Teams/number of players

Two teams of maximum 12 players, with a maximum of five players of each team on the court at any
time.

Teams may make as many substitutions as they like.

The objective

The objective of the game is to put the ball in the opposing teams basket.

The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Duration

The game consists of four periods of 10 minutes.

If the scores are tied, overtime periods of five minutes will be played until one team has more points
than the other (at the end of the 5-minute period)

Scoring

A basket scored from near the basket (inside the three-point arc) is worth two points.

A basket scored from far (beyond the three-point arc) is worth three points.

A basket scored from the free-throw line is worth one point.

Moving the ball

The ball may either be passed from one player to another, or dribbled by a player from one point to
another (bounced while walking or running).

Before passing or shooting the ball, a player may take two steps (without dribbling).

Once a player has stopped dribbling, he may not start to dribble again.

Once the team in possession of the ball has passed the half-court line, it may cross back over the line
with the ball.

Shot clock

When a team gains possession of the ball, they have a maximum of 24 seconds to attempt a shot.

Additionally, offensive players may not remain within the restricted area (key) for more than three
consecutive seconds.

Fouls

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A personal foul occurs when there is illegal contact between two opponents. A player who makes more
than five personal fouls is excluded from the game.

A foul made on a player attempting a shot results in the awarding of the same number of free-throws as
those of the shot taken (two from inside the arc, three from outside). If a player is fouled but makes the
attempted shot, the shot counts and an additional free-throw will be awarded.

Once a team has made four fouls in a period, each additional foul (on a player not attempting a shot)
will result in the automatic awarding of two free-throws.

Rule FIBA NBA NCAA

4x10 minutes
4x12 minutes
5 minutes 2x20 minutes
Playing time 5 minutes over-
over-time 5 minutes over-time
time
(OT)

24 seconds
After
Men: 35 seconds
Shot clock offensive 24 seconds
Women: 30 seconds
rebound: 14
seconds

6.75m (6.60 on 7.24m (6.70m on Men: 6.25m

3-point line
baseline) baseline) Women: 6.325m

6 regular
2 in first half
2 per OT period
3 in second
= 60 or 100 4 regular
half (but only
seconds 30 seconds
2 in last two
+ 1 short time-out + long
minutes of
(20 seconds) per 60 seconds
the 4thperiod)
Time-outs half Maximum 3 regular
1 per OT
The second short and 1 long in second
period
time-out can be half
Always 60
carried over to OT !!! additional
seconds
period regulations
Never carried
!!! additional
over
regulations

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Rule FIBA NBA NCAA

Jump ball to star

Jump ball to
game
star game Jump ball to star
The one losing
The one game
initial jump ball
losing initial The one losing initial
gets possession to
jump ball gets jump ball gets
start 2nd and 4th
possession for possession for the
quarters
Jump ball and the next jump next jump ball
The one winning
alternating ball situation situation
possession initial jump ball
Alternating Alternating
gets possession to
possession possession between
start 3rd quarter
between teams thereafter for
All other jump ball
teams all jump ball
situations played
thereafter for situations
as "real jump ball"
all jump ball Jump ball to start OT
situations

Foul out on 5
Foul out on 6 or 2 Foul out on 5 (personal
Individual foul (personal and
technical and technical)
technical)

2 free-throws
awarded for 1 free throw, plus
each (non- another if the first is
2 free-throws
shooting) foul successful is
awarded for each
after the 4th awarded on the 7th,
foul after the 4th
period 8th and 9th foul of
team foul or last
(includes each half; the
two minutes of
Team fouls and player penalty is increased
each quarter,
bonus free-throws technical to two shots on the
whichever comes
fouls) 10th and subsequent
first
Does not fouls; overtime is an
Does not include
include extension of the
offensive fouls and
offensive second half.
technical fouls
fouls/fouls by Does not include
team in offensive fouls
possession

