Basics About Basketball

The game of basketball has come a long way since James Naismith invented it back in 1891 using a soccer ball and two peach baskets. Now the learning process for how to play basketball, from the basic rules to all the important skills you need to know, can take a little time. But it's worth it.

Some will say basketball is just a sport, but it's a team sport and basketball players can learn a variety of basic skills for life both on and off the court. Being on a basketball court and being able to play basketball with others can not only be fun but also good for your mental and physical health.

And since a good practice session should always include things like physical fitness, practicing proper footwork, dribbling the ball, shooting techniques, and other basketball skills, getting to know what the basic basketball rules and important skills are is vital for the development of your overall basketball fundamentals.

So whether you're lacing up the basketball shoes for some pickup games or playing organized basketball, here is a quick look at the basketball basics.

The Objective

The primary objective of basketball is to shoot a basketball through the opposing team’s hoop to score points, with the team that scores the most points within the given time parameters winning the game.

Basketball is a team sport, where communicating with and trusting in your teammates can lead to more scoring opportunities and overall success.

Two teams, usually consisting of five starters and multiple bench players, play on a rectangular court with a basketball hoop at both ends, which is usually elevated between 8 and 10 feet above the ground, depending on the age of the basketball players. 

The teams have to play offense by passing and dribbling the basketball toward the opposing basket and then shooting the ball through it, and also protect their own hoop by playing defense.

Basic Clock & Court Rules

Games will vary in length and use either four quarters or two halves, depending on the age group of the basketball players. Professional basketball games last 48 minutes with four quarters, college games last 40 minutes with two halves, and high school and youth games last anywhere between 32 and 40 minutes with quarters or halves. 

There is usually a short break between quarters and a longer break at the halfway mark, at which point teams switch the baskets they are defending.

General time restrictions include: 

• A player has only five seconds to pass the ball inbounds.
• The offensive team has ten seconds to get the ball over the mid-court line.
• A shot clock may dictate the amount of time remaining before the offense must attempt a shot. 

In the event of a tie, games will go into overtime or extra periods until the game is won. Youth basketball can sometimes end in a tie after one or two extra periods.

Different markings on a basketball court can include a half-court line separating each side, a three-point arc on both sides of the court, a free throw lane leading to the basket on each side with a free throw line at the top of the lane, and out-of-bounds lines.

Out-of-bounds lines that run the length of the court are called sidelines, and the lines that run along the ends of the court are called baselines.

Games may begin with an opening tip-off at center court as the referee tosses the ball in the air between two opposing players who are trying to tip it to their teammates.

Rock, paper, scissors or a coin toss can also be used to decide possession for younger players.

Shooting & Scoring

Making a basket, also known as a field goal, can be done from anywhere on the court. If it is made from beyond the three-point line it is worth three points, and if it is made from inside the three-point line it is worth two points.

Free throws, which are awarded after some fouls, are worth one point each.

After a team scores a basket, the opposing team receives possession of the ball.

A good shooting form for a jump shot and three point shot includes feet shoulder width apart, eyes on the target, the elbow of your shooting hand positioned under the ball, your non-shooting hand on the side of the ball, and then extending your shooting arm toward the rim.

Layups are baskets made when the player is next to the hoop and usually involve using the backboard.

Dribbling & Passing

Dribbling is how players move the ball up the court and involves continuously bouncing the ball off the floor while walking or running, using one hand at a time, and trying to maintain control.

If a player stops dribbling and holds the ball, they may no longer dribble or move with the ball and must shoot it or pass it.

Passing is how players share the ball with their teammates while moving the ball around the court and creating scoring opportunities.

The most common passes are the chest pass, which uses two hands at chest level and the ball traveling directly into a teammate’s hands, and the bounce pass done by bouncing the ball with two hands on the floor once before a teammate catches it.

Defense & Rebounding

Defensive skills are key to helping your team win, and consist of guarding your opponent to make it harder for them to pass and shoot, without reaching in to grab or hold the other player.

A defender may try to steal the ball, contest shots, and block shots but only when the ball is on the way up. Common defenses include:

• Player to player (man to man), when each player is assigned and stays with a specific player from the other team.
• Zone defense, where each player guards a certain area of the court.

A proper defensive stance includes feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart, knees bent, back straight, head up, elbows bent, and arms extended up and to the side with palms facing the offensive player.

Rebounding a missed shot attempt is essential to gaining or maintaining possession of the basketball. It consists of trying to “block out” opposing basketball players by positioning yourself between them and the basket, and then jumping or chasing after the ball to secure it.

A rebound on the defensive end can start a fast break toward the other basket, while a rebound on the offensive end can create the opportunity for another shot attempt, but with a fresh shot clock.

Violations

There are a number of common violations that will usually result in loss of possession. These include:

• Traveling is when a player takes two or more steps with the basketball without dribbling it.
• Double dribble is when a player picks up their dribble and then dribbles again, or when a player dribbles with both hands at the same time.
• A Backcourt violation is when a player with the ball crosses back over the half-court line after the team has already crossed it with the ball.
• Ten-second violation is when the offensive team takes longer than ten seconds to advance the ball past half-court.
• A Shot clock violation is when the offense fails to shoot a basket before the shot clock expires.
• Three-second rule is when an offensive player stays in the free throw lane for longer than three seconds while their team has the ball.
• Goaltending is when a player interferes with a shot while the basketball is on the way down toward the hoop, or after it has already touched the backboard. If this occurs by a defensive player, the offense is awarded the basket. If it occurs by an offensive player, no basket is awarded and the other team is given possession.

Fouls

Personal fouls are caused by illegal physical contact such as hitting, grabbing, pushing, slapping, and holding.

Fouling a player in the act of shooting will result in free throws. If the player misses their shot, they will shoot two or three free throws depending on the shot attempt. If the player makes their shot, they will shoot one free throw.

Fouls that occur not in the act of shooting will still stop the game as the foul is tallied. Once a team has committed seven fouls in a half, the opposing team will shoot “one and one” free throws, meaning they will shoot one and if they make it, they will shoot another. If they miss the first then the ball is live. After a team has committed ten fouls in a half, the opposing team will shoot two free throws.

Other common fouls include:

•  An illegal pick or screen is when a moving offensive player makes physical contact with a moving defender in an attempt to block their path.
• Charging is when an offensive player with the ball pushes or runs over a defensive player. This results in loss of possession.
• Flagrant foul is when a defender makes violent contact with another player. This results in free throws and retaining possession for the team that was fouled.
• Technical foul is when a player or coach does something inappropriate outside the manners of the game, such as using foul language, obscene gestures, and arguing with the referees over calls.