COTONER, Erlly Kate S.

PE 004 Group Sports

BS Psychology 2-A February 9, 2019

BASKETBALL

1. What is Basketball?
Basketball is a limited-contact sport played on a rectangular court. While most often played
as a team sport with five players on each side, three-on-three, two-on-two, and one-on-one
competitions are also common. A team can score a field goal by shooting the ball through
the basket being defended by the opposition team during regular play. A field goal scores
three points for the shooting team if the player shoots from behind the three-point line, and
two points if shot from in front of the line. A team can also score via free throws, which are
worth one point, after the other team is assessed with certain fouls. The team with the most
points at the end of the game wins, but additional time (overtime) is mandated when the
score is tied at the end of regulation. The ball can be advanced on the court by passing it to a
teammate, or by bouncing it while walking or running (dribbling). It is a violation to lift, or
drag, one's pivot foot without dribbling the ball, to carry it, or to hold the ball with both
hands then resume dribbling.

The game has many individual techniques for displaying skill—ball-handling, shooting,
passing, dribbling, dunking, shot-blocking, and rebounding. Basketball teams generally have
player positions, the tallest and strongest members of a team are called a center or power
forward, while slightly shorter and more agile players are called small forward, and the
shortest players or those who possess the best ball handling skills are called a point guard
or shooting guard. The point guard directs the on court action of the team, implementing
the coach's game plan, and managing the execution of offensive and defensive plays (player
positioning).

Basketball is one of the world's most popular and widely viewed sports.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the most significant professional basketball
league in the world in terms of popularity, salaries, talent, and level of competition.

2. History of Basketball
The history of basketball began with its invention in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts by
Canadian physical education instructor James Naismith as a less injury-prone sport than
football. The game became established fairly quickly and grew very popular as the 20th
century progressed, first in America and then throughout the world. After basketball
became established in American colleges, the professional game followed. The American
National Basketball Association (NBA), established in 1946, grew to a multibillion-dollar
enterprise by the end of the century, and basketball became an integral part of American
culture. The game of basketball as it is known today was created to condition young athletes
during cold months. It consisted of peach baskets and a soccer style ball. He published 13
rules for the new game. He divided his class of eighteen into two teams of nine players each
and set about to teach them the basics of his new game. The objective of the game was to
throw the basketball into the fruit baskets nailed to the lower railing of the gym balcony.
Every time a point was scored, the game was halted so the janitor could bring out a ladder

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COTONER, Erlly Kate S. PE 004 Group Sports
BS Psychology 2-A February 9, 2019

and retrieve the ball. After a while, the bottoms of the fruit baskets were removed. The first
public basketball game was played in Springfield, Massachusetts, on March 11, 1892.

3. Objectives of Basketball
The main objective of basketball is to make a goal and score points. A goal is made by
shooting the ball through the basket or hoop. The goal post or basket for a team is in the
opponent’s court. Each team should not only try to make a goal and prevent the opposite
team from taking control of the ball, but should also try to protect the basket in their court
and prevent the opponent from making a goal.

4. Terminologies of Basketball
 Air ball: A shot at the basket that misses everything and doesn't touch the rim,
backboard or net.
 Alley-Oop: When one player jumps and catches a pass from another player and
simultaneously dunks the ball or shoots it in before landing.
 And One: When a player gets fouled while shooting and the ball goes in. The player
then gets one free throw.
 Assist: A statistic that occurs when a player passes the ball to someone who scores
after receiving the pass. The passing player earns an assist in the stat sheet.
 Backboard: The rectangular piece of wood or fiberglass the rim is attached to.
 Backdoor: An offensive action in which a player without the ball cuts behind a
defender and toward the basket.
 Bank Shot: When a player shoots the ball and it bounces off the backboard and into
the hoop.
 Block (action): A statistic that occurs when a defensive player stops an offensive
player from making a shot by blocking the ball with his or her hand(s).
 Block (area of court): The area just outside of the key in which the rectangular
blocks are painted. Also referred to as the post.
 Box Out: When a shot goes up, players use this technique, which involves widening
their stance and arms and using their body as a barrier to get in better rebounding
position.
 Carry: This penalty, which results in a turnover, occurs when a player holds the ball
excessively at the apex while dribbling.
 Charge: This penalty, which results in a turnover, occurs when an offensive player
with the ball runs into a stationary defensive player and knocks him or her over.
 Double Dribble: This penalty, which results in a turnover, occurs when a player
dribbles the ball with both hands. It also occurs when a player dribbles, stops
dribbling, and then begins to dribble again.
 Elbow: The area of the court where the free throw line meets the side of the key or
paint.
 Fast Break: An offensive action where a team attempts to advance the ball and score
as quickly as possible after a steal, blocked shot or rebound.

