Basketball rules – Officials
& Their Duties
Basketball rules – between the referee and
THE OFFICIATING
STAFF. The makeup of the
officiating corps is strictly a
matter of choice. The
minimum number is five: a
referee, an umpire, a scorer, a
timer and a shot-clock
operator. In some cases, eight
officials are used in a lineup
comprising a referee, two
umpires, a shot-clock operator,
two scorers and two timers.
Years ago, when there was a
center jump after each field
goal or free throw; two
officials did it all-the referee
on the court and one combined
scorer-timer on the sidelines.
REFEREE IS OFFICIAL IN
CHARGE. Although the
duties of the officials may not
concern spectators or players,
you should know that the
referee controls the game. The
referee is the official who
tosses the ball up for the
center jump at the start of the
game and each overtime
period. The referee’s assigned
chores range from inspecting
and approving all equipment
before the game’s starting
time to approving the final
score. In between, the referee
is responsible for the
notification of each team three
minutes before each half is to
begin and deciding matters of
disagreement among the
officials. The referee has the
power to make decisions on
any points not specifically
covered in the rules and even
to forfeit the game if
necessary.
OFFICIALS CONDUCT
GAME. During actual play,
there is no practical difference
umpire(s). They are equally
responsible for the conduct of
the game; and, because of the
speed of play, their duties are
dictated essentially by their
respective positions on the
court from moment to moment.
For this reason, the rules
specify that no official has the
authority to question decisions
made by another official.
The officials’ control, which
begins 30 minutes before
starting time for men and 15
minutes for women and
concludes with the referee’s
approval of the final score,
includes the power to eject
from the court any player,
coach or team follower who is
guilty of flagrant unsporting
conduct. When the referee
leaves the confines of the
playing area at the end of the
game, the score is final and
may not be changed.
As we pointed out earlier,
jump balls occur only at the
start of the game and all
overtimes; but officials still
must concentrate upon
throwing the ball up straight.
At other times, play will be
resumed with a throw-in. The
team not obtaining the ball
after the first center jump will
begin the alternating process.
OFFICIALS’ SIGNALS.
When a foul occurs, the
official is required by the rules
to (a) signal the timer to stop
the clock, (b) designate the
offender to the scorer and ©
use his or her fingers to
indicate the number of free
throws.
When a team is entitled to a
throw-in, an official must (a)
signal what caused the ball to
become dead, (b) indicate the
throw-in spot (except after a
goal) and © designate the
team entitled to the throw-in.
DUTIES OF SCORERS
AND TIMERS. Scorers must
(a) record, in numerical order,
names and numbers of all
players, (b) record field goals
made and free throws made
and missed, © keep a running
summary of points scored, (d)
record fouls called on each
player and notify officials
when a player-disqualification
or bonus-free-throw situation
arises, (e) record timeouts and
report when a team’ s allotted
number has been used, and (f)
record when a squad member
has been ejected for fighting.
It is the game-clock and
shot-clock operators’
responsibility to keep
everyone abreast of key
factors while carrying out the
timing regulations.
The Rules a basket, or field goal, is made during a half. Once that
outside of the three-point arc, number is reached, then the
then that basket is worth three player who was fouled is
Basketball is a team sport. points. A free throw is worth awarded a '1-and-1'
Two teams of five players one point. Free throws are opportunity. If he makes his
each try to score by shooting a awarded to a team according first free throw, he gets to
ball through a hoop elevated to some formats involving the attempt a second. If he misses
10 feet above the ground. The number of fouls committed in the first shot, the ball is live on
game is played on a a half and/or the type of foul the rebound.
rectangular floor called the committed. Fouling a shooter
court, and there is a hoop at always results in two or three
each end. The court is divided free throws being awarded the
into two main sections by the
mid-court line. If the offensive
team puts the ball into play
behind the mid-court line, it
has ten seconds to get the ball
over the mid-court line. If it
doesn't, then the defense gets
the ball. Once the offensive
team gets the ball over the
mid-court line, it can no
longer have possession of the
ball in the area in back of the
line. If it does, the defense is
awarded the ball.

