouled gets two free throws

and possession of the ball.

In-the-Paint - The inside area of the free throw lane is painted a

different color from the rest of the court; thus "in-the-paint".

Jump Ball - A jump ball starts every game and occurs when a referee

tosses the ball into the air between two players from opposite

teams. Players involved in a jump ball can't catch or grab the

ball once it's tossed into the air by the official. They must tap the

ball to a teammate who can then take control.

Jump Shot - An offensive shot in which the offensive player's feet

leave the floor.

Jump Stop - Coming to a full stop by jumping off one foot and landing

in a parallel or staggered stance with both feet hitting the floor

at the same time.

Key - The area consisting of the foul lane and the free-throw circle.

Lane - The area running from the end line to the free-throw line and

extending 12 feet across is called the lane. It's also known as the

"paint".

Lane Violation - You cannot move into the lane looking to grab a

rebound when a foul shot is being taken until the ball actually

hits the rim. If you do enter the lane too soon, it's called a lane

violation and results in a turnover or the other team gets

another free throw attempt.

Lay-up Shot - A close-in shot made when moving to the basket.

Live Ball - As soon as a ball is given to a free-throw shooter or a

thrower on a throw-in, it's live.

Low Post - An area of the court located near the basket.

Man-to-Man Defense - Defensive style where each defensive player

is responsible for guarding one opponent.

Midcourt Line - The line in the middle of the court that separates the

frontcourt from the backcourt.

Net - A white mesh sleeve that hangs from the rim; 15 to 18 inches

long.

Offense - The team with the ball.

Officials - Also called referees, they're in charge of controlling the

game.

One & One - A free-throw attempt awarded for certain violations that

earns the shooter a 2nd attempt only if the first is successful;

also called "One Plus One".

Open - When a player is unguarded by a defender.

Out of Bounds - The area outside of and including the end lines and

sidelines.

Outlet Pass - A pass made from a rebounder to an offensive

teammate.

Overhead Pass - A pass made while the ball is held above the head

with both hands.

Overtime - The extra period(s) played after a regulation game ends

tied; also called OT.

Paint - The area inside the free-throw lane.

Pass - When a player throws the ball to a teammate.

Period - Any quarter, half or overtime segment.

Pivot - The rotation of the body around one foot that is kept in a

stationary position.

Point Guard - Usually a team's floor leader, who initiates the offense

and controls the tempo of the game.

Possession - To be holding or in control of the ball.

Post - The area on either side of the free-throw lane.

Post Player - The position usually played by the center.

Post Up - Take a position close to, and facing away from, the basket

in preparation to receive a pass.

Power Forward - Usually the bigger, stronger forward who plays

close to the basket and is responsible for rebounding and inside

scoring.

Press - When defenders guard the offense in the backcourt.

Rebound - Securing the ball off the backboard or the rim after a

missed field goal or free-throw attempt.

Screen - An offensive technique used to block or delay an opponent

from reaching a desired floor position.

Shooter - A player who takes a shot at the basket.

Sidelines - The two boundary lines that run the length of the court.

Ten-Second Line - The half-court line is the ten-second line. When a

team is advancing the ball up the court from their defensive end,

they have ten seconds to get the ball across the half-court line.

Three-Point Line - Semi-circle that is 19 feet, 9 inches from the

basket at all points.

Three-Point Play - A 2-point field goal followed by a successful free-

throw.

Three-Point Shot - A field-goal attempt from outside the three-point

line.

Three-Second Lane - An area that extends from the baseline under

the basket to the free-throw line. Also called the "key".

Three-Second Rule - No offensive player can be in the free-throw

lane for longer than 3 seconds at a time.

Throw-in - Inbounding the ball.

Timeout - When play is temporarily suspended by an official or at the

request of a team to discuss strategy or respond to an injured

player. Each team has 2 – 30 second time-outs and 3 one

minute time-outs during a game.

Tip-Off - The initial jump ball that starts the game.

Top of the Key - The semi-circle that extends beyond the free-throw

line.

Trap - A defensive tactic in which two players double-team the ball

handler.

Traveling - Taking more than one and a half steps without dribbling

while you have the ball. It's also called traveling when you pick

up your dribble and then move or change your pivot foot. Either

way, you'll turn the ball over to the other team if you travel, so

don't do it! (Also called Walking).

Turnover - When the offensive team loses the ball to the defensive

team for any reason.

Violation - An infraction of the rules that doesn't result in a free

throw; however, the ball is turned over to the opposing team for

a throw-in. Also known as a floor violation.

Zone Defense - A defense where each defender is responsible for an

area of the court and must guard any player who enters that

area. Can't use this defense in NBA.

http://www.basketball-plays-and-tips.com/basketball-glossary.html

FOULS

Common foul – A personal foul, illegal contact with an opponent, but not the player with the ball.

Personal foul – Illegal contact with an opponent while the ball is in their (the offended player’s) possession.

Technical fouls - Result in two free throws by the offended team and ball inbounds at the mid-court, following the free throws.

Unsportsmanlike foul – A foul that is unfair, unethical or

dishonorable.

Flagrant foul – A foul of violent or savage nature, or vulgar or

abusive conduct.

Intentional foul – A foul that appears to the official to be

designed, planned, premeditated.

VIOLATIONS

Travelling

Double or illegal dribble

Crossing the line, in or out of bounds

Backcourt violation – once a player has brought the ball and

both feet into their frontcourt, no one from their team may

return to the backcourt while they have continuous

possession of the ball.

3 second lane violation

5 seconds closely guarded

More than 5 seconds to bring the ball into play

More than 10 seconds to get the ball past the mid-court

Check out Olympic Basketball at: http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/flash/summer/index_uk.asp