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| Basketball is a sport where there re 24 players on the court at once. In it you try to see who can poop the fastest. | |||
| {{otheruses}} | |||
| ], ] Europe Cup for Women Finals 2005.]] | |||
| '''Basketball''' is a ] in which two teams of five players each try to score points on one another by throwing a ] through a hoop (the ''basket'') under organized rules. | |||
| Points are scored by passing the ball through the basket from above; the team with more points at the end of the game wins. A regular jump shot inside the arch is worth two points, beyond the arch is three points, and a free throw is one point. The ball can be advanced on the court by bouncing it ('']'') or passing it between teammates. Disruptive physical contact ('']'') is not permitted and there are restrictions on how the ball can be handled ('']''). | |||
| Through time, basketball has developed to involve common techniques of shooting, passing and dribbling, as well as players' positions, and offensive and defensive structures. While competitive basketball is carefully regulated, numerous ] have developed for casual play. Basketball is also a popular spectator sport. | |||
| While competitive basketball is primarily an indoor sport, played on a ], less regulated variations have become exceedingly popular as an outdoor sport among inner city groups. | |||
| ==History== | |||
| ]In early December 1891, Dr. ], a ] physician from ] and minister on the faculty of a college for ] professionals (today, ]) in ], ], sought a vigorous indoor game to keep his students occupied and at proper levels of fitness during the long ] winters. After rejecting other ideas as either too rough or poorly suited to walled-in ]s, he wrote the basic ] and nailed a peach basket onto an 10-foot (3.05 m) elevated track. In contrast with modern basketball nets, this peach basket retained its bottom, so balls scored into the basket had to be poked out with a long ] each time. A soccer ball was used to shoot goals. His handwritten diaries of the time indicate that he was nervous about this invention, which incorporated rules from a Canadian children's game called "]", as many had failed before it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2660882|title=Newly found documents shed light on basketball's birth|accessdate=2007-01-11|date=2006-11-13|publisher=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com}}</ref> | |||
| Naismith's new game is quite similar to the game of ], which had already been invented in the early 1890s. | |||
| Women's basketball began in 1892 at ] when ], a physical education teacher, modified Naismith's rules for women. The first official basketball game was played in the YMCA gymnasium on ], ] with nine players, on a court just half the size of a present-day ] (NBA) court. "Basket ball", the name suggested by one of Naismith's students, was popular from the beginning. | |||
| Basketball's early adherents were dispatched to YMCAs throughout the United States, and it quickly spread through the USA and Canada. By 1895, it was well established at several women's high schools. While the YMCA was responsible for initially developing and spreading the game, within a decade it discouraged the new sport, as rough play and rowdy crowds began to detract from the YMCA's primary mission. However, other amateur sports clubs, colleges, and professional clubs quickly filled the void. In the years before World War I, the ] and the ] (forerunner of the ]) vied for control over the rules for the game. | |||
| Basketball was originally played with a ] ball. The first balls made specifically for basketball were brown, and it was only in the late 1950s that ], searching for a ball that would be more visible to players and spectators alike, introduced the orange ball that is now in common use. | |||
| Dribbling, the bouncing of the ball up and down while moving, was not part of the original game except for the "bounce pass" to teammates. Passing the ball was the primary means of ball movement. Dribbling was eventually introduced but limited by the asymmetric shape of early balls. Dribbling only became a major part of the game around the 1950s as manufacturing improved the ball shape. | |||
| Basketball, ], ], and ] are the only ball games which have been identified as being invented by North Americans. Other ball games, such as ] and ], have ], European, Asian or African connections. | |||
| ===College basketball and early leagues=== | |||
| ] | |||
| Naismith and Berenson were instrumental in establishing ]. Naismith coached at ] for six years before handing the reins to renowned coach ]. Naismith's disciple ] brought basketball to the ], while ], a student of Naismith's at Kansas, enjoyed great success as coach at the ]. In 1892, ] and Miss Head's School, played the first women's inter-institutional game. Berenson's freshmen played the sophomore class in the first women's collegiate basketball game at ], March 21, 1893. The same year, ] and ] (coached by ]) women began playing basketball. By 1895, the game had spread to colleges across the country, including ], ] and ]. The first intercollegiate women's game was on April 4, 1896. ] women played ], 9-on-9, ending in a 2-1 Stanford victory. In 1901, colleges, including the ], ], ], ], the ], the ] and ] began sponsoring men's games. By 1910, frequent injuries on the men's courts prompted ] to suggest that college basketball form a governing body. And the ] (IAA) was created. | |||