Basketball Court 1

shooter, depending upon Each game is divided into

sections. All levels have two
The ball is moved down the
halves. In college, each half is
court toward the basket by
twenty minutes long. In high
passing or dribbling. The team
school and below, the halves
with the ball is called the
are divided into eight (and
offense. The team without the
sometimes, six) minute
ball is called the defense. They
quarters. In the pros, quarters
try to steal the ball, contest
where he was when he shot. If are twelve minutes long. There
shots, steal and deflect passes,
and garner rebounds. he was beyond the three-point
line, then he gets three shots.
Other types of fouls do not
result in free throws being
When a team makes a basket,
awarded until a certain
they score two points and the
number have accumulated
ball goes to the other team. If
is a gap of several minutes
between halves. Gaps between
quarters are relatively short. If
the score is tied at the end of
regulation, then overtime
periods of various lengths are
played until a winner emerges.
Each team is assigned a basket
or goal to defend. This means
that the other basket is their
scoring basket. At halftime,
the teams switch goals. The
game begins with one player
from either team at center
court. A referee will toss the
ball up between the two. The
player that gets his hands on
the ball will tip it to a
teammate. This is called a
tip-off. In addition to stealing
the ball from an opposing
player, there are other ways
for a team to get the ball.
One such way is if the other
team commits a foul or
violation.
Fouls and Violations
FOULS
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Youth Coaches
• Coaching Youth Basketball
Successfully
• 60+ Youth Basketball Drills
• Simple Offense for Youth
Basketball
Personal fouls: Personal fouls
include any type of illegal
physical contact.
Hitting
Pushing
Slapping
Holding
Illegal pick/screen -- when an
offensive player is moving.
When an offensive player
sticks out a limb and makes
physical contact with a
defender in an attempt to
block the path of the defender.
Personal foul penalties: If a
player is shooting while a
being fouled, then he gets two
free throws if his shot doesn't
go in, but only one free throw
if his shot does go in.
Three free throws are awarded
if the player is fouled while
shooting for a three-point goal
and they miss their shot. If a
player is fouled while shooting
a three-point shot and makes it
anyway, he is awarded one
free throw. Thus, he could
score four points on the play.
Inbounds. If fouled while not
shooting, the ball is given to
the team the foul was
committed upon. They get the
ball at the nearest side or
baseline, out of bounds, and
have 5 seconds to pass the ball
onto the court.
One & one. If the team
committing the foul has seven
or more fouls in the game,
then the player who was
fouled is awarded one free
throw. If he makes his first
shot, then he is awarded
another free throw.
Ten or more fouls. If the team
committing the foul has ten or
more fouls, then the fouled
player receives two free
throws.
Charging. An offensive foul
that is committed when a
player pushes or runs over a
defensive player. The ball is
given to the team that the foul
was committed upon.
Blocking. Blocking is illegal
personal contact resulting
from a defender not
establishing position in time to
prevent an opponent's drive to
the basket.
Flagrant foul. Violent contact
with an opponent. This
includes hitting, kicking, and
punching. This type of foul
results in free throws plus the
offense retaining possession of
the ball after the free throws.
Intentional foul. When a
player makes physical contact
with another player with no
reasonable effort to steal the
ball. It is a judgment call for
the officials.
Technical foul. Technical foul.
A player or a coach can
commit this type of foul. It
does not involve player
contact or the ball but is
instead about the 'manners' of
the game. Foul language,
obscenity, obscene gestures,
and even arguing can be
considered a technical foul, as
can technical details regarding
filling in the scorebook
improperly or dunking during
warm-ups.
VIOLATIONS
Walking/Traveling. Taking
more than 'a step and a half'
without dribbling the ball is
traveling. Moving your pivot
foot once you've stopped
dribbling is traveling.
Carrying/palming. When a
player dribbles the ball with
his hand too far to the side of
or, sometimes, even under the
ball.
Double Dribble. Dribbling the
ball with both hands on the
ball at the same time or
picking up the dribble and
then dribbling again is a
double dribble.
Held ball. Occasionally, two
or more opposing players will
gain possession of the ball at
the same time. In order to
avoid a prolonged and/or
violent tussle, the referee stops
the action and awards the ball
to one team or the other on a
rotating basis.
Goaltending. If a defensive
player interferes with a shot
while it's on the way down
toward the basket, while it's on
the way up toward the basket
after having touched the
backboard, or while it's in the
cylinder above the rim, it's
goaltending and the shot
counts. If committed by an
offensive player, it's a
violation and the ball is
awarded to the opposing team
for a throw-in.
Backcourt violation. Once the
offense has brought the ball
across the mid-court line, they
cannot go back across the line
during possession. If they do,
the ball is awarded to the other
team to pass inbounds.
Time restrictions. A player
passing the ball inbounds has
five seconds to pass the ball. If
he does not, then the ball is
awarded to the other team.
Other time restrictions include
the rule that a player cannot
have the ball for more than
five seconds when being
closely guarded and, in some
states and levels, shot-clock
restrictions requiring a team to
attempt a shot within a given
time frame.
Player Positions
Center. Centers are generally
your tallest players. They
generally are positioned near
the basket.
Offensive -- The center's goal
is to get open for a pass and to
shoot. They are also
responsible for blocking
defenders, known as picking
or screening, to open other
players up for driving to the
basket for a goal. Centers are
expected to get some offensive
rebounds and put-backs.
Defensive -- On defense, the
center's main responsibility is
to keep opponents from
shooting by blocking shots
and passes in the key area.
They also are expected to get a
lot of rebounds because they're
taller.
Forward. Your next tallest
players will most likely be
your forwards. While a
forward may be called upon to
play under the hoop, they may
also be required to operate in
the wings and corner areas.
Offensive -- Forwards are
responsible to get free for a
pass, take outside shots, drive
for goals, and rebound.
Defensive -- Responsibilities
include preventing drives to
the goal and rebounding.
Guard. These are potentially
your shortest players and they
should be really good at
dribbling fast, seeing the court,
and passing. It is their job to
bring the ball down the court
and set up offensive plays.
Offensive -- Dribbling,
passing, and setting up
offensive plays are a guard's
main responsibilities. They
also need to be able to drive to
the basket and to shoot from
the perimeter.
Defensive -- On defense, a
guard is responsible for
stealing passes, contesting
shots, preventing drives to the
hoop, and for boxing out.

