Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation

COLLEGE OF NURSING

MERLIN, AIRA MARIE P.

BSN II-A

CONTENTS:
I. Nature and Background of
Basketball
II. History of Basketball
III. Basic Skills in Basketball
IV. Facilities and Equipment in
Basketball
V. Officiating Officials / Rules
and Regulations of the
Games
• Fouls and violations

I. NATURE AND BACKGROUND OF BASKETBALL

Basketball, a game played between two teams of
five players each on a rectangular court, usually indoors.
Each team tries to score by tossing the ball through the
opponent’s goal, an elevated horizontal hoop and net called
a basket.
It is the only major sport strictly of U.S. origin,
basketball was invented by James Naismith (1861–1939)
on or about December 1, 1891, at the International Young
Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Training School (now Springfield
College), Springfield, Massachusetts, where Naismith was an instructor in physical education.
For that first game of basketball in 1891, Naismith used as goals two half-
bushel peach baskets, which gave the sport its name. The students were enthusiastic. After
much running and shooting, William R. Chase made a midcourt shot—the only score in that
historic contest. Word spread about the newly invented game, and numerous associations wrote

Page | 1
 Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation
COLLEGE OF NURSING

Naismith for a copy of the rules, which were published in the January 15, 1892, issue of
the Triangle, the YMCA Training School’s campus paper.

While basketball is competitively a winter sport, it is played on a 12-month basis—on

summer playgrounds, in municipal, industrial, and church halls, in school yards and family
driveways, and in summer camps—often on an informal basis between two or more contestants.
Many grammar schools, youth groups, municipal recreation centres, churches, and other
organizations conduct basketball programs for youngsters of less than high school age. Jay
Archer, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, introduced “biddy” basketball in 1950 for boys and girls
under 12 years of age, the court and equipment being adjusted for size.

2. HISTORY OF BASKETBALL

The early years

In the early years the number of players on a
team varied according to the number in the class and
the size of the playing area. In 1894 teams began to
play with five on a side when the playing area was
less than 1,800 square feet (167.2 square metres); the
number rose to seven when the gymnasium measured
from 1,800 to 3,600 square feet (334.5 square
metres) and up to nine when the playing area
exceeded that. In 1895 the number was occasionally
set at five by mutual consent; the rules stipulated five
players two years later, and this number has
remained ever since.

Since Naismith and five of his original players were Canadians, it is not surprising
that Canada was the first country outside the United States to play the game. Basketball was
introduced in France in 1893, in England in 1894, in Australia, China, and India soon thereafter,
and in Japan in 1900.
While basketball helped swell the membership of YMCAs because of the availability of
their gyms, within five years the game was outlawed by various associations because gyms that
had been occupied by classes of 50 or 60 members were now monopolized by only 10 to 18
players. The banishment of the game induced many members to terminate their YMCA
membership and to hire halls to play the game, thus paving the way to the professionalization of
the sport.
Originally, players wore one of three styles of uniforms: knee-length football trousers;
jersey tights, as commonly worn by wrestlers; or short padded pants, forerunners of today’s

Page | 2
 Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation
COLLEGE OF NURSING

uniforms, plus knee guards. The courts often were of irregular shape with occasional
obstructions such as pillars, stairways, or offices that interfered with play. In 1903 it was ruled
that all boundary lines must be straight. In 1893 the Narragansett Machinery Co.
of Providence, Rhode Island, marketed a hoop of iron with a hammock style of basket.
Originally a ladder, then a pole, and finally a chain fastened to the bottom of the net was used to
retrieve a ball after a goal had been scored. Nets open at the bottom were adopted in 1912–13. In
1895–96 the points for making a basket (goal, or field goal) were reduced from three to two, and
the points for making a free throw (shot uncontested from a line in front of the basket after a foul
had been committed) were reduced from three to one.
Baskets were frequently attached to balconies, making it easy for spectators behind a
basket to lean over the railings and deflect the ball to favour one side and hinder the other; in
1895 teams were urged to provide a 4-by-6-foot (1.2-by-1.8-metre) screen for the purpose of
eliminating interference. Soon after, wooden backboards proved more suitable. Glass backboards
were legalized by the professionals in 1908–09 and by colleges in 1909–10. In 1920–21 the
backboards were moved 2 feet (0.6 metre), and in 1939–40 4 feet, in from the end lines to reduce
frequent stepping out-of-bounds. Fan-shaped backboards were made legal in 1940–41.
A soccer ball (football) was used for the first two years. In 1894 the first basketball was
marketed. It was laced, measured close to 32 inches (81 cm), or about 4 inches (10 cm) larger
than the soccer ball, in circumference, and weighed less than 20 ounces (567 grams). By 1948–
49, when the laceless molded ball was made official, the size had been set at 30 inches (76 cm).