| Teams abounded from through the 1920s. There were hundreds of men's ] teams in towns and cities all over the United States and little organization of the professional game. Players jumped from team to team and teams played in armories and smoky dance halls. Leagues came and went. And barnstorming squads such as the ] and two all African American teams, the ] ("Rens") and (still in existence ]) the ] played up to two hundred games a year on their national tours. ] was more structured. In 1905, the National Women's Basketball Committee's ''Executive Committee on Basket Ball Rules'' was created by the ]. These rules called for six to nine players per team and 11 officials. The ] (1924) included a women's basketball competition. 37 women's high school varsity basketball or state tournaments were held by 1925. And in 1926, the Amateur Athletic Union backed the first ], complete with men's rules. The first women's ] All-America team was chosen in 1929. Women's industrial leagues sprang up throughout the nation, producing famous athletes like ] of the ] and the ] who competed against men's teams, using men's rules. By 1938, the women's national championship changed from a three-court game to two-court game with six players per team. The first men's national championship tournament, the ] (NIT) in New York, was organized in 1938. | |||
| College basketball was rocked by gambling scandals from 1948 to 1951, when dozens of players from top teams were implicated in ] and ]. Partially spurred by an association with cheating, the NIT lost support to the ]. | |||
| ===U.S. high school basketball=== | |||
| Before widespread school district consolidation, most ] ]s were far smaller than their present day counterparts. During the first decades of the 20th century, basketball quickly became the ideal interscholastic sport due to its modest equipment and personnel requirements. In the days before widespread ] coverage of professional and college sports, the popularity of high school basketball was unrivaled in many parts of America. | |||
| Today virtually every high school in the United States fields a basketball team in ] competition. Basketball's popularity remains high, both in rural areas where they carry the identification of the entire community, as well as at some larger schools known for their basketball teams where many players go on to participate at higher levels of competition after graduation. In the 2003–04 season, 1,002,797 boys and girls represented their schools in interscholastic basketball competition, according to the ]. The states of ], ] and ] are particularly well known for their residents' devotion to high school basketball; the critically acclaimed film '']'' shows high school basketball's depth of meaning to these rural communities. In fact, the term "]" was first used to describe the Illinois high school basketball tournament. | |||
| ===National Basketball Association=== | |||
| In 1946, the ] (NBA) was formed, organizing the top professional teams and leading to greater popularity of the professional game. The first game was played in Toronto, Canada between the ] and ] on ], ]. An upstart organization, the ], emerged in 1967 and briefly threatened the NBA's dominance until the rival leagues merged in 1976. Today the NBA is the top professional basketball league in the world in terms of popularity, salaries, talent, and level of competition. | |||
| The NBA has featured many famous players, including ], the first dominating "big man"; ball-handling wizard ] and defensive genius ] of the ]; ], who originally played for the barnstorming ]; all-around stars ] and ]; more recent big men ] and ]; playmaker ]; ], pioneer of the slam dunk; and the three players who many credit with ushering the professional game to its highest level of popularity: ], ], and ]. | |||
| The NBA-backed ] (WNBA) began 1997. Though it had an insecure opening season, several marquee players (], ] and ] among others) helped the league's popularity and level of competition. Other ] leagues in the United States, such as the ], have folded in part because of the popularity of the ]. | |||
| In 2001, the NBA formed a developmental league, the ]. The league currently has 8 teams, but will add 7 more for the 2006-2007 season. | |||
| ===International basketball=== | |||
| ] | |||
| The ] was formed in 1932 by eight founding nations: ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. At this time, the organization only oversaw amateur players. Its acronym, in French, was thus FIBA; the "A" standing for amateur. | |||