Where Should New Players
and Coaches Start?
The same goes for lays ups,
foot work, post play, passing,
jab steps, jump stops, pivoting,
blocking out, and so on.

First, we suggest that you

focus on learning the basic
fundamentals of basketball.

To teach fundamental skills,

start with these 72 free
basketball drills that include
full diagrams and step by step
instructions. They will help
you develop strong
fundamentals and basketball
skills.

Like any sport, no matter what

your age -- whether you're a
professional athlete or a youth
player just getting started --
you need strong fundamentals
to be successful!

Unfortunately, most people

don't really understand what
that means.

The fundamentals include

working on the little things
that make you better -- no
matter what team or coach you
play for -- or what offense or
defense you are running.

For example, by working on

the fundamentals of shooting,
you will get better no matter
what team you play for. The
fundamentals of shooting
include proper foot alignment,
leg bend, hand position, arm
angle, follow through, and so
on. These are some of the little
things that make a difference.
Learn them!
Down Screens
Wait for the screen; it is better
to be late than early when
using a screen.
Read your defender and make
the appropriate cut:
If the defense follows the
offensive player around the
screen, the offense curls off
the screen toward ball and
basket.
If the defense goes underneath
the screen, the offense flares
or fades away from the screen.
If the defense beats offensive
player to the screen, the
offense cuts backdoor.
If the defense fights through
the screen, the offense straight
cuts away from the defense.
Show the passer a target and
be ready to catch the pass as
soon as you hit the screen.
On-Ball Screens
To set the on-ball screen:
Set the screen inside the ball
handler’s shooting range so
the defense cannot go under
the screen.
Set a strong, wide screen.
When using the screen:
Get low to protect the dribble.
Go shoulder to hip with the
screener.
Run your defender into the
screen.
Turn the corner and get into
the lane for a shot or pass.
Extend a hedge or trap with a
second dribble to force a
switch, create a better passing
lane or open a shot or lane to
the basket when the defenders
recover.
Attack; do not decide to pass
before the play develops.
Help Defense
Team defense depends largely
on a coach’s strategy.
However, the overall
defensive goal is to prevent
easy shots and limit the
offense to one shot. Stop the
ball in transition and keep the
ball out of the key
(three-second area).
When teaching man-to-man
defense, the help defense
concept is difficult for young
players to comprehend
because of the ambiguity:
sometimes you defend your
man, but other times, you
defend another man. The
important point for players to
understand is that each player
defends his own man, but
everyone defends the ball. The
priority for each defender is (1)
ball; (2) basket; (3) your man.
In transition, for instance,
players need to understand
that stopping the ball and
protecting the basket take
precedence over finding their
own man to defend. For young
players, these are hard
concepts to understand.
Help Defense Basics
Different coaches have
different defensive
philosophies. These ideas are
just a couple basic rules to use
with young players when
teaching help defense.
Head on a swivel; see ball and
man at all times.
When the ball moves,
everybody moves. When your
man moves, you move.
The further your offensive
player is from the basket, the
further you can be from him
when playing help defense.
Communicate. Every player
needs to communicate. Use
small phrases.
Contest every shot. Force
players to dribble into a shot:
do not allow a catch and shoot.
Possession does not end until
defense gets the rebound.
Everyone blocks out and
rebounds.
No Splits
Do not get split. Do not allow
the ball handler to drive
between his defender and the
help defender.
Help over not up.
Play the gap to discourage
penetration.
Do not over-commit: read the
angle of the drive. If the ball
handler’s drive is toward the
sideline or baseline, stay with
your man. If the ball handler
turns the corner to the basket,
slide over and force the pass.
Weak side rotation on
penetration
Weak side rotation must step
in front of posts to eliminate
interior passes and offensive
rebounds if the post leaves to Attack from just outside the The fifth player (P5) runs to
help. lane-line to spread the court. the front of the rim.

