Dr. James Naismith invented basketball in 1891 and created 13 original rules for the new game. Some of the key principles from Naismith's original rules that are still followed today include having 5 players per team, advancing the ball by dribbling or passing instead of running, and scoring by shooting the ball into a hoop suspended above the ground. The modern game of basketball still adheres to many of the fundamental rules established in Naismith's original 13 rules over 130 years ago.

3. Mr. Naismith evolved 5 basic
principles when he created
the rules. The new game
became a big success.
Naismith made the 13
original rules

4. 1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both
hands.
2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both
hands (never with the fist).
3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it
from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made
for a man who catches the ball when running at a good
speed.

5. 4. The ball must be held in or between the hands, the arms or
body not be used for holding it.
5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking, in any
way the person of an opponent shall be allowed, the first
infringement of this rule by any person shall count as a foul,
the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made, or,
if there was evident intent to injure the person for the whole of
the game, no substitute allowed.

6. 6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violation of
rules 3, 4 and such as described in rule 5.
7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall
count a goal for the opponents. (Consecutive means
without the opponents in the meantime making a
foul).

7. 8. 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 rests on the edge and
the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.
9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field and
played by the person first touching it. In case of a dispute, the umpire
shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in it is allowed five
seconds. If he holds it longer it shall go to the opponent. If any side
paersists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on them.

8. 10. The umpire shall be judge of the men and shall note the
fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have
been made. He shall have power to disqualify men according
to Rule 5.
11. The referee shall be judge of the ball and shall decide when
the ball is in play, in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall
keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made,
and keep account of the goals, with any other duties that are
usually performed by a referee.

9. 12. The time shall be two fifteen-minute halves, with five
minutes rest between.
13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be
declared the winners. In case of a draw, the game may, by
agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is
made.

10. Dr. James Naismith invented the game of
basketball in Springfield, Massachusetts, in
1891. The objective of today's game stems
directly from Naismith's original rules that
are based around shooting a ball through a
metal hoop suspended above the ground,
which is called a basket. These rules include;

11. 1. Only five players per team on the court. In the NBA, WNBA,
and NCAA basketball, each team can play a maximum
number of five players on the court. If a team breaks this
main rule, they will lose possession of the ball. Sometimes this
inadvertently happens, particularly at low levels of the game,
when substitute players check into the game and others
don't leave the court in time.

12. 2. Score more than your opponent to win. To win the game, a
team must score more field goals than the other team. A field
goal refers to any basket a player scores during gameplay.
Field goals can be worth two or three points. Field goals shot
from inside the arc that designates the three-point line on
the court are worth two points. Field goals shot from outside
the arc are worth three points. Field goals can take the form
of jump shots, layups, slam dunks, and tip-ins.

13. 3. Score within the shot clock. Teams have a limited amount of
time to shoot the ball during a given possession. In the NBA
and WNBA, teams are allowed 24 seconds of possession
before they must shoot, while NCAA teams are allowed 30
seconds. A shot clock mounted above the hoop on each side
of the court displays and counts down the time allotted. If the
shot clock elapses, the opposing team forfeits the ball and
becomes the defensive team.

14. 4. Dribbling advances the ball. Basketball players may only
advance the ball by passing or dribbling (bouncing the ball
on the floor) as they move up and down the court. If a player
stops dribbling, they may not resume; instead, they must
pass the ball or shoot it. If an offensive player with possession
of the ball stops then continues dribbling before passing or
shooting, the referee will call a “double dribble,” and the
opposing team gets the ball. Additionally, players may only
advance the ball by dribbling it. If they run while holding the
ball, they are traveling. Referees will issue a traveling call, and
possession of the ball will go to the opposing team.

15. 5. The offense has five seconds to inbound the ball. After the
offense scores a basket, the opposing team receives
possession of the ball. One of their players has to inbound the
ball from a designated spot on the sidelines of the court to
resume gameplay. The player has five seconds to pass the
ball to another player on his team, or else the team loses
possession. The defender cannot contact the ball when the
offensive player is trying to inbound it, or the referee can
issue a technical foul.

16. 6. The offense must advance the ball. Once an offensive
team advances the ball past the half-court line, the
ballhandler may not cross that line again, or a referee will
award possession of the ball to the opposing team.

17. 7. Ball and ballhandler must remain inbounds. During
gameplay, the player with possession of the ball must stay
within the designated inbounds lines marked on the court. If a
player steps out of bounds or touches this line with their foot
while holding the ball, the referee will award possession to
the opposing team. Additionally, if a player shoots the ball
while their foot is touching the line and the shot is successful,
it will not count.

