The game of basketball is played between two teams. Each team consists of 5 players. The number of substitutes is 5-7. Each team aims at throwing the ball into the basket of the opposing team, and the opposing team tries to prevent the other team from securing the goal. The basketball court is 28 metres long and 15 metres broad. Its length and breadth can be decreased by 2 and 5 metres respectively in proportion to the two sides.
The height of the hall is 7 metres, and the light should be uniform. Its floor should be wooden or cemented: It can be made of synthetic rubber. For the competition of FIBA (International Amateur Basketball Federation) the court should be of specified dimensions. The boundary lines of the basketball court shall be marked at every point at least 2 metres away from any obstruction. The breadth of lines shall be 5 cms.
Board:
Backboards should be made of hard wood or of fibre glass. Each board should be 2 cm. thick. A rectangle behind the ring above the board of the dimension of 59 cms. horizontal and 45 cms. vertical is made with 5 cm. broad lines. The boundary of the board is also marked with 5 cm. broad lines. The lower edge of the board from the ground is 2.75 metre high.
Basket:
The basket is made of white net with iron rings. The length of the net is 40 cm. and the radius of the ring is 45 cms. while its thickness is 20 mm.
Centre Line:
A centre line, parallel to the end lines, shall be marked. It shall divide the court into Front Court and Back Court. This line shall be 15 cm. outside on both sides.
Centre Circle:
A circle with a radius of 1.80 m. shall be marked exactly in the centre of the court. It shall be measured from the outer line of the circle.
Three Points Field Goal Area:
The three points field goal area is marked by two arcs, which is from a radius of 6.25 metres to the outer edges of the centre of the side line. It is directly perpendicular to the centre of the basket. The end lines are parallel to the side lines. The distance between the end line and the lines of the three point field goal area is 1.25 m. The centre point is 1.575 metre from the inside edge of the mid point of the end line. The arc is only upto semi-circle and is thereafter parallel to the side line.
Restricted Area, Free Throw Lines:
Parallel to each end line, a free throw line with its further edge at a distance of 5.80 m. shall be drawn. It shall be 3.60 m. long and its mid-point shall be on the line joining the mid points of the two ends.
The restricted area is formed by the lines from end lines and free-throw lines. Its radius is marked by end lines and free-throw lines. The outer edge of these lines shall be 3 metres from the mid-points of end-lines and finish at the ends of the free throw lines. This line is in the semi-circle with a ridius of 1.80 m. in the court.
The first line is 1.75 m. from the inside edge of the end line. The first lane place shall be limited by a line 85 cm away. Next to it will be neutral zone 30 cm in width. The second lane place shall be 85 cm in width and is close to the neutral zone. The third lane place will be adjacent to the second lane place and shall be 85 cm in width. Each marked portion in the broken semi-circle shall be 35 cm. in length and the gap between two portions shall be 40 cm.
Backboard Size, Material and Position:
Backboards should be made of hard wood or of fibre glass. Each backboard is 3 cm. in thickness. It is 1.80 metre horizontally and 1.20 metre vertically. A 59 × 45 cm. rectangle is made behind the ring on the board. The width of its lines is 5 cm. The upper edge of this line is parallel to the level of the ring. The board is limited by 5 cm. thick lines. The lower edge of the board is 2.75 metre high from the ground. The uprights that support the back boards “shall be at a distance of 1 m. from the outer-edges of the end-lines in the restricted area.
BASKET:
The basket is made of rings and net. It is 40 cm. in length. It is fixed with an iron ring. The rings are 45 cm. in inside diameters. The radius of this orange painted basket is 45 cm. The metal of rings is 20 mm. thick. A net made of white cord suspends from the rings. The rings are made in such a way that when the ball passes through it, they check it momentarily. The length of the net should be 40 cm.
Ball:
The ball is spherical. It is made of leather and has in it a rubber bladder. Its circumference is from 75 to 78 cm. Its weight is from 600 to 650 gms. The rules also now permit the use of used ball. The referee may choose a used ball. The ball should have been so much inflated that when it falls on the ground from a height of 1.80 m. it does not bounce from its upper edge, by not less than 1.20 m. and not more than 1.40 m.
A ball, once selected, cannot be used by any player before the match. A new ball may be used in case a suitable used ball is not available.