1 free throw and 1 free throw per 2 free throws, play

Technical foul possession of technical foul; play resumes at point of
the ball at resumes at the point interruption
(penalty)
centre of interruption; foul is
charged to individual
in question (and

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Rule FIBA NBA NCAA

automatic fine
assessed)

No blocking a No blocking a ball in No blocking a ball in

ball in downward flight downward flight towards
downward flight towards the rim. the rim.
towards the rim.
An imaginary cylinder An imaginary cylinder
Goaltending/basket Once the ball exists that has the exists that has the
interference strikes the rim, basket as its base. basket as its base.
any player can Touching the ball while Touching the ball while
play the ball any part of it is in this any part of it is in this
(i.e. swat it cylinder (and still has cylinder (and still has a
away or tap it a chance to go in) is a chance to go in) is a
in) violation violation.

Legal but
defensive player may
not stay in the lane
(a.k.a. key, restricted
Zone defense Legal Legal
area) for longer than
three seconds if he is
not actively guarding
an opponent

00 (or 0), 1-5, 10-15,

Any one or two digit
Player numbers 00, 0, 1-99 20-25, 30-35, 40-45,
number
50-55

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New

Basketball Basics for New Players and Coaches -- Learn the Basic
Rules, Concepts, Court Layout, and Player Positions
FREE! Get 72 of our favorite basketball drills and 32 of our favorite basketball plays.

The rules of basketball, thankfully, are fairly straightforward. However, for the younger players, some rules
can be easily forgotten. The three-second rule addressing how long an offensive player can be in the key
before clearing out is a good example.

Once you have taught the rules of the game to your team, there is a simple way to make sure that they don't
forget them. Have them tell you the rules. Spend a few minutes during each practice quizzing them. Make it
fun. Additionally, you can teach and reinforce the rules of the game during drills.

Before you can teach the rules to your team, you must know them yourself...

Breakthrough Bonus: Download the "Basketball Basics" article as a FREE PDF! (Download Now!)

The Rules
Basketball is a team sport. Two teams of five players each try to score by shooting a ball through a hoop
elevated 10 feet above the ground. The game is played on a rectangular floor called the court, and there is a
hoop at each end. The court is divided 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.

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 Basketball Court 1

The ball is moved down the court toward the basket by passing or dribbling. The team with the ball is called
the offense. The team without the ball is called the defense. They try to steal the ball, contest shots, steal and
deflect passes, and garner rebounds.

When a team makes a basket, they score two points and the ball goes to the other team. If a basket, or field
goal, is made outside of the three-point arc, then that basket is worth three points. A free throw is worth one
point. Free throws are awarded to a team according to some formats involving the number of fouls committed
in a half and/or the type of foul committed. Fouling a shooter always results in two or three free throws being
awarded the shooter, depending upon where he was when he shot. If he was beyond the three-point line,
then he gets three shots. Other types of fouls do not result in free throws being awarded until a certain
number have accumulated during a half. Once that number is reached, then the player who was fouled is
awarded a '1-and-1' opportunity. If he makes his first free throw, he gets to attempt a second. If he misses
the first shot, the ball is live on the rebound.

Each game is divided into sections. All levels have two halves. In college, each half is twenty minutes long. In
high school and below, the halves are divided into eight (and sometimes, six) minute quarters. In the pros,
quarters are twelve minutes long. There 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

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 FOULS

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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

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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

Page 8 of 9
 hoop, and for boxing out.

Where Should New Players and Coaches Start?

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!

The same goes for lays ups, foot work, post play, passing, jab steps, jump stops, pivoting, blocking out, and
so on.

We suggest that you start by learning the proper technique and fundamentals for:

Shooting

Passing

Dribbling

Lay ups

Jump stops

Pivoting and footwork

Jab steps

Screening

Cutting

Defense

Rebounding

These are all critical fundamentals to master because they'll make you and your team better, no matter what
age level or situation you might be in.

Page 9 of 9