Basketball is a team sport played indoors where two teams of five players each try to score points by throwing the ball through a hoop. James Naismith invented basketball in 1891 in Canada. It has grown tremendously in popularity worldwide and is now one of the most widely viewed sports. Games are played in four 10-minute quarters with substitutions allowed. Points are scored by shooting the ball through the hoop, with two or three points awarded depending on where the shot is taken from. Referees enforce the rules and officiate the game.

3. WHAT IS BASKETBALL?
Basketball is a team sport.
It is played indoors.
Two teams of five players each try to score
points against one another by throwing a
ball through a 3 m high hoop.
Each hoop is placed at the end of a
rectangular court.

4. B A S K E T B A L L I S O N E O F T H E M O S T
P O P U L A R A N D W I D E LY V I E W E D S P O R T S
I N T H E W O R L D .

5. HISTORY OF BASKETBALL
James Naismith,
A Canadian physical
education instructor
invented basketball in
1891. Back then the
game was played with an
ordinary soccer ball and
peach baskets between
2 teams of 9 players
each. There were 13
rules.

6. Soon metal rims replaced the peach baskets
with netting underneath. Later people cut
the netting so that the ball could go
through.
Senda Abbott first introduced basketball to
woman in 1892.
Professional basketball started in 1869 in
New Jersey, USA.

7. HOW BASKETBALL IS PLAYED
Basketball is played by two teams who
score points by throwing a ball into the
opposing team's basket. The team who
scores the most points are the winners.
Each team has a squad of 12 players to
choose from. Five of those players are
allowed on the court at any one time,
with unlimited substitutions.
Players can move the ball around the court
by passing, tapping, throwing, rolling or
dribbling.

8. DURATION
The game consists of four quarters of 10 minutes
each, with a 15-minute break at half-time.
There are also two-minutes interval between the
first and second periods, and between the third
and fourth periods.
If the game is tied after the fourth period, it
continues with an extra period of five minutes,
then as many five-minute periods as are
necessary to break the tie.

9. MAIN OFFICIALS
Main officials include one referee and one umpire.
The court is divided between them and they swap places
after each foul involving a free throw penalty, as well as
after each jump ball decision.
They use whistles and hand signals to make and explain
their decisions.
Each game begins with a jump ball.
The referee throws the ball into the air in the centre circle
and two opposing players leap up and try to tap it away.
Each player is allowed two taps before the ball hits the
ground, a basket, a backboard or another player.

10. SET OF SIMPLE RULES
The ball may be thrown in any direction with
one or both hands.
A player cannot run with the ball.
A player must throw it from the spot on which
he catches it, or dribble the ball with one
hand while they are running.
The ball must be held by the hands.

11. Shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping or
striking in any way a player of the other team
is allowed.
A foul is striking the ball with the fist.
A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or
batted from the grounds into the basket and
stays there, providing those defending the
goal do not touch or disturb the goal.
If the ball goes over the backboard, hits the
side or the top of the backboard, then the
ball is officially out of play.

12. SCORING
Points are scored for shooting the basketball
through the hoop.
Two points for a goal inside the three-point semi-
circle, and three points for goals scored from
outside.
Free throws, taken from the free-throw line and
awarded after a foul, are worth one point.

13. NBA BASKETBALL COURT

14. FIBA BASKETBALL COURT

15. SPANISH NATIONAL TEAM