| Basketball was first included in the ] in 1936, although a demonstration tournament was held in 1904. This competition has usually been dominated by the United States, whose team has won all but three titles, the first loss in a controversial final game in ] in ] against the Soviet Union. In 1950 the first ] for men was held in ]. Three years later, the first ] was held in ]. Women's basketball was added to the Olympics in 1976, with teams such as Brazil and ] rivaling the ] squads. | |||
| FIBA dropped the distinction between amateur and professional players in 1989, and in 1992, professional players played for the first time in the Olympic Games. The United States' dominance continued with the introduction of their ]. However, with developing programs elsewhere, other national teams started to beat the United States. A team made entirely of NBA players finished sixth in the 2002 World Championships in ], behind ], ], ], ] and ]. In the ], the United States suffered its first Olympic loss while using professional players, falling to ] and ] in group games. It eventually won the bronze medal defeating Lithuania, finishing behind Argentina and ]. (It should be noted, however, that of the twelve players originally selected by the NBA, only ] and ] chose to play; the rest of the team was put together from second and third choices.) | |||
| Worldwide, basketball tournaments are held for boys and girls of all age levels. The global popularity of the sport is reflected in the nationalities represented in the NBA. Players from all over the globe can be found in NBA teams. ], who won the 2005 and 2006 ], is ]; ] is an ] who spent much of his childhood in ]; ] superstar ] is ]; All-Star ] of the ] is from ]; and the ] feature Tim Duncan of the ], ] of ] (like ] player ]) and ] of ]. (Duncan competes for the United States internationally, as the Virgin Islands do not field a basketball team for international competition, and all U.S. Virgin Islands natives are United States citizens by birth.) | |||
| The all-tournament teams at the two most recent ]s, held in ] in ] and ] in ], demonstrate the globalization of the game equally dramatically. Only one member of either team was American, namely ] in 2006. The 2002 team featured Nowitzki, Ginobili, ] of Yugoslavia (now of ]), ] of ], and ] of New Zealand. Ginobili also made the 2006 team; the other members were Anthony, Gasol, his ] teammate ] and ] of ]. The only players on either team to never have joined the NBA are Cameron and Papaloukas. | |||
| ==Rules and regulations== | |||
| :''Main article: ]'' | |||
| <!-- Please do be careful not to include too much detail when editing this section; see talk page for more info. --> | |||
| Measurements and time limits discussed in this section often vary among tournaments and organizations; international and NBA rules are used in this section. | |||
| The object of the game is to outscore one's opponents by throwing the ball through the opponents' basket from above while preventing the opponents from doing so on their own. An attempt to score in this way is called a ]. A successful shot is worth two points, or ] if it is taken from beyond the three-point arc which is 6.25 meters (20 ft 6 in) from the basket in international games and 23 ft 9 in (7.24 m) in NBA games. | |||
| ===Playing regulations=== | |||
| <!-- Please be careful not to include too much detail when editing this section; see talk page for more info. --> | |||
| Games are played in four quarters of 10 (international) or 12 minutes (NBA). College games use two 20 minute halves while most high school games use eight minute quarters. Fifteen minutes are allowed for a half-time break, and two minutes are allowed at the other breaks. Overtime periods are five minutes long. Teams exchange baskets for the second half. The time allowed is actual playing time; the clock is stopped while the play is not active. Therefore, games generally take much longer to complete than the allotted game time, typically about two hours. | |||
| Five players from each team may be on the court at one time. Teams can have up to seven substitutes. Substitutions are unlimited but can only be done when play is stopped. Teams also have a ], who oversees the development and strategies of the team, and other team personnel such as assistant coaches, managers, statisticians, doctors and trainers. | |||
| For both men's and women's teams, a standard uniform consists of a pair of shorts and a ] with a clearly visible number, unique within the team, printed on both the front and back. Players wear ] sneakers that provide extra ankle support. Typically, team names, players' names and sometimes sponsors are printed on the uniforms. | |||
| A limited number of time-outs, clock stoppages requested by a coach for a short meeting with the players, are allowed. They generally last no longer than one minute unless, for televised games, a commercial break is needed. | |||
| The game is controlled by the officials consisting of the referee, one or two umpires and the table officials. The table officials are responsible for keeping track of each teams scoring, timekeeping, individual and team ], player substitutions, team ], and the ]. | |||