The first college to play the game was either Geneva College (Beaver
Falls, Pennsylvania) or the University of Iowa. C.O. Bemis heard about the new sport at
Springfield and tried it out with his students at Geneva in 1892. At Iowa, H.F. Kallenberg, who
had attended Springfield in 1890, wrote Naismith for a copy of the rules and also presented the
game to his students. At Springfield, Kallenberg met Amos Alonzo Stagg, who became athletic
director at the new University of Chicago in 1892. The first college basketball game with five on
a side was played between the University of Chicago and the University of Iowa in Iowa City on
January 18, 1896. The University of Chicago won, 15–12, with neither team using a substitute.
Kallenberg refereed that game—a common practice in that era—and some of the spectators took
exception to some of his decisions.
The colleges formed their own rules committee in 1905, and by 1913 there were at least
five sets of rules: collegiate, YMCA–Amateur Athletic Union, those used by state militia groups,
and two varieties of professional rules. Teams often agreed to play under a different set for each
half of a game. To establish some measure of uniformity, the colleges, Amateur Athletic Union,
and YMCA formed the Joint Rules Committee in 1915. This group was renamed the National
Basketball Committee (NBC) of the United States and Canada in 1936 and until 1979 served as
the game’s sole amateur rule-making body. In that year, however, the colleges broke away to
form their own rules committee, and during the same year the National Federation of State High

Page | 3
 Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation
COLLEGE OF NURSING

School Associations likewise assumed the task of establishing separate playing rules for the high
schools. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Rules Committee for men is a
12-member board representing all three NCAA divisions. It has six members from Division I
schools and three each from Divisions II and III. It has jurisdiction over colleges, junior colleges,
the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and Armed Forces basketball.
There is a similar body for women’s play.

Growth of the game

Basketball grew steadily but slowly in popularity and importance in the United States and
internationally in the first three decades after World War II. Interest in the game deepened as a
result of television exposure, but with the advent of cable television, especially during the 1980s,
the game’s popularity exploded at all levels. Given a timely mix of spectacular players—such
as Earvin (“Magic”) Johnson, Julius Erving (“Dr. J”), Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan—and the
greatly increased exposure, basketball moved quickly to the forefront of the American sporting
scene, alongside such traditional leaders as baseball and football. Four areas of the game
developed during this period: U.S. high school and college basketball, professional basketball,
women’s basketball, and international basketball.

3. BASIC SKILLS IN BASKETBALL

Basketball skills can be broken down into two primary categories:
Offensive skills: shooting, rebounding, passing, and dribbling
Defensive skills: blocking, stealing, and again, rebounding
SKILLS: OFFENSE
Shooting
Shooting consists of launching the ball toward the basket in an arcing motion with the
purpose of it going in and scoring points. When shooting, keep your eyes on the target, place the
ball on your fingertips (not the palm), place your feet shoulder width apart, place your elbow
under the ball, and then follow through and hold the finish.
1. Jump Shot
 The jump shot is the most almost basic shot that there is in basketball, aside from the
simple shot where you just stand. Its all in the name, you jump and you shoot, hoping the
ball slides into the net. The jump shot can score all 3 type of points, the single-point, the
basic two-point, and the three-pointer. The two-point, and the three-pointer is scored
while the game is in action. The three-pointer can only be counted if the ball goes into the

