Summary
Highlights
Key violations include traveling (taking more than two steps without dribbling), double dribble (dribbling again after stopping), carrying (resting the ball in hand while dribbling), and out of bounds (ball or player stepping outside court lines).
The main goal in basketball is to score more points than the opposing team by shooting the ball through a 10-foot high basket. Shots inside the three-point line are worth two points, while shots beyond it are worth three. If a player is fouled while shooting, they receive free throws: one if they make the shot, and two for a two-point attempt or three for a three-point attempt if they miss.
A standard basketball court is 94 feet long and 50 feet wide, divided by a midcourt line. The three-point line is 19 feet and 9 inches from the basket, with college and NBA courts having further three-point lines (22 and 23 feet, respectively). The rectangular area under the basket is known as the paint or key, and the free throw line at the top of the paint is 15 feet from the basket.
Each team has five players on the court: point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center. The point guard is the playmaker, the shooting guard is typically the best shooter, the small forward is versatile, the power forward focuses on rebounds and close-range scoring, and the center is usually the tallest, specializing in blocks, rebounds, and scoring near the basket.
Games begin with a jump ball at midcourt to determine initial possession. Players move the ball through dribbling (bouncing the ball with one hand), passing (chest, bounce, or overhead passes), and shooting to score points.
A foul is an illegal contact or unsportsmanlike conduct. Common fouls include personal fouls (illegal contact) and shooting fouls (fouling a player while they are shooting, leading to free throws). Bonus free throws are awarded to a team after the opposing team commits five fouls in a quarter, allowing free throws even if the fouled player wasn't shooting.
The shot clock, used in college and NBA, prevents stalling by requiring a shot within a set time (24 seconds in the NBA). Games are divided into quarters (12 minutes each in the NBA) or halves (20 minutes each in college). If scores are tied, overtime is played. Coaches can call timeouts for strategy or breaks, and teams have unlimited substitutions during stoppages.
Offensive strategy focuses on moving the ball, getting open shots, and scoring. Defensive strategy aims to prevent the opponent from scoring through blocking shots (without goaltending, which is blocking a shot on its downward trajectory), stealing the ball, and forcing difficult shots. Players must defend legally without pushing or tripping.