4. Basic rules
If you want to play basketball for fun, you have
the possibility of playing on your own. But you
can also play team games with either 1, 2, 3, 4
or 5 players on each teams. Teams can be
mixed, with boys and girls, or not.
On a competition level, a team is made up of 5
players playing on the court and 7 players sitting
on the bench that can be used for substitution
during the whole period of the game.
5.
6. Positions
Each player is assigned a position when
playing. This position is usually
determined by the height of the player.
The tallest player on the team usually
plays “center” also known as “position 5”,
while the medium size ones play
“forwards” or “position 3 and 4”. The
shortest players then play “guards” or
“position 1 and 2”.
8. A player scores when he manages to throw the
ball into the basket, with the ball passing
through the basket from above the hoop.
Scoring a basket increases the team’s score by
three (3), two (2), or one (1) point.
If the player successfully shoots from outside of
the 3 points line, the basket is worth 3 points,
otherwise it is worth 2 points.
It is also possible to score one point when
shooting from the free throw line, after a foul for
instance.
9.
10. Play
Play begins with a jump ball at center
court .
Each team is given a hoop to try to score
on and a hoop to defend.
Movement of the ball can take place by
and individual or between two players.
For an individual player to move with the
ball on the court, the player must dribble
the ball.
11. Play stops when the ball goes out of
bounds.
Play also pauses when a basket is scored
or a foul is called.
If a basket is scored, the opposing team
must take the ball out of bounds
underneath their basket and pass the ball
inbounds to begin play again.
13. Defense for one team takes place when
the opposing team has control of the ball.
The most basic defense is called “man-to-
man” defense. Each player guards a
player on the opposing team.
As a general rule of thumb, good defense
is to stay between your man and the
basket you are defending.
14. Basketball has 4 quarters, each quarter 10
min.
Usually there are breaks into either halves
or quarters.
At the end of the game, the team with the
most points wins.
If there is a tie, the teams play a short
overtime 5 min period to determine the
winner.