Page | 4
 Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation
COLLEGE OF NURSING

net from being released behind the three-point line. The single-point is only scored during
fouls, or free throws.
2. Lay-up
 The lay-up is where you are close to the basket and basically "lay" up the ball so that it
will just fall into the basket. You don't even have to use the backboard, but it is definitely
an option. More specifically, you run up to the net, and then jump up to just lightly bump
the ball so that, the basketball will hopefully go through the net. You can only score two-
points on this type of shot in basketball.
3. Slam Dunk
 A slam dunk is an extremely awesome move, but to do this shot you have to be quite tall,
or need to be able to jump pretty high. Many players in the NBA can be seen scoring
numerous points by dunking. To achieve this, a player with the ball must jump up, have
the ball above the rim of the net, and places the ball through the hoop. Hardly ever do
professional players bring it down gently; they do it with great force. And to top that,
some players even hold onto the rim after doing a tremendous dunk, to score 2 points. It
may seem easy, but it is never that easy to do.
4. Hook Shot
 Its all in the name; you shoot moving your hand in a hook motion. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
was the one that help this shot become more popular. It was used to shoot over the
defense men, being quite tall. To do this shot, first, the player has his/her back to the net
and only the outer hand is on the ball. Then, the player will turn and swing his/her arm
with the ball in a hook motion and will go over the players head, in hopes that he/she will
score. The quantity of the score given will depend on where you shoot from; two-points
inside the 3-point line, or three-points outside the three-point line.
5. Alley Hoop
 The alley hoop is a well known shot but not part of the four basic shots in basketball. The
alley hoop ties in with the lay-up and the slam dunk. Basically, another player throws the
ball up into the air, and a teammate jumps into the air to catch the ball for a lay-up or a
tremendous dunk. This is sometimes seen in basketball games, but not very often. It
always scores a single point as you will only get the chance during the game to do any
alley hoop within the three-point line.
Offensive Rebounding
An offensive rebound is obtained when the team that just shot the ball misses and then
recaptures the ball again. As a general rule it is tougher for a player to get an offensive rebound
than a defensive rebound because after a shot misses the opposing team's players are closer to the
basket and in a better position to grab the ball.
Passing

Page | 5
 Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation
COLLEGE OF NURSING

A pass happens when one player throws the ball to another player with the purpose of
setting up a play or taking a shot. In basketball there are two main types of passing.

 The first type happens when one player throws another player the ball and the
receiving player then scores a basket. The player who threw the ball gets credit
for an assist.
 The second type of pass is just a basic pass from one player to another. There are
bounce passes that hit the floor one time, chest passes that are thrown from the
player's upper body, and the spectacular alley-oop pass where one player lobs the
ball above the rim and a second player grabs it out of midair and slam dunks.
Dribbling
Dribbling is the art of bouncing the ball up and down off the floor with one hand, in order
to advance the ball up the court. It is illegal to touch the ball with both hands simultaneously,
a.k.a double dribbling. While dribbling, a player should protect the ball to prevent the defender
from stealing it. Tips for dribbling include: not looking at the ball, pounding the ball hard, and
using the free arm as a shield.
1. Basic Dribbling Technique
 The basic dribbling technique is a dribble that literally everyone knows. In this dribble,
you just bounce the ball, but to perfect this dribble, there are some small but extremely
important things that you need to do to have this dribble very well executed. First you
need, to simple bounce the ball, but only with the tips of your fingertips. If you bounce it
with the palm of your hand, the ball will not bounce very well. Always have your knees
bent when you are dribbling; that way you can easily move and guard the ball, and also
keep you head up; you will be able to see the court more clearly, and you will not have
the ball stolen from you that easily. If you can maintain all these skills while doing the
basic dribble, you will surely be a great dribbler, and it will help you with harder dribbles
like the "behind the back" or the "through-the-legs" dribble.
2. Crossover Dribble Technique
 In this technique, it is basically dribbling the ball from one hand to the other. This is very
useful when coming up against a player that is trying to defend you. To do this you
basically step forward with the foot in the direction you are going; have the ball on the
opposite sided hand. As you set forward with that foot, "crossover," pass the ball to the
same side that the foot is on with a firm wrist flick. This technique is the most basic way
to get past a defender and is very commonly used.
3. Spin Dribble Technique
 The spin dribble is where you, as the name implies, spin around to get past a defender.
You can get past a defender really quickly, but you miss out on where your teammates
are on the court. To do this dribble, first dribble, but when you reach the defender, step

