Basketball rules are in constant debate and adaptation. Since the creation of the sport in 1891, there have been many changes.
In the text, the main basketball rules are updated.
1. Game Court
The game is played on a (own) court with (official) dimensions of 28 meters long by 15 meters wide. Unlike the soccer or volleyball court, for example, the lines that delimit the court are considered outside the playing area.
The baskets are located in the center, near the end of the bottom, in the defense field of each of the teams, at a height of 3.05 meters.
2. departure time
Each match is played in 4 quarters of 10 minutes each. Breaks of 2 minutes after the first and third quarters and 15 minutes at the end of the second quarter (end of the first half of the game).
In the event of a tie at the end of the match, 5-minute overtimes are carried out until there is a tiebreaker.
3. Punctuation
Baskets can be worth 3, 2 or 1 point:
- 3 dots - outside the three dots line;
- 2-point - on the inside of the three-point line (including the line);
- 1 point - free throw (penalty charge) in the demarcated area.
4. ball control
Basketball is played with the hands and, from the control of the ball, each player can pass, shoot, bounce, roll, tap or dribble.
Dribbling consists of controlling the ball, bouncing it with one hand at a time. The player can only take one step per bounce of the ball. The dribble ends when the player touches the ball with both hands simultaneously.
The infractions are:
- if the player moves both feet while in possession of the ball - walk;
- touch the ball with both hands and bounce it again - two dribbles.
Each team, after controlling the ball, has 24 seconds of possession to shoot the ball to the opponent's basket. Of those 24 seconds, only 8 seconds can be run in the defense field.
The team cannot return the ball to the defense field after having crossed the line in the middle of the court.
5. absences
In basketball there are different types of fouls, all of which must be considered by the referee. The fault types are:
- personal fouls: when there is illegal contact between athletes;
- technical fouls: are related to the player's behavior, when this hinders the development of the game, without physical contact with the opponent;
- unsportsmanlike fouls: occur when contact occurs outside the game's standards;
- disqualifying fouls: when there is an act of violence committed by an athlete, or in the case of a fight between two or more athletes.
During the game, each player has a limit of 5 personal fouls. After the fifth foul is committed, the player must be excluded from the match.
Each team also has a limit of 5 fouls (collective fouls/team fouls) per game room. From the fifth collective foul onwards, the team that suffers the foul is entitled to two free throws.
free throws
Free throws are unmarked shots from a delimited area for their take.
They occur when a player is contacted at the time of shooting or after a team's collective foul limit has been exhausted.
Free throws must be taken by the player who was fouled. In the event of an injury or departure from the match, his direct substitute must take the shots.
6. Substitutions
In basketball, each team can make an indeterminate number of substitutions. Substitutions may occur at any time during the match, whether with the ball in play, provided they are made within the delimited area, or at the time of stoppage.
Difference between NBA and FIBA rules
The North American Basketball League (NBA) is the sport's biggest league. It brings together the best athletes from around the world, being recognized for their high technical and physical level.
So, to keep its standard above other competitions, some rules are changed in relation to international rules.
court size
- NBA: 28.65m x 15.24m
- FIBA: 28m x 15m
3-point shot
- NBA: 7.28m
- FIBA: 6.75m
game time
- NBA: 4 quarters of 12 minutes (48 minutes starting). 15-minute breaks between 2nd and 3rd bedrooms.
- FIBA: 4 quarters of 10 minutes (40 minutes departure). 10-minute break between the 2nd and 3rd bedrooms.
technical time
- NBA: 6 per game (not divided by playing time). Duration of 1 minute and 40 seconds. It can be requested by the coach or players.
- FIBA: 5 per game (2 in the first half and 3 in the second half). Duration of 1 minute. It can be ordered by the technician or his assistant.
Collective absences (per room)
- NBA: Free throw collection from the 6th foul.
- FIBA: Free throws from the 5th foul on.
Individual fouls (per game)
- NBA: The player is eliminated from the 6th personal foul.
- FIBA: The player is eliminated from the 5th personal foul.
technical faults
- NBA: 1 free throw and possession.
- FIBA: 2 free throws and possession remains with the opponent.
Time for free-throw collection.
- NBA: 10 seconds.
- FIBA: 5 seconds.
Basketball Basics
The main fundamentals of basketball are:
- Dribble - Control the ball by bouncing it with one hand (one bounce per pass).
- Pass - Throwing the ball to a teammate. It can be done directly (chest pass) or by touching the ground (pitch or bounce pass). When a pass is given to a player, and that player converts the points, it is called a assistance.
- Pitch - Throwing the ball towards the basket.
- rebound - In case the shot is not converted, players from both teams dispute possession of the ball (offensive rebound or defensive rebound).
- Lock (stub) - Interception of a pitch.
See too:Basketball: origin, history and rules
Basketball History
Basketball originated from the game invented by Canadian professor James Naismith in 1891. The teacher sought to design a game that could be played during the winter and was less aggressive than football.
So he placed a basket of peaches at a height of 3.05 meters (this height is maintained to this day), where a soccer ball should be thrown.
The sport quickly became popular, arriving in Brazil in 1896. Since then, it has undergone several changes to its rules.
In 1936, basketball became an Olympic sport and today it is the second most popular sport in the world.
See too: The History of Basketball.