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COTONER, Erlly Kate S. PE 004 Group Sports
BS Psychology 2-A February 9, 2019

 Flop: When a player attempts to draw a foul on an opposing player by acting,

fabricating or over-exaggerating the extent of contact.
 Free Throw: A free shot given to a player after a foul or a technical foul. The player
shoots from the 15-foot free throw line while the rest of the player’s line up along
the outside of the key.
 Key: The painted area that makes up the free throw lane. Also referred to as the
paint.
 Lay-Up: A shot taken close to the hoop, usually when a player is moving toward the
basket.
 Man-to-Man: A defensive strategy in which each player on the defensive team guard
one person on the opposing team.
 One and One: When a team has reached the initial foul limit, or the bonus, the next
player to get fouled will receive one free throw. If the player makes the free throw,
he or she shoots an additional free throw. This occurs in youth, high school and
college basketball only.
 Outlet: An offensive strategy in which a player who gathers a defensive rebound
passes to a teammate in an attempt to quickly begin the next possession.
 Paint: The painted area that makes up the free throw lane. Also referred to as the
key.
 Post: The area just outside of the key in which the rectangular blocks are painted.
Also referred to as the block.
 Press: A defensive strategy where the defenders guard the opposing team the full
length of the court instead of waiting on the opposite side for the offense to come
across.
 Post Up: An offensive strategy in which a player gets the ball in the post area with
his or her back to the basket.
 Rebound: When a player from either team retrieves the ball and gains possession
after a missed shot.
 Screen: An offensive strategy in which a player without the ball stands in the way of
a defensive player. The offensive player must remain stationary during the process,
or a moving screen will be called and the result will be an offensive foul and a
turnover.
 Swish: A made basket where the ball avoids the rim and touches nothing but the net,
creating a "swish" sound.
 Three in the Key: A penalty, which results in a turnover, where an offensive player
stands inside the key or the paint area for three seconds.
 Travel: A penalty, which results in a turnover, where an offensive player moves his
or her pivot foot illegally or takes three steps without dribbling the ball.
 Turnover: When the offensive team loses possession of the ball by way of an
offensive foul, steal or out-of-bounds violation.
 Zone Defense: A defensive strategy in which players guard a specific zone or area of
the court instead of a specific player on the opposing team.

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COTONER, Erlly Kate S. PE 004 Group Sports
BS Psychology 2-A February 9, 2019

5. Fundamental Skills in Basketball

 Dribbling – is an important skill for all basketball players. This skill will allow you to
move up and down the court, maneuver past defenders and execute plays. Proper
dribbling requires ball-handling skills and knowledge of how to spread your fingers
for ball control. It is also best if you know how to dribble equally well with both
hands.
 Shooting – in order to score points in basketball, you need to shoot the ball into the
hoop. This requires the ability to properly hold and throw the ball into the air
toward the basket while avoiding defenders. A proper shot requires precise aiming,
arm extension and lift from the legs. There are different types of shots you need to
learn, including jump shots, layups and free throws.
 Running – is a big part of basketball. In a full-court game, you will find yourself
running back and forth as the game quickly transitions between offense and
defense. When you have the ball, running will help you to avoid defenders and get to
the basket quicker. On defense, you often will find yourself needing to run after the
opponent, especially during fast breaks.
 Passing – is another skill that when mastered can help you become a complete
basketball player. Basketball is a team sport that involves finding a teammate who is
open for a shot. The ability to pass the ball to this player can make the difference
between scoring and not scoring. Really great passers are an important part of a
basketball team and usually the ones who set up scoring plays.
 Jumping – is another skill that can define how good a basketball player is. It is
involved in offense during the jump ball in the beginning, while taking shots and
sometimes while trying to catch a pass. On defensive you will need the ability to
jump when trying to block a shot or a pass. Being able to out jump your opponent
for a rebound also is important.