| ===Equipment=== | |||
| <!-- Please be careful not to include too much detail when editing this section; see talk page for more info. --> | |||
| ] | |||
| ] basketball court.]] | |||
| The only essential equipment in basketball is the ] and the court: a flat, rectangular surface with baskets at opposite ends. Competitive levels require the use of more equipment such as clocks, scoresheets, ]s, alternating possession arrows, and whistle-operated stop-clock systems. | |||
| A regulation ] in international games is 28 by 15 meters (approx. 92 by 49 ft) and in the NBA is 94 by 50 feet (29 by 15 m). Most courts are made of wood. A cast iron basket with net and backboard hang over each end of the court. At almost all levels of competition, the top of the rim is exactly 10 feet (3.05 m) above the court and 4 feet (1.2 m) inside the baseline. While variation is possible in the dimensions of the court and backboard, it is considered important for the basket to be of the correct height; a rim that is off by but a few inches can have an adverse effect on shooting. | |||
| ===Violations=== | |||
| <!-- Please be careful not to include too much detail when editing this section; see talk page for more info. --> | |||
| The ball may be advanced toward the basket by being shot, passed between players, thrown, tapped, rolled or dribbled (bouncing the ball while running). | |||
| The ball must stay within the court; the last team to touch the ball before it travels out of bounds forfeits possession. The ball-handler may not move both feet without dribbling, known as ], nor may he dribble with both hands or catch the ball in between dribbles, a violation called ]. A player's hand cannot be under the ball while dribbling; doing so is known as ]. A team, once having established ball control in the front half of the court, may not return the ball to the backcourt. The ball may not be kicked nor struck with the fist. A violation of these rules results in loss of possession, or, if committed by the defense, a reset of the ]. | |||
| There are limits imposed on the time taken before progressing the ball past halfway (8 seconds in international and NBA), before attempting a shot (24 seconds), holding the ball while closely guarded (5 seconds), and remaining in the restricted area (the lane, or "key") (3 seconds). These rules are designed to promote more offense. | |||
| No player may interfere with the basket or ball on its downward flight to the basket, or while it is on the rim (or, in the NBA, while it is directly above the basket), a violation known as ''goaltending.'' If a defensive player goaltends, the attempted shot is considered to have been successful. If a teammate of the shooter goaltends, the basket is cancelled and play continues. | |||
| ===Fouls=== | |||
| <!-- Please be careful not to include too much detail when editing this section; see talk page for more info. --> | |||
| :''Main articles: ], ]'' | |||
| ] | |||
| An attempt to unfairly disadvantage an opponent through personal contact is illegal and is called a foul. These are most commonly committed by defensive players; however, they can be committed by offensive players as well. Players who are fouled either receive the ball to pass inbounds again, or receive one or more ]s if they are fouled in the act of shooting, depending on whether the shot was successful. One point is awarded for making a free throw, which is attempted from a line 4.5 metres (15 ft) from the basket. | |||
| The referee may use discretion in calling fouls (for example, by considering whether an unfair advantage was gained), sometimes making fouls controversial calls. The calling of fouls can vary between games, leagues and even between referees. | |||
| A player or coach who shows poor sportsmanship, for instance, by arguing with a referee or by fighting with another player, can be charged with a ]. The penalty involves free throws and varies between leagues. Repeated incidents can result in ]. Blatant fouls with excessive contact or that are not an attempt to play the ball are called unsportsmanlike fouls (or flagrant fouls in the NBA) and incur a harsher penalty; in some rare cases a disqualifying foul will require the player to leave the playing area. | |||
| If a team surpasses a preset limit of team fouls in a given period (quarter or half) – four for international and NBA games – the opposing team is awarded one or two free throws on all subsequent fouls for that period, the number depending on the league. A player who commits five fouls, including technical fouls, in one game (six in some professional leagues, including the NBA) is not allowed to participate for the rest of the game, and is described as having "fouled out". | |||
| After a team has committed a specified number of fouls, it is said to be "in the penalty". | |||
| On scoreboards, this is usually signified with an indicator light reading "Bonus" or "Penalty" | |||
