Basketball is governed by FIBA official rules. The aim of each team is to score in the opponent’s basket and to prevent the other team from scoring. The team that has scored the greater number of points at the end of playing time is declared as the winner.
Team
In a match, two teams compete with each other. Each team shall consist of not more than 12 team members entitled to play, including a captain who represents his team on the playing court. During playing time, five players from each team shall be on the playing court, without this a game cannot begin. Teams may use as many substitutions as. A maximum of five team support staff members who may sit on the team bench and have special responsibilities, e.g., manager, doctor, physiotherapist, trainer, statistician, interpreter, etc., besides a coach and, if a team wishes, it can have an assistant coach also.
Player’s positions are given in the diagram below :
Players, position (right), attack, defence (left)
Opponents’ Own Basket
The basket that is attacked by a team is the opponents’ basket and the basket which is defended by a team is one’s own basket.
Uniforms
The ‘All-in-ones’ uniform of the team members shall consist of—Jersey of the same dominant colour on the front and back and numbered on the front and back atleast 10 cm high in front and 20 cm high in back with atleast 2 cm width. All players must tuck their Jersey into their playing shorts. Shorts end above the knee, of the same dominant colour at front and back, but not necessarily of the same colour as the jersey. Socks of the same dominant colour for all players of the team. Teams must have a minimum of two sets of jersey (light/dark). Chest number will be from 0 to 99 or 00.
Officials, table officials and commissioner
The officials shall be a referee and 1 or 2 umpire(s). They shall be assisted by the table officials and by a commissioner, if present. The table officials shall be a scorer, an assistant scorer, a timer and a shot clock operator. Different signals are used to run the game by officials. Each foul and goal shall be mentioned in the scoresheet.
Playing time, tied score and extra periods
The game shall consist of 4 periods of 10 minutes each. There shall be intervals of 2 minutes between the first and second quarter (first half), between the third and fourth period (second half) and before each extra period. There shall be a half-time interval of play of 15 minutes. If the score is tied at the end of playing time for the fourth period, the game shall continue with as many extra periods of 5 minutes as is necessary to break the tie.
Beginning and end of a period or the game
The first period begins when the ball leaves the hand(s) of the referee on the toss for the jump ball and followed. All the other periods start when the ball is disposed to the players by the officials for the throw in.
How the ball is played
A game of basketball is played with hand(s) only and may be passed, thrown, tapped, rolled or dribbled in any direction, subject to the restrictions of the rules.
Goal
A basket scored from inside the three-point area (also called 2 point field goal area) is worth of 2 points. A basket scored from beyond the three-point area (3 point field goal area) is awarded 3 points. A basket scored for the free-throw is worth of one point for each successful attempt.
Time-out
Each time-out shall last 1 minute. Each team may be granted two time-outs during the first half, three time-outs during the second half with a maximum of two of these time-outs in the last 2 minutes of the second half. One time-out during each extra period is also given.
Substitution
A team may substitute a player(s) during a substitution opportunity when the game clock is stopped and the ball becomes dead.
Game Lost by Forfeit and default
The game is lost by a team if the team is absent or unable to present with five players on the court, or by their action to prevent the game in scheduled time, or if they refuse to play. In this situation, the opponent team is declared winner by 20–0.
The game may be lost by default when a team has fewer then two players during the running game at the playing court. The opponent team is declared winner by 2–0.
Violations
A violation is an infraction of the rules. There are different types of violation that occurs during the game.
1. Player out-of-bounds and ball out-of-bounds: A player is out-of-bounds when any part of his body is in contact with the sideline or endline.
2. Dribbling: A dribble starts when a player, having gained control of a live ball on the playing court, throws, taps, rolls, dribbles it on the floor or deliberately throws it against the backboard and touches it again before it touches another player. A dribble ends when the player touches the ball with both hands simultaneously or permits the ball to come to rest in one or both hands.
3. Time Rule: Three seconds—A player shall not hold the ball in the opponents’ restricted area with live ball for more than continuous 3 seconds.
Five seconds—A player may not hold the ball for more than 5 seconds.
Eight seconds— A team has to go into the opponents’ court within 8 seconds.
Twenty four seconds—When a team gains possession of the ball, they have to attempt the shot within maximum of 24 seconds.
4. Back court: A team which is in control of live ball in its front court may not cause the ball to be illegally return to its back court.
Fouls
A foul is an infraction of the rules concerning illegal personal contact with an opponent and/or unsportsmanlike behaviour. A number of fouls may be called against a team. Once a team has made four fouls in a period, each next foul will award two free throws to the opponent team. Fouls categorised as personal foul, technical foul, unsportsmanlike foul, disqualifying foul and noted as individual player foul or team fouls.
An offensive foul
1. Personal foul: A personal foul occurs when there is illegal contact between two opponents. A player shall not hold, block, push, charge, trip or impede the progress of an opponent by extending the body part, neither in an ‘abnormal’ position nor shall the player indulge in any rough or violent play. A player who commits more than five personal fouls is excluded from the game.
(a) Charging: An offensive foul that is committed when a player pushes or runs over a defensive player. The ball is given to the team upon which the foul was committed.
(b) Blocking: It is an illegal personal contact, which impedes the progress of an opponent with or without the ball.
2. Technical Foul: It is a non-contact foul of a behavioural nature (disregarding warning, disrespectful, foul language, delay, etc.).
3. Unsportsmanlike foul: It is a foul where spirit of the game or the hard contact is made.
4. Disqualification Foul: It is any unsportsmanlike (violence) action by players, coaches or delegation members.
Irrespective of the penalty, each foul shall be charged, entered on the score sheet against the offender and penalised accordingly. All the possible foul penalties against players on the playing court involved in fighting or any situation which leads to a fight shall be dealt with in accordance of rules.
