Rules of Basketball

Basketball can be a very hard game for people to understand. Most of the time people know the basics, which usually are offense and defense, free throw and three pointer. The rules of basketball can vary slightly depending on the level of play, for example professional rules differ from college rules. Or where the game is played, international rules are different from USA professional rules. These rule differences, however, are usually just variations on the basic game of basketball and the majority of the rules discussed below can be applied to most any game of basketball played.

The offense side of basketball can be a lot more complicated than the defense side of basketball. In offense you have to learn a lot of plays that can be simple but also very complicated. But on defense you have to be just as active and not afraid to body someone up. Also you have to not let the offense team go and run the play and control you, you should want to control them. But both side are important, a team should want to play both good offense and defense so they can win the game. But to do that you need to know the rules of the game which are listed below.

The basic rules of basketball are;

• Scoring: Beginners won’t shoot a lot of 3-pointers, but have them to understand a free throw is worth one point, a field goal is worth two and a 3-pointer is good for three points.
• Tip-off/jump ball: The game begins with two opposing players in the center circle, each jumping to tip the basketball that the referee tosses up. The team that does not gain the tip-off gains the possession arrow and will be awarded the basketball the next time it is tied up between opposing players. The teams will switch off with the possession arrow on every jump ball situation or at the beginning of a quarter or half. A jump ball will only be used again at the start of an overtime period.
• Dribbling violations: A dribbler can’t “travel” by walking or running with the ball more than 1½ steps; “double dribble” by bouncing the ball with both hands or doing a dribble, stop and dribble again; “palm” the basketball by dribbling with his hand too far on the side or underneath it; or change his pivot foot while he is holding the ball.
• Personal fouls: A player must remain in control of himself or herself and will draw a foul for actions such as hitting, holding pushing, slapping and tripping. Fouls can be called on both the offense and defense and after the player has five fouls, the can not continue in the game.
• Charging/blocking: A charge is an offensive foul that is committed when a player pushes or runs over a defensive player. The ball is awarded to the defense. A defender must establish position in front of the offensive player or upon contact will be called for blocking against the offensive player.
• Foul shot violation: Nobody can enter the foul lane on a free throw until the ball hits the rim.
• Ten-second violation: When moving the basketball up from its backcourt, a basketball team has 10 seconds to get the ball over the mid court line. If the offense commits the violation, the ball is awarded to the defense.
• Backcourt violation: Once the offense moves the basketball past the mid court line, it cannot allow it to go back across the line during its possession.
• Three-second rule: An offensive player cannot stand in the lane (also known as the key or paint) for more than three seconds. If the offense commits the violation, the ball is awarded to the defense.
• Five-second violation: On an inbounds play, the passer must pass the basketball within five seconds or it will be awarded to the defense.

Work Cited

“Man, 25, Posed as 17-Year-Old High School Hoops Player.” SI.com, www.si.com/more-sports/2018/05/17/man-arrested-pretending-play-high-school-basketball-dallas.

PlaySportsTV. “The 10 Most Important Youth Basketball Rules.” PlaySportsTV, www.playsportstv.com/basketball/articles/1902/the-10-most-important-youth-basketball-rules.

Staples, Andy, and Greg Bishop. “Michael Porter Jr. Back in for Mizzou for Tourney.” SI.com, www.si.com/college-basketball/2018/03/16/missouri-michael-porter-jr-florida-state-ncaa-tournament-nba-draft.

“Westbrook Could Miss Season Opener after Knee Surgery.” SI.com, www.si.com/nba/2018/09/12/russell-westbrook-knee-surgery-preseason-season-opener-thunder.