Sports

1. B. Vocabulary Preview
Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
a painted area underneath the basketball hoop, includes the free throw line
a large indoor area in a school for students to play, exercise, and perform
raised up high
the ring that basketball players throw the ball into
to cause something to change direction
can easily be put/used in a different position
to bounce a basketball with one hand
a ball that bounces back after a missed shot
holding the ball and moving without dribbling
something that is not allowed according to a rule or law
gymnasium
hoop
elevated
deflect
rebound
key
interchangeable
violation
traveling
dribble
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Basketball
Pre-Reading
A. Warm-Up Questions
1. What physical qualities do professional
basketball players typically have?
2. What does the NBA stand for?
3. What is a foul?
4. Do you enjoy watching basketball?
5. Is basketball a popular sport in your country?
“A basketball team is like the five fingers
on your hand. If you can get them all
together, you have a fist. That’s how
I want you to play.” —Mike Krzyzewski, basketball coach

2. Reading
1. The game of basketball was invented in 1891 by a physical education
teacher. James Naismith was looking for a way to keep his students
active indoors in the winter months. The object of his game was for
players to score points by getting a soccer ball inside a peach basket.
Two baskets were nailed up high on opposite ends of a gymnasium.
No dribbling was allowed. Players had to pass the ball to their
teammates in order to get it close enough for a shot.
2. Basketball hoops with metal rims and backboards were introduced
to Naismith’s sport by 1906. Dribbling also became part of the game.
Today, hoops are elevated about ten feet from the ground with a
backboard and a net. The dividing line between the hoops is called
mid-court. Offensive players dribble and pass the ball down the court,
and attempt to put the ball in their opponents’ basket. Defensive
players try to block shots, deflect passes, and grab rebounds. Baskets
are worth one, two, or three points depending on where they are shot
from. The free throw line for foul shots is at the top of a rectangular
painted area called the key.
3. A basketball game is played in two halves. These halves may be
20 minutes or less with a short break of several minutes at halftime.
The halves are also divided into quarters. At halftime, the teams
switch sides and defend the basket on the other side of the court.
All defensive players work together to defend the team’s hoop.
4. There are five players with three positions on a basketball team. Most
positions are interchangeable. The main positions are center, point
guard, shooting guard, small forward, and power forward. The center
is often the tallest player. The shooting guard makes long shots. The
team leader, the person who calls the plays, is the point guard. Several
players sit on the bench for substitution.
5. When rules are broken in basketball, players are punished with a foul.
An example of a personal foul is when a player hits, pushes, or holds
an opponent. If this type of action prevents a basket, the other team
gets a free throw. Other violations include traveling (moving the
ball forward without dribbling), double dribbling, and not passing. In
basketball, players can’t hold the ball for as long as they want. There
is a timer, called a shot clock, to keep the game moving.
6. The NBA is North America’s professional basketball league for men.
It was founded in 1946 in New York City. The WNBA is the women’s
league. Other countries, including China, Russia, South Korea, and
Iran, have professional basketball leagues, too.

3. Vocabulary Review
Unscramble the words in brackets to make
complete sentences about the rules of basketball.
1. Players may not stop dribbling, hold the ball in their hands,
and then start dribbling again. This is .
2. Running with the basketball is a .
3. The hoop must be ten feet above the ground.
4. Each team must have five players on the court.
Their positions are .
5. A player cannot score from below the .
6. A player can’t take more than two steps without
bouncing the basketball. This is called .
You Be the Coach
To practice the game of basketball, players
perform different types of drills. Do a little
research to find three drills that basketball
coaches use with their players. Describe one
to your classmates in your own words.
1.
2.
3.
Discuss
1. Professional basketball players are
some of the highest paid athletes in
the world. Why do you think this is?
2. A basketball movie called “White Men Can’t
Jump” explored a stereotype in the sport of
basketball. Discuss the title of the film. What
other stereotypes are there in professional sports?
3. What special skills are required to
be a professional basketball player?
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