Weak side defenders are on a
string: if the bottom defender
moves to the strong side to
help, the next defender drops.
Protect the basket first and
then move away from the
basket to worry about
shooters.
Fast Break
Transition is the easiest way to
build offensive confidence
because of the open space and
numbers advantage. The
defense is disorganized, and
you learn to attack its weakest
point. When the defense is set,
you must choose the right
tactics and strategy to disrupt
or disorganize the defense so
you have the advantage, but
transition plays provide the
advantage.
2v1 Fast Break
Two rules:
Dribble with your inside hand
to facilitate an easier pass.
Force the defender to stop the
ball completely; if he plays
in-between, finish.
Veer away from the pass to
avoid an offensive foul.
Non-Ball Handler
Sprint just outside the
lane-line.
Trail one step behind the ball
handler to facilitate an easier
pass, catch and finish.
Run with hands up ready to
catch the pass.
3v2 Fast Break
Make the defense stop the ball;
whether attacking in the
middle or on the wing, force a
defender to play the ball.
Spread the court: by running
on the sideline, it is easier to
look back for the pass over
your inside shoulder.
Diamond spacing
Loop
LoopWhen trying to read the
press, use the inbound passer
to loop. After passing, sprint
up the middle and loop to the
ball side. If the defense
intends to trap, this will show
the trap and the cutter will be
open. If not, the loop clears
the help defense and the ball
handler has more space to
handle the ball 1v1.
The inbound passer must read
the situation. If the defense
traps the first pass quickly and
aggressively, the inbound
passer should check to the ball
to give his teammate a retreat
pass. If the defense does not
trap quickly and aggressively,
he loops to open space to force
the defense to identify itself if
it plans to run-and-jump or
trap on the dribble.

Always finish a 2v1 fast break

with a lay-up; and Press Break

Always be the second man.

Never assume that your
teammate will make a lay-up.
Spread the court and attack
aggressively. Mistakes occur
when: (1) you attack passively,
and the defender takes away
your passing lane forcing you
to shoot; or (2) the player
without the ball runs too far
ahead and becomes a
stationary target.
Ball Handler:
Use Diamond Spacing to
organize the attack and defeat
pressure. When the defense
traps, form a diamond:
One player is ahead of the ball
(P2)
One is behind the ball (P3)
And one is diagonal through
the trap (P4).
String Spacing
Imagine you are on a string:
keep the string taut. Do not let
the string get too lax or so
tight that it rips.
When a player dribbles in your
direction, you have three
primary options: (1) Flare; (2)
Cut backdoor; or (3) Loop.
If your teammate dribbles
toward you, flare away from
him to keep the string taut.
If there is no more room to
flare, cut backdoor or loop
behind the dribble. If you loop,
keep space between you and
the ball handler so your
defender cannot steal the ball.
Before you cut backdoor, see
if there is space for the cut.
If he drives away from you,
loop behind him to keep the
string taut. Follow to the open
area which the drive vacates.
Cuts
A cut is a sudden change of
direction, which players use to
get open or set up a screen.
V-Cuts
Cut in one direction to set up
the cut, plant and cut at a
different angle (making the
shape of a V).
To cut from block to block, set
up the cut by cutting low; as
the defender reacts to the
initial cut, plant and cut over
top of the defender.
To set up a screen, cut in one
direction, plant and cut in
another direction to rub off the
screen.
Add a change of pace to the
change of direction to increase
effectiveness.
L-Cuts
Cut in a straight line toward
the ball, plant and cut at a
sharp angle (shape of an L) to
break away from the defender.
Start on the block and cut
straight up the lane-line.
Assuming the defender denies
the pass to the elbow, step in
to the defender, plant and cut
to the wing.
Use a change of pace: it is not
how fast you cut that
determines your ability to get
open. Make contact with the
defender – without pushing off
– to get the defender on his
heels and clear a passing lane
for the passer.
Give-and-Go
After passing, cut. Defenders
often relax or turn their head
to follow the ball after their
player passes. This makes it
the easiest time to get open.
First player (P1) passes to the
second player (P2) and cuts.
P2 catches and passes to P1.
If P1 is not open, he can fill an
open spot or set a screen for
another player. Meanwhile,
another player cuts to replace
his spot.
Screens
The screen, when executed
properly, is a legal maneuver
where a player blocks a
defender to help his teammate
get open. To set a legal screen,
the screener cannot move into
the defender; he must be
stationary and allow the
defender to run into him.
Setting Screens
To set a good screen:
Headhunt: find the defender
and move to him rather than
relying on your teammate to
run his defender into the
screen.
Jump stop a half-step before
running into the defender.
Set a strong screen with a
wide base.
Communicate verbally (“Use
me!) or non-verbally (closed
fist) with your teammate so he
knows that you are setting a
screen.
Move opposite the cutter – if
he cuts to the basket, roll high;
if he cuts high, roll to the
basket.
The better the screen that you
set, the more likely you are to
force your defender to switch
or hedge, which gets you (the
screener) open.
Using Screens
To use a screen:
Run shoulder to hip off the
screen to prevent your
defender from fighting
through the screen.
Wait for the screen to be set to
prevent a moving screen and
to force the defender to show
how he is going to defend the
screen. St. Louis University
Head Coach Rick Majerus
says that it is better to be late
than early when using a
screen.