18. 8. Defenders can’t interfere with a shot on a downward
trajectory. After the offensive player shoots the ball, it is
illegal for a defensive player to interfere with it once it begins
its descent toward the rim. This interference is called a
goaltend and will result in an automatic field goal for the
offense.
9. Defenders can legally block or steal the ball. The defending
team’s goal is to prevent the offensive team from scoring by
either stealing the ball, blocking the ball from entering the
basket, or using defensive tactics to prevent an offensive

19. 10. Defenders must leave the paint after three seconds. The
area directly in front of the basket is sometimes referred to
as "the paint" or "inside the key." Offensive players may not
camp out in this area waiting for the ball or an offensive
rebound. Any individual player can spend a maximum of
three seconds at a time in the space before they have to
move. Once they step out of the paint, they can return. If the
referee notices a player hovering in the paint for over three
seconds, the team will receive a three-second violation.

20. 11. Each team is allotted a certain number of fouls. The NBA
allows each team a total of five fouls per quarter. Once a team
surpasses this allotment, they go “into the bonus,” which means
the officials will award the opposing team with free throws for
every additional foul that a player commits in that quarter of
play. In the NCAA, these foul shots are known as "one and one"
shots, which means that if a player makes the first free throw,
they receive a second free throw. If they miss the first free throw,
either team can rebound the errant shot and claim possession.
After 10 team fouls, the opposing team gets a "double bonus,"
which means they get to take two foul shots.

21. 11. Each team is allotted a certain number of fouls. The NBA
allows each team a total of five fouls per quarter. Once a team
surpasses this allotment, they go “into the bonus,” which means
the officials will award the opposing team with free throws for
every additional foul that a player commits in that quarter of
play. In the NCAA, these foul shots are known as "one and one"
shots, which means that if a player makes the first free throw,
they receive a second free throw. If they miss the first free throw,
either team can rebound the errant shot and claim possession.
After 10 team fouls, the opposing team gets a "double bonus,"
which means they get to take two foul shots.

22. 12. Illegal contact results in a foul. When a basketball player
commits illegal physical contact against an opposing player, the
referees will call a personal foul. Most player fouls involve
contact that impedes an opposing player's gameplay. When a
player fouls another player on an opposing team in the act of
shooting, the referee rewards the fouled player with unguarded
free throws from the foul line. Each successfully made free throw
counts for one point. Referees can assess coaches with fouls for
unsportsmanlike acts, such as using profanity to dispute a
missed call.

23. 13. Illegal contact results in a personal foul. A personal foul is an
infraction that violates the rules of the game. Players can incur
personal fouls by pushing, blocking, or striking another player in
the act of shooting. Shooting fouls result in free throw attempts
for the fouled player. If a defender fouls a shooter attempting a
two-point shot, the shooter will receive two free throws. If a
shooter is fouled during a three-point shot attempt, they will
receive three free throws. If the player makes the shot they were
attempting at the time of illegal contact, the basket counts, and
the shooter will receive one free throw.

24. 14. Excessive contact results in a flagrant foul. Flagrant fouls
refer to a personal foul that can potentially injure the
opponent. These fouls carry heavier penalties, such as fines,
immediate ejection, and even suspension.

25. There are two types of flagrant fouls:
a. flagrant foul—penalty(1)
Flagrant 1 refers to fouls involving unnecessary contact. The
penalty for this foul type is a free throw for the opponent and
possession of the ball.
b. flagrant foul—penalty(2)
Flagrant 2 refers to any foul involving unnecessary and
excessive contact.
Officials perform an instant-play review to determine if an act
qualifies for the flagrant 2 penalty. If it does, the player at fault is
assessed a fine and an automatic ejection from the game, and the
opposing team receives free throws and possession of the ball.

26. 15. Charges and illegal screens result in an offensive foul. An
offensive foul is a personal foul that offensive players commit
when their team possesses the ball. The two most common
offensive fouls are charging and illegal ball screens. Charging is
when an offensive player makes contact with a defensive player
who has planted their feet in a locked position. An illegal screen
is when a non-ball-handling offensive player moves while
setting a screen for their teammate to prevent the defender
from moving about the court.

27. 16. Certain rule violations result in technical fouls. A technical
foul is a penalty for violating the game’s administrative rules.
Officials commonly assess technical fouls for fighting and verbal
abuse, often assessing coaches with this penalty if they are too
abrasive when disputing a call. Technical fouls result in a free
throw and a change of possession. If a player or coach receives
two technical fouls in the same game, the referee will eject
them. Players with a long history of technical fouls risk
suspension from the regular season and even playoff games.