| with an illuminated directional arrow indicating that team is to receive free throws when fouled by the opposing team. (Some scoreboards also indicate the number of fouls committed.) | |||
| The number of free throws awarded increases with the number of fouls committed. Initially, one shot is awarded, but after a certain number of additional fouls are committed the opposing team may receive (a) one shot with a chance for a second shot if the first shot is made, called shooting "one-and-one", or (b) two shots. If a team misses the first shot (or "front end") of a one-and-one situation, the opposing team may reclaim possession of the ball and continue play. If a team misses the first shot of a two-shot situation, the opposing team must wait for the completion of the second shot before attempting to reclaim possession of the ball and continuing play. | |||
| If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is unsuccessful, the player is | |||
| awarded a number of free throws equal to the value of the attempted shot. A player fouled | |||
| while attempting a regular two-point shot, then, receives two shots. A player fouled | |||
| while attempting a three-point shot, on the other hand, receives three shots. | |||
| If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is successful, typically the player | |||
| will be awarded one additional free throw for one point. In combination with a regular | |||
| shot, this is called a "three-point play" because of the basket made at the time of the foul | |||
| (2 points) and the additional free throw (1 point). Four-point plays, while rare, can | |||
| also occur. | |||
| ==Common techniques and practices== | |||
| ===Positions and structures=== | |||
| ] | |||
| Although the rules do not specify any ] whatsoever, they have evolved as part of basketball. During the first five decades of basketball's evolution, two guards, two forwards, and one center were used. Since the 1980s, more specific positions have evolved, namely: | |||
| # ]: organizes the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right player at the right time | |||
| # ]: creates a high volume of shots on offense; guards the opponent's best perimeter player on defense | |||
| # ]: often primarily responsible for scoring points via cuts to the basket and dribble penetration; on defense seeks rebounds and steals, but sometimes plays more actively | |||
| # ]: plays offensively often with his back to the basket; on defense, plays under the basket (in a zone defense) or against the opposing power forward (in man-to-man defense) | |||
| # ]: uses size, either to score (on offense) or to protect the basket closely (on defense) | |||
| The above descriptions are flexible. On some occasions, teams will choose to use a ''three guard offense'', replacing one of the forwards or the center with a third guard. The most commonly interchanged positions are point guard and shooting guard, especially if both players have good leadership and ball handling skills. | |||
| There are two main defensive strategies: ''zone defense'' and ''man-to-man defense''. ] involves players in defensive positions guarding whichever opponent is in their zone. In ], each defensive player guards a specific opponent and tries to prevent him from taking action. Variations of these two main structures are also used. | |||
| Offensive plays are more varied, normally involving planned passes and movement by players without the ball. A quick movement by an offensive player without the ball to gain an advantageous position is a ''cut''. A legal attempt by an offensive player to stop an opponent from guarding a teammate, by standing in the defender's way such that the teammate cuts next to him, is a ''screen'' or ''pick''. The two plays are combined in the '']'', in which a player sets a pick and then "rolls" away from the pick towards the basket. Screens and cuts are very important in offensive plays; these allow the quick passes and teamwork which can lead to a successful basket. Teams almost always have several offensive plays planned to ensure their movement is not predictable. On court, the point guard is usually responsible for indicating which play will occur. | |||
| Defensive and offensive structures, and positions, are more emphasized in higher levels in basketball; it is these that a coach normally requests a time-out to discuss. | |||
| ===Shooting=== | |||
| ] | |||
| Shooting is the act of attempting to score points throwing the ball through the basket. While methods can vary with players and situations, the most common technique can be outlined here. | |||
| The player should be positioned facing the basket with feet about shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and back straight. The player holds the ball to rest in the dominant hand's fingertips (the shooting arm) slightly above the head, with the other hand on the side of the ball. To aim the ball, the player's elbow should be aligned vertically, with the forearm facing in the direction of the basket. The ball is shot by bending and extending the knees and extending the shooting arm to become straight; the ball rolls off the finger tips while the wrist completes a full downward flex motion. When the shooting arm is stationary for a moment after the ball released, it is known as a follow-through; it is incorporated to maintain accuracy. Generally, the non-shooting arm is used only to guide the shot, not to power it. | |||