Read the defense and make the

appropriate cut.

Show a target to the passer.

Cross Screens

Move across the court to set a

screen, like an underneath out
of bounds play or a post to
post screen with the ball on
the wing.

Set a hard screen and seal; if

the defense switches, the
screener should be open with
good position close to the
basket.

Cutter cuts below the screen or

on top of the screen depending
on the way his defender plays
him.

If his defender trails the screen,

the cutter cuts toward the ball.

If his defender goes under the

screen, the cutter fades higher
to create an open passing lane.
Level I Technical Skills
Technical skills are the
individual fundamentals like
shooting, dribbling and
passing, the so-called basics of
the game.
 Footwork
 Live Ball Moves
 Dribbling
 Finishing
 Shooting
 Passing
 Individual Defense
 Rebounding
Level I Tactical Skills
All offenses use the same
basic tactical skills. Different
offenses emphasize different
skills or combine the skills
differently, but if players
understand the basic tactical
skills, they can play in any
system.
Vern Gambetta presented the
idea of adapted vs. adaptable
athletes. In terms of game
awareness and understanding,
an adapted player learns a
specific offense and runs from
spot to spot because the coach
tells him where to go. An
adaptable player understands
the fundamental principles and
cuts to a spot because it is the
right cut or the open space, not
just because the team’s
offense dictates that a player
cut to a certain spot.
The Flex Offense is a series of
cross screen-down screen
actions. However, when I
learned the Flex, we never
learned the basics. When we
received the cross screen, we
ran to the block; when we
received the down screen, we
ran to the elbow.
We adapted to the offense. We
knew where to run within the
offense, but when we left and
played for a coach with a
different system, we could not
adapt our knowledge of
screens to a new system. We
knew how to use a screen
specifically – provided it was
within the Flex – but we never
learned to use a screen
generally in a way that we
could adapt to any offense.
Spacing
In youth basketball, spacing is
often condensed because the
lack of strength impacts the
length and speed of passes and
the distance from which
players can shoot successfully.
However, the more that a team
spreads the court and forces
the defense to defend from
sideline to sideline, the more
space the offense will find for
open and higher percentage
shots. As St Louis University
Head Coach Rick Majerus
says, “Offense is spacing and
spacing is offense.”

Floor Spacing

Ideal court spacing is to have 12 to 15-feet of space between players.

Use numbered spots to teach spacing: five spots outside the three-point line and four spots inside the
three-point line.

When the ball moves, all the offensive players move to a new spot.

To keep the good floor spacing, some basic sets are:

Four players out and one player inside and low.

Four players out and one player inside and low.

Four players out and one player inside and high.
One of the great things about basketball is that you don't need a lot of equipment to play. Just get a ball
and find a goal and you can start a pick up game. However, there are some official rules about what
equipment you need when playing competitively.