Page | 6
 Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation
COLLEGE OF NURSING

forward with the opposite foot and pivot on that foot. The best thing to do in this dribble
is to try to keep your head up while spinning. It is important look around you in any
situation.
4. Change-of-Pace Dribble Technique
 This dribble is a good technique for tricking your opponent. You appear to slow down,
but you trick the defender by rushing right past them before they get a chance to know
that you have deceived them. It is pretty simple to do this, but for those that are beginning
to learn this trick, here are the instructions. First, you dribble up the court but once you
get about one metre away from and then "pretend" that you are going to stop, by
straightening your body a bit. Then, try to do this suddenly, drive forward as quick as you
can, and it would be a great idea for you to drive right to the net.
5. Behind the Back Dribble Technique
 Most people cannot do this dribble very successfully, without messing up. This dribble
requires you to literally dribble, or pass the ball between your hands, behind your back.
This dribble requires a bit of skill to execute nicely.
SKILLS: DEFENSE
Blocking
The block is another spectacular crowd favorite. It occurs when the offensive player
shoots and the defender swats the ball away, blocking its trajectory to the basket and preventing
any points from being scored.
Stealing
The steal, or taking the ball away from an opposing player to gain possession for your
own team, requires quick hands and great timing. A player can steal a pass out of midair or from
the other team while someone is dribbling.
Defensive Rebounding
A defensive rebound is obtained when one team misses a shot and the opposing team grabs the
ball. An important skill needed to collect defensive rebounds is known as boxing out, a
technique by which players use their bodies to shield the opposing team from grabbing the ball.

OTHER SKILLS:
Pivot
 A movement in which a player with the ball steps once or more in any direction with the
same foot while the other foot (pivot foot) is kept at its point of contact with the floor.

Page | 7
 Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation
COLLEGE OF NURSING

Rebounding
 Both teams attempting to gain possession of the ball after any try for a basket that is
unsuccessful, but the ball does not go out-of-bounds and remains in play.
Screen, or pick
 Legal action of a player who, without causing more than incidental contact, delays or
prevents an opponent from reaching his desired position.
Shots from the field
 One of the main field shots is the layup, in which the shooter, while close to the basket,
jumps and lays the ball against the backboard so it will rebound into the basket or just
lays it over the rim. Away from the basket, players use a one-hand push shot from a
stride, jump, or standing position and a hook shot, which is overhead. Some players can
dunk or slam-dunk the ball, jamming the ball down into the basket.

4. FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENTS IN BASKETBALL

Page | 8
 Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation
COLLEGE OF NURSING

COURT FACILITIES
The standard American basketball court is in the shape of a rectangle 50 feet (15.2 metres)
by 94 feet (28.7 metres); high school courts may be slightly smaller. There are various markings
on the court, including a centre circle, free throw lanes, and a three-point line, that help regulate
play. A goal, or basket, 18 inches (46 cm) in diameter is suspended from a backboard at each end
of the court. The metal rim of the basket is 10 feet (3 metres) above the floor. In the professional
game the backboard is a rectangle, 6 feet (1.8 metres) wide and 3.5 feet (1.1 metres) high, made
of a transparent material, usually glass; it may be 4 feet (1.2 metres) high in college. The
international court varies somewhat in size and markings. The spherical inflated ball measures
29.5 to 30 inches (74.9 to 76 cm) in circumference and weighs 20 to 22 ounces (567 to 624
grams). Its covering is leather or composition.

Basketball Court Dimensions

 The size of the court depends on the playing level. The size of the court for NBA and
College games is 94 feet long and 50 feet wide. It is smaller for High School and Junior
High

The Backboard and Rim

 The regulation height above the ground for the rim (hoop) is 10 feet, and the rim is 18
inches in diameter. Backboards are 6 feet wide (72 inches) by 42 inches tall, with the
inner square being 24 inches wide by 18 inches tall.

The Foul Line

 For all size courts the 'foul line' is 15 feet in front of the backboard.

The Key

 The key is 12 feet wide, and is the same for all basketball courts. The backboard extends
4 feet out over the baseline into the key. A half circle of diameter 6 foot extends from the
foul line away from the basket to complete the key.

The 3 Point Line (Arc)

Page | 9
 Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation
COLLEGE OF NURSING

 For NBA Basketball Courts the 3 point arc is 22 feet to the center of the rim on the sides
with a straight line extending out 16 feet 9 inches from the baseline. Past those points the
line extends out 23 feet 9 inches from the center of the rim.

Line Markings

 All line markings on the floor are 2 inches wide and can vary in color.

