BASKETBALL

INTRODUCTION

Basketball is a team sport. Two teams of five players play on a marked rectangular court with a basket at each end. The aim is to shoot the ball in a basket which is horizontally positioned to score points with a set of rules. The game was drafted by Dr. James Naismith, U.S.A., and it was first played in Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Dribbling was not part of the original game except for the "bounce pass" to teammates. Passing the ball was the primary means of ball movement

RULES AND REGULATIONS:

The objective 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. A successful shot is worth two points, or three points or sometimes even a single point.

Game is played in 4 quarters each of 10 12 minutes, depending on the rules set before the start of the match. 15 minutes are allowed for a half-time break and a limited number of time-outs, clock stoppages requested by a coach which lasts for a minute. Five players from each team may be on the court at one time.Substitutions are unlimited but can only be done when play is stopped. The game is controlled by the officials consisting of the referee

VIOLATIONS

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 step with both feet without dribbling, an nor dribble with both hands or hold the ball and resume dribbling, a violation called double dribbling.
A team, once having established ball control in the front half of their court, may not return the ball to the backcourt and be the first to touch it. The ball may not be kicked, nor be struck with the fist. If a defensive player goaltends or commits basket interference, the basket is awarded and the offending team gets the ball

FOULS

An attempt to unfairly disadvantage an opponent through physical contact is illegal and is called a foul.

If a team exceeds a certain limit of team fouls in a given period opposing team is awarded one or two free throws on all subsequent non-shooting fouls for that period.
The opponents may not interfere with the shooter, nor may they try to regain possession until the last or potentially last free throw is in the air.

ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENTS:

The only essential equipment in a basketball game is the ball and the court with baskets at opposite ends. The basketball is generally around 9 inches in diameter and is of 22 oz. A regulation basketball court is around is 91.9 feet long and 49.2 feet wide. The basket is a steel rim 18 inches diameter with an attached net affixed to a backboard that measures 6 feet by 3.5 feet and one basket is at each end of the court. The basket is exactly 10 ft above the ground.

MAJOR ASSOCIATIONS IN BASKETBALL

College level : NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association(NCAA)

National level: NBA (National Basketball Association)

International level: FIBA (International Basketball Federation) French ( French Fdration Internationale de Basketball Amateur)

BASKETBALL IN INDIA

In India, the game of basketball started its journey in 1930 when it was played for the first time. The Basketball Federation of India (BFI), which controls the game in India was formed in 1950. Nowadays, it is considered as one of the widely played sports in India. Still under development.

LESSONS FROM THE GAME

The dynamics in the game of basketball very much correspond to what takes place in life. As in basketball, so in life:

Learn and master the fundamentals of the game. Be prepared both mentally and physically. Be alert and aware. Anticipate the play. If the plays aren't working, re-adjust the game plan. Never give up on the play. Persevere. Deviate from set plays. Maintain full court vision Aim to win more games than you lose, but accept both victory and defeat graciously.

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