The Ball

Professional leagues such as the NBA have very
precise parameters for the official basketball
they use. This includes color, material, size, air
pressure, and bounce. The main thing to know
about the basketball is the size. There are
different sizes for different ages as well as for
boys and for girls.
Standard Mens Basketball (Size 7) - This is
the size used by the NCAA men, boys high
school, as well as the NBA. It has a
circumference between 29.5 and 30 inches and
weighs between 20 and 22 ounces.
Standard Womens Basketball (Size 6) - This is
the basketball used by NCAA women, girls high
school, and the WNBA. It is between 28.5 and
29 inches in circumference and weighs 18-20
ounces.
Junior Basketball (Size 5) - The junior size
basketball is for boys and girls between the ages
of 8-12. It is between 27.25 to 27.75 inches in
circumference and weighs 14-16 ounces.
Mini Basketball (Size 3) - For young children
ages 5-8, the mini ball is 22 to 22.5 inches in
circumference and weighs 10.5 to 11.25 ounces.

The Basket

The basket is made up of the backboard, rim,
and net. The rim is 18 inches in diameter. A
regulation backboard is 72 inches wide by 48
inches tall, although you will find backboards
can vary in size.
The rim should be 10 feet from the ground.
Typically a 10 foot rim is used from ages 6th
grade and older. For younger kids you can lower
the goal so that they can take a proper shot at the
goal. For kindergarten through second grade
children you can try a 6-foot goal. Then move it
up to 8 feet for 3rd and 4th grade. Try nine feet
for 5th grade. Of course, this depends on the size,
strength, and skill of the player.
The basketball net hooks onto eight rungs on the
bottom of the rim. It hangs down around 15 to
18 inches. The net helps to slow the ball coming
through the hoop and also to help see whether a
basket was made or not.
The Uniform

The basketball uniform generally consists of

a tank top and shorts. You also need socks
and some good basketball type sneakers.
Basketball sneakers are good for all the
starting and stopping required in the game.
You can choose high tops, low tops, or three
quarter height shoes. If you play under the
basket a lot you may want high tops to help
protect you from getting a twisted ankle.

You should not wear a watch or a shirt with

buttons while playing basketball. These can
scratch or get caught on other players. Also,
you may want to wear a mouthpiece to protect your teeth.
James Naismith, The Person Who Invented Basketball
The instructor of this class was James Naismith, a
31-year-old graduate student. After graduating from
Presbyterian College in Montreal with a theology
degree, Naismith embraced his love of athletics and
headed to Springfield to study physical education—at
that time, a relatively new and unknown academic
discipline—under Luther Halsey Gulick,
superintendent of physical education at the College
and today renowned as the father of physical
education and recreation in the United States.
As Naismith, a second-year graduate student who had
been named to the teaching faculty, looked at his class,
his mind flashed to the summer session of 1891, when
Gulick introduced a new course in the psychology of
play. In class discussions, Gulick had stressed the
need for a new indoor game, one “that would be
interesting, easy to learn, and easy to play in the
winter and by artificial light.” No one in the class had
followed up on Gulick’s challenge to invent such a
game. But now, faced with the end of the fall sports
season and students dreading the mandatory and dull
required gymnasium work, Naismith had a new
motivation.
Two instructors had already tried and failed to devise
activities that would interest the young men. The
faculty had met to discuss what was becoming a
persistent problem with the class’s unbridled energy
and disinterest in required work.
During the meeting, Naismith later wrote that he had
expressed his opinion that “the trouble is not with the
men, but with the system that we are using.” He felt
that the kind of work needed to motivate and inspire
the young men he faced “should be of a recreative
nature, something that would appeal to their play
instincts.”
Before the end of the faculty meeting, Gulick placed
the problem squarely in Naismith’s lap.
“Naismith,” he said. “I want you to take that class and
see what you can do with it.”
So Naismith went to work. His charge was to create a
game that was easy to assimilate, yet complex enough
to be interesting. It had to be playable indoors or on
any kind of ground, and by a large number of players
all at once. It should provide plenty of exercise, yet
without the roughness of football, soccer, or rugby
since those would threaten bruises and broken bones
if played in a confined space.
Much time and thought went into this new creation. It
became an adaptation of many games of its time,
including American rugby (passing), English rugby
(the jump ball), lacrosse (use of a goal), soccer (the
shape and size of the ball), and something called duck
on a rock, a game Naismith had played with his
childhood friends in Bennie’s Corners, Ontario. Duck
on a rock used a ball and a goal that could not be
rushed. The goal could not be slammed through, thus
necessitating “a goal with a horizontal opening high
enough so that the ball would have to be tossed into it,
rather than being thrown.”
Naismith approached the school janitor, hoping he
could find two, 18-inch square boxes to use as goals.
The janitor came back with two peach baskets instead.
Naismith then nailed them to the lower rail of the
gymnasium balcony, one at each end. The height of
that lower balcony rail happened to be ten feet. A man
was stationed at each end of the balcony to pick the
ball from the basket and put it back into play. It
wasn’t until a few years later that the bottoms of those
peach baskets were cut to let the ball fall loose.
Naismith then drew up the 13 original rules, which
described, among other facets, the method of moving
the ball and what constituted a foul. A referee was
appointed. The game would be divided into two,
15-minute halves with a five-minute resting period in
between. Naismith’s secretary typed up the rules and
tacked them on the bulletin board. A short time later,
the gym class met, and the teams were chosen with
three centers, three forwards, and three guards per
side. Two of the centers met at mid-court, Naismith
tossed the ball, and the game of “basket ball” was
born.
Three players out and two players inside.