| Players often try to put a steady backspin on the ball to deaden its impact with the rim. The ideal trajectory of the shot is somewhat arguable, but generally coaches will profess proper arch. Most players shoot directly into the basket, but shooters may use the backboard to redirect the ball into the basket. | |||
| The two most common shots that use the above described set up are the ''set shot'' and the '']''. The set shot is taken from a standing position, with neither foot leaving the floor, typically used for free throws. The jump shot is taken while in mid-air, near the top of the jump. This provides much greater power and range, and it also allows the player to elevate over the defender. Failure to release the ball before returning the feet to the ground is a traveling violation. | |||
| Another common shot is called the '']''. This shot requires the player to be in motion toward the basket, and to "lay" the ball "up" and into the basket, typically off the backboard (the backboard-free, underhand version is called a ''finger roll''). The most crowd-pleasing, and typically highest-percentage accuracy shot is the '']'', in which the player jumps very high, and throws the ball downward, straight through the hoop. | |||
| A missed shot that misses the basket completely is referred to as an ]. | |||
| ===Passing=== | |||
| <!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: ] shown here with the ], left, passes to a teammate.{{speedy-image-c|]}} ]] --> | |||
| A pass is a method of moving the ball between players. Most passes are accompanied by a step forward to increase power and are followed through with the hands to ensure accuracy. | |||
| A staple pass is the ''chest pass''. The ball is passed directly from the passer's chest to the receiver's chest. A proper chest pass involves an outward snap of the thumbs to add velocity and leaves the defense little time to react. | |||
| Another type of pass is the ''bounce pass''. Here, the passer bounces the ball crisply about two-thirds of the way from his own chest to the receiver. The ball strikes the court and bounces up toward the receiver. The bounce pass takes longer to complete than the chest pass, but it is also harder for the opposing team to intercept (kicking the ball deliberately is a violation). Thus, players often use the bounce pass in crowded moments, or to pass around a defender. | |||
| The ''overhead pass'' is used to pass the ball over a defender. The ball is released while over the passer's head. | |||
| The ''outlet pass'' occurs after a team gets a defensive rebound. The next pass after the rebound is the ''outlet pass''. | |||
| The crucial aspect of any good pass is being impossible to intercept. Good passers can pass the ball with great accuracy and touch and know exactly where each of their teammates like to receive the ball. A special way of doing this is passing the ball without looking at the receiving teammate. This is called a ''no-look pass''. | |||
| Another advanced style of passing is the ''behind-the-back pass'' which, as the description implies, involves throwing the ball behind the passer's back to a teammate. Although some players can perform them effectively, many coaches discourage no-look or behind-the-back passes, believing them to be fundamentally unsound, difficult to control, and more likely to result in turnovers or violations. | |||
| ===Dribbling=== | |||
| ] | |||
| Dribbling is the act of bouncing the ball continuously, and is a requirement for a player to take steps with the ball. To dribble, a player pushes the ball down towards the ground rather than patting it; this ensures greater control. | |||
| When dribbling past an opponent, the dribbler should dribble with the hand farthest from the opponent, making it more difficult for the defensive player to get to the ball. It is therefore important for a player to be able to dribble competently with both hands. | |||
| Good dribblers (or "ball handlers") tend to bounce the ball low to the ground, reducing the travel from the floor to the hand, making it more difficult for the defender to "steal" the ball. Additionally, good ball handlers frequently dribble behind their backs, between their legs, and change hands and directions of the dribble frequently, making a less predictable dribbling pattern that is more difficult to defend. | |||
| A skilled player can dribble without watching the ball, using the dribbling motion or ] to keep track of the ball's location. By not having to focus on the ball, a player can look for teammates or scoring opportunities, as well as avoid the danger of someone stealing the ball from them. | |||
| ===Height=== | |||