BASKETBALL EQUIPMENTS
Ball

• Standard Mens Basketball (Size 7) - This is the size used by the NCAA men, boys high
school, as well as the NBA. It has a circumference between 29.5 and 30 inches and
weighs between 20 and 22 ounces.
• Standard Womens Basketball (Size 6) - This is the basketball used by NCAA women,
girls high school, and the WNBA. It is between 28.5 and 29 inches in circumference and
weighs 18-20 ounces.
• Junior Basketball (Size 5) - The junior size basketball is for boys and girls between the
ages of 8-12. It is between 27.25 to 27.75 inches in circumference and weighs 14-16
ounces.
• Mini Basketball (Size 3) - For young children ages 5-8, the mini ball is 22 to 22.5 inches
in circumference and weighs 10.5 to 11.25 ounces.

Hoop
• Basketball hoop is consists of a blackboard, rim, net and metal post that hold them in the
air.
Basketball Rims
• The basket is made up of the backboard, rim, and net. The rim is 18 inches in diameter. A
regulation backboard is 72 inches wide by 48 inches tall, although you will find
backboards can vary in size. The rim should be 10 feet from the ground. Typically, a 10-
foot rim is used from ages 6th grade and older. For younger kids you can lower the goal
so that they can take a proper shot at the goal. For kindergarten through second grade
children you can try a 6-foot goal. Then move it up to 8 feet for 3rd and 4th grade. Try
nine feet for 5th grade. Of course, this depends on the size, strength, and skill of the
player.
Basketball Jersey’s
• The jersey is important to a players identity on the court. It includes your name on the
back and numbers on both fornt and back that identify who you are. On the front of a
jersey is your team logo and branding.

Page | 10
 Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation
COLLEGE OF NURSING

Basketball shoes
• Shoes are the most essential piece of equipment for someone who is playing basketball.
Their stability will allow you to move laterally and perform quick cuts to beat defensive
players.
Basketball short
• Another piece of equipment essential to your uniform are shorts. The color of your shorts
should match your jersey.

5. OFFICIATING OFFICIALS / RULES AND REGULATION OF THE

GAMES
RULES
The rules governing play of the game are based on Naismith’s five principles requiring a
large, light ball, handled with the hands; no running with the ball; no player being restricted from
getting the ball when it is in play; no personal contact; and a horizontal, elevated goal. The rules
are spelled out in specific detail by the governing bodies of the several branches of the sport and
cover the playing court and equipment, officials, players, scoring and timing, fouls, violations,
and other matters.
OFFICIALS
The officials include a referee and two umpires in college play (two referees and a crew
chief in NBA play), two timers, and two scorekeepers. One player on each team acts as captain
and speaks for the team on all matters involving the officials, such as interpretation of rules.
Professional, international, and high school games are divided into four periods, college games
into two.
 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.

Page | 11
 Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation
COLLEGE OF NURSING

 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 behind the midcourt line.
 If it does, the defense is awarded the ball.
 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.
 The defense tries to steal the ball, contest shots, deflect passes, and garner rebounds.

Points

 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 (called “team fouls”).
 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.
Game Clock

 Each game is divided into sections, and 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.

Page | 12
 Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation
COLLEGE OF NURSING

 Also, 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
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.

Page | 13
 Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation
COLLEGE OF NURSING

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 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

Page | 14
 Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation
COLLEGE OF NURSING

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 hoop, and for boxing out.

Page | 15
 Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation
COLLEGE OF NURSING

REFERENCES:

• Breakthrough Basketball (n.d.). Basketball Basics for New Players and Coaches- Learn
the Basic Rules, Concepts, Court Lay-out and Player Positions. Facilities and Equipment
Used for the Game Basketball. Retrieved on March 23, 2020 from
https://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/basics/basics.html
• Campbell, M. (2015). Diagrams of Basketball Courts. Retrieved on March 23, 2020 from
https://www.recunlimited.com/blog/diagrams-basketball-courts/
• Gallegos, J. (2012). Facilities and Equipment Used for the Game Basketball. Retrieved
on March 23, 2020 from https://www.slideshare.net/denzk2003/faclilities-and-
equipment-used-for-the-game-basketball
• Hamilton, J. (2020). Basketball Skills, Activities & Safety. Retrieved on March 23, 2020
from https://study.com/academy/lesson/basketball-skills-activities-safety.html
• Mokray, W.G., Logan, R., & Donald, L. (2020). Basketball. Retrieved on March 23,
2020 from https://www.britannica.com/sports/basketball

Page | 16