Five players out.

Spectators
All spectators must be seated at a distance of at
least 5m from the outer edge of he boundary line
of the playing court.
Mini‑­basketball is played by 2 teams of 5
players each. The aim of each team is to score in
the opponents’ basket and to prevent the other
team from scoring.

Court dimensions
3x3 basketball

The playing court has a flat, hard surface free

The main rules of 3x3 are as follows: from obstructions. The dimensions of the courts
may vary to account for local facilities. The
standard size is 28m long and 15m wide.
 One basket on one half-court.

It can be scaled down in size, providing the

 2 teams of 3 players and up to one variations are in the same proportions from 26m
substitute per team. x 14m to 12m x 7m.

 12 seconds shot clock. Note: It is important that the free throw line is
4m to the backboard.

 1st team to reach 21 points or best after 10

minutes wins.

Playing court

A regular 3x3 court playing surface is 15m wide

x 11m long.

The court has a regular basketball playing court

sized zone, including a free throw line (5.80m), a
two point line (6.75m) and a “no-charge
semi-circle” area underneath the one basket.

Half a traditional basketball court may be used.

Mini-basketball

Mini‑­basketball is a game for boys and girls

who are eleven years or under in the year the
competition begins.
Free throw lines, restricted areas and
free throw rebound places

The free throw line is drawn parallel to each

endline. Its furthest edge is 5.8m from the inner
edge of
theBasketball-free-throw-and-restricted-areaendl
ine and is 3.6m long. Its midpoint lies on the
imaginary line joining the midpoint of the two
endlines.

The restricted areas are the rectangular areas

marked on the playing court limited by the
endlines, the extended free throw lines and the
lines which originate at the endlines. Their outer
edges are 2.45m from the midpoint of the
endlines and terminates at the outer edge of the
extended free throw lines. These lines, excluding
the endlines, are part of the restricted area. The
inside of the restricted areas must be painted in
one colour. Team bench areas

The team bench areas are marked outside the

3-Point field goal area
The team’s 3‑­point field goal area is the entire
floor area of the playing court, except for the
area near the opponents’ basket, limited by and
including:
playing court limited by 2 lines. There must be
14 seats available in the team bench area for the
team bench personnel which includes coaches,
assistant coaches, substitutes, excluded players
and team followers. Any other persons must be
at least 2m behind the team bench.

 The 2 parallel lines extending from and

perpendicular to the endline, with the outer
edge 0.90m from the inner edge of the side
lines.

 An arc of radius 6.75m measured from the

point on the floor beneath the exact centre Throw in lines
of the opponents’ basket to the outer edge
of the arc. The distance of the point on the
floor from the inner edge of the midpoint of
The two lines are 0.15m long and marked
the endline is 1.575m. The arc is joined to
outside the playing court at the sideline opposite
the parallel lines.
the scorer’s table. The outer edge of the lines are
8.325m from the inner edge of the nearest
endline.
The 3‑­point line is not part of the 3‑­point field
goal area.
No-charge semi-circle areas

The no-charge semi-circle lines shall be marked

on the playing courts, limited by:

A semi-cicle with a radius of 1.25m measured

from the point on the floor beneath the exact
centre of the basket to the inner edge of the
semi-circle.

The semi-circle is joined to:

Two parallel lines perpendicular to the endlines,

the inner edge 1.25m from the point on the floor
beneath the exact centre of the basket, 0.375m in
length and ending 1.20m from the inner edge of
the endline.

The no-charge semi-circle areas are completed

by imaginary lines joining the ends of the
parallel lines directly below the front edges of
the backboards. The no-charge semi-circle
lines are not part of the no-charge semi-circle
areas.
Court dimensions
Basketball-court-lay
out

The court is a flat, hard

surface free from
obstructions, 28m long
and 15m wide, measured
from the inner edge of the
boundary line.