| At the professional level, most male players are above 1.90 meters (6 ft 3 in) and most women above 1.70 meters (5 ft 7 in). Guards, for whom physical coordination and ball-handling skills are crucial, tend to be the smallest players. Almost all forwards in the men's pro leagues are 2 meters (6 ft 6 in) or taller. Most centers are over 2.1 meters (6 ft 10.5 in) tall. The tallest players ever in the NBA, ] and ], were 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in). The tallest current NBA player is ], who stands at 2.29 m (7 ft 6 in). | |||
| The shortest player ever to play in the NBA is ] at 1.60 meters (5 ft 3 in). Other short players have thrived at the pro level. ] was just 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) tall, but had a 42-inch (1.07 m) vertical leap, giving him significant height when jumping. The shortest player in the NBA today is ] at 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m). While shorter players are often not very good at defending against shooting, their ability to navigate quickly through crowded areas of the court and steal the ball by reaching low are strengths. | |||
| ==Variations and similar games== | |||
| {{main|Variations of basketball}} | |||
| ] | |||
| '''Variations of basketball''' are activities based on the game of basketball, using common basketball skills and equipment (primarily the ball and basket). Some variations are only superficial rules changes, while others are distinct games with varying degrees of basketball influences. Other variations include children's games, contests or activities meant to help players reinforce skills. Most of the variations are played in informal settings without referees or strict rules. | |||
| Perhaps the single most common variation is the ''half court'' game. Only one basket is used, and the ball must be "cleared" - passed or dribbled outside the half-court or three-point line - each time possession of the ball changes from one team to the other. Half-court games require less ] stamina, since players need not run back and forth a full court. Half-court games also raise the number of players that can use a court, an important benefit when many players want to play. | |||
| A popular version of the half-court game is 21. Two-point shots count as one point and shots from behind the three-point line count two. A player who makes a basket is awarded up to three extra free throws, worth the usual one point. When a shot is missed, if one of the other players tips the ball in while it is in the air, the score of the player who missed the shot goes back to zero, or if they have reached 15, their score goes back to 15. The first player to reach exactly 21 points wins. If they go over, their score goes back to 15. | |||
| Other variations include ] and one-on-one; a variation in which two players will use only a small section of the court (often no more than a quarter of a court) and compete to play the ball into a single hoop. Such games tend to emphasize individual dribbling and ball stealing skills over shooting and team play. | |||
| Outdoor basketball courts are commonly referred to as "blacktop", a reference to the ] surface used on many outdoor recreation grounds. This term can apply regardless of the actual surface material used. | |||
| ==References== | |||
| <references/> | |||
| *{{cite web | |||
| | author=National Basketball Association | |||
| | year=2001 | |||
| | url=http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_index.html | |||
| | title=Official Rules of the National Basketball Association | |||
| | accessdate=July 16 | |||
| | accessyear=2004 | |||
| }} | |||
| *{{cite book | |||
| | year = 2004 | |||
| | month = June | |||
| | title = Official Basketball Rules | |||
| | author = International Basketball Federation | |||
| | url = http://www.fiba.com/asp_includes/download.asp?file_id=327 | |||
| }} | |||
| *{{cite journal | |||
| | first = Anthony | |||
| | last = Reimer | |||
| | year = 2005 | |||
| | month = June | |||
| | title = FIBA vs North American Rules Comparison | |||
| | journal = FIBA Assist | |||
| | issue = 14 | |||
| | pages = 40–44 | |||
| | url = http://www.fiba.com/asp_includes/download.asp?file_id=518 | |||
| }} | |||
| *{{cite web | |||
| | author=Bonsor, Kevin | |||
| | url=http://health.howstuffworks.com/basketball2.htm | |||
| | title=How Basketball Works: Who's Who | |||
| | work=HowStuffWorks | |||
| | publisher= | |||
| | accessdate=January 11 | |||
| | accessyear=2006 | |||
| }} | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| {{commons|Basketball}} | |||
| {{portal}} | |||
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| * {{dmoz|Sports/Basketball|Basketball}} | |||
| * {{yahoo directory|Recreation/Sports/Basketball/|Basketball}} | |||
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| {{Prohoops}} | |||
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Revision as of 20:20, 22 January 2007
Basketball is a sport where there re 24 players on the court at once. In it you try to see who can poop the fastest.