Basketball court
A basket and a basketball
Basketball is played on a rectangular court, which should be an indoor wooden court or an outdoor concrete court having two side lines and two end lines. The dimensions of basketball court is 28 x15 meters. The court is divided into two sections, called half-courts, by the mid-court line, which is where the game starts with a jump ball. A jump ball is when a referee throws the ball up at center circle to determine which team gets possession. Two players from opposing teams jump up to tap the ball out of the circle in order to gain control over the ball take the game forward. The basketball posts are located at the opposite ends of the court.
Rules
- The duration of the game of each quarter is ten minutes with 2 minutes rest between 1st and 2nd quarter and 3rd and 4th quarter, also 15 minutes rest between 2nd and 3rd quarter. Extra time period is of about 5 minutes. Teams exchange the side after half time. The clock is stopped while the play is not active. Therefore, it takes longer time to complete the game than the allotted time.
- A team must consist of twelve (12) members. But only five players from each team may be on the court at one time. Substitutions are unlimited but can only be done when the play is stopped.
- The team with the ball, attempting to score in their basket is ‘on offense’, the team that prevents opposite team from scoring is ‘on defence’. The ball is moved in two ways: either dribbling or by passing to teammates. If the ball goes out of the court, the ball possession is given to the opposite team.
- For both men’s and women’s teams, a standard uniform consists of a pair of shorts and a jersey with a clearly visible bib number, printed on both the front and back. Players should wear appropriate shoes that provide extra ankle support.
- The game is controlled by the officials consisting of the three (3) referees, out of which one (1) is the overall incharge and the other four (4) table officials are responsible for keeping other records of each teams scoring, timekeeping, individual and team fouls, player substitutions, alternating possession arrow, and stop–and-go-clock, etc.
- The essential equipment in basketball game is the ball, clocks, score sheets, scoreboard(s), alternating possession arrows and other required equipments.
- An attempt to unfairly disadvantage an opponent through physical contact is illegal and called a foul. Players who are fouled either get ball possession or are awarded one or two free throws and one point is awarded for successfully converting a free throw, which is attempted from a line 15 feet (4.6 m) from the basket. Each player is allowed 5 personal fouls before they are disqualified from the game. At this point they no longer remain a part of the game.
- Two points are awarded when a basket is scored during the game but three points are awarded when a basket is scored from outside the 6.25 mtrs line.