The backcourt is the

team’s own basket,
inbounds part of the
backboard and the part of
the playing court limited
by their own endline, side
lines and centre line.

The front court consists of

the opponents’ basket,
inbounds part of the
backboard and the part of
the playing court limited
by the endlines behind the
opponents’ basket, side
lines and inner edge of the
centre line nearest to the
opponents’ basket.
All lines are white, 5cm wide and clearly visible.

Lines

Boundary line

The playing court is limited by at least 2m from the playing

the boundary line, consisting
of endlines and the side lines.
These lines are not part of the
playing court.
Any obstruction including
seated team bench personnel is
court.
The court is marked by a
further boundary line in a
contrasting colour and is 2m
wide minimum.
The colour of the further
boundary line must be the
same as that of the centre
circle (if painted) and the
restricted areas.

Centre line, centre circle and free throw semi-circles

The centre line is marked
parallel to the endlines from
the midpoint of the side lines.
It extends 0.15m beyond each
sideline. The centre line is part
of the backcourt.

The centre circle is marked in

the centre of the playing court
and has a radius of 1.80m
measured to the outer edge of
the circumference. If the
inside of the centre circle is
painted, it must be the same
colour as the restricted areas.

The free throw semi‑­circles

are marked on the playing
court with a radius of 1.80m
measured to the outer edge of
the circumference and with
their centres at the midpoint of
the free throw lines.
Where Basketball Originated

It was the winter of 1891-1892. Inside a gymnasium at Springfield College (then known as the
International YMCA Training School), located in Springfield, Mass., was a group of restless college
students. The young men had to be there; they were required to participate in indoor activities to burn
off the energy that had been building up since their football season ended. The gymnasium class
offered them activities such as marching, calisthenics, and apparatus work, but these were pale
substitutes for the more exciting games of football and lacrosse they played in warmer seasons.

The Year Basketball was Invented

Word of the new game spread like wildfire. It was an instant success. A few weeks after the game was
invented, students introduced the game at their own YMCAs. The rules were printed in a College
magazine, which was mailed to YMCAs around the country. Because of the College’s well-represented
international student body, the game of basketball was introduced to many foreign nations in a
relatively short period of time. High schools and colleges began to introduce the new game, and by
1905, basketball was officially recognized as a permanent winter sport.

The rules have been tinkered with, but by-and-large, the game of “basket ball” has not changed
drastically since Naismith’s original list of “Thirteen Rules” was tacked up on a bulletin board at
Springfield College.

Where was Basketball Invented?

There’s been some confusion over the precise
nature of the official relationship between
Springfield College and the YMCA, as it relates
to James Naismith and the invention of
basketball.
But by whatever name, since its founding in
1885 Springfield College has always been a
private and independent institution. The College
has enjoyed a long and productive collaboration
with the YMCA, but has never had any formal
organizational ties to the YMCA movement.

The confusion stems in part from changes in the

School’s name in its early history. Originally the
School for Christian Workers, the School early
in its history had three other names which
included “YMCA”: the YMCA Training School,
the International YMCA Training School, and,
later still, the International YMCA College. The
College didn’t officially adopt the name
“Springfield College” until 1954, even though it
had been known informally as “Springfield
College” for many years.
The confusion has been compounded by a small
sign on the corner of the building where
basketball was invented. The building stood at
the corner of State and Sherman streets in
Springfield, Massachusetts. The sign, carrying
the words “Armory Hill Young Men’s Christian
Association,” is visible in old photographs of the
building that have circulated online. This has led
some to believe, erroneously, that the Armory
Hill YMCA owned the building, and that James
Naismith was an employee of the YMCA.
However, in 2010, some historic YMCA
documents and Springfield College documents
from the period were rediscovered. These
documents prove conclusively that the
gymnasium in which Naismith invented
basketball was located not in a YMCA but in a
building owned and operated by the School for
Christian Workers, from which today’s
Springfield College originated. The building also
included classrooms, dormitory rooms, and
faculty and staff offices for the institution. The
Armory Hill YMCA rented space in the building
for its activities, and used the small sign to
attract paying customers.

James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, was

an instructor in physical education at the College.
It was Luther Halsey Gulick, Naismith’s
supervisor and the College’s first physical
education director, who challenged Naismith to
invent a new indoor game for the School’s
students to play during the long New England
winter. There is currently no evidence to suggest
that either man ever worked for the Armory Hill
YMCA, per se.

So now you know the true story of James

Naismith and the invention of basketball.