6. Rules and Regulations in Basketball

Fouls and Violations
FOULS
Personal fouls: Personal fouls include any type of illegal physical contact.
 Hitting
 Pushing
 Slapping
 Holding
 Illegal pick/screen -- when an offensive player is moving. When an offensive player
sticks out a limb and makes physical contact with a defender in an attempt to block
the path of the defender.
Personal foul penalties: If a player is shooting while a being fouled, then he gets two free
throws if his shot doesn't go in, but only one free throw if his shot does go in.

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COTONER, Erlly Kate S. PE 004 Group Sports
BS Psychology 2-A February 9, 2019

 Three free throws are awarded if the player is fouled while shooting for a three-
point goal and they miss their shot. If a player is fouled while shooting a three-point
shot and makes it anyway, he is awarded one free throw. Thus, he could score four
points on the play.
 Inbounds. If fouled while not shooting, the ball is given to the team the foul was
committed upon. They get the ball at the nearest side or baseline, out of bounds, and
have 5 seconds to pass the ball onto the court.
 One & one. If the team committing the foul has seven or more fouls in the game, then
the player who was fouled is awarded one free throw. If he makes his first shot, then
he is awarded another free throw.
 Ten or more fouls. If the team committing the foul has ten or more fouls, then the
fouled player receives two free throws.
Charging. An offensive foul that is committed when a player pushes or runs over a
defensive player. The ball is given to the team that the foul was committed upon.
Blocking. Blocking is illegal personal contact resulting from a defender not establishing
position in time to prevent an opponent's drive to the basket.
Flagrant foul. Violent contact with an opponent. This includes hitting, kicking, and
punching. This type of foul results in free throws plus the offense retaining possession of the
ball after the free throws.
Intentional foul. When a player makes physical contact with another player with no
reasonable effort to steal the ball. It is a judgment call for the officials.
Technical foul. Technical foul. A player or a coach can commit this type of foul. It does not
involve player contact or the ball but is instead about the 'manners' of the game. Foul
language, obscenity, obscene gestures, and even arguing can be considered a technical foul,
as can technical details regarding filling in the scorebook improperly or dunking during
warm-ups.

VIOLATIONS
Walking/Traveling. Taking more than 'a step and a half' without dribbling the ball is
traveling. Moving your pivot foot once you've stopped dribbling is traveling.
Carrying/palming. When a player dribbles the ball with his hand too far to the side of or,
sometimes, even under the ball.
Double Dribble. Dribbling the ball with both hands on the ball at the same time or picking
up the dribble and then dribbling again is a double dribble.
Held ball. Occasionally, two or more opposing players will gain possession of the ball at the
same time. In order to avoid a prolonged and/or violent tussle, the referee stops the action
and awards the ball to one team or the other on a rotating basis.
Goaltending. If a defensive player interferes with a shot while it's on the way down toward
the basket, while it's on the way up toward the basket after having touched the backboard,
or while it's in the cylinder above the rim, it's goaltending and the shot counts. If committed
by an offensive player, it's a violation and the ball is awarded to the opposing team for a
throw-in.

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COTONER, Erlly Kate S. PE 004 Group Sports
BS Psychology 2-A February 9, 2019

Backcourt violation. Once the offense has brought the ball across the mid-court line, they
cannot go back across the line during possession. If they do, the ball is awarded to the other
team to pass inbounds.
Time restrictions. A player passing the ball inbounds has five seconds to pass the ball. If he
does not, then the ball is awarded to the other team. Other time restrictions include the rule
that a player cannot have the ball for more than five seconds when being closely guarded
and, in some states and levels, shot-clock restrictions requiring a team to attempt a shot
within a given time frame.

7. Materials and Equipment in Basketball

 Basket – A hoop or basket with net around its circumference and of 18 inch
diameter is firmly hung horizontally from a rectangular backboard of 3.5 feet height
and 6 feet width on either sides of the court. The rim of the hoop is 10 feet above the
ground. The backboard in various international competitions is transparent for
better visibility.
 Ball – Basketball is an orange-colored and rough-textured spherical ball with black
contours usually made of leather or composite tough materials.
The ball is bounced continuously (dribbling), thrown through the air to other
players (passing), and towards the basket (shooting). So a typical basketball must be
very durable and easy to hold on to.
 Other Equipment – There may be some more equipment for convenience. Some
international courts have a game clock that makes a beep at the end of each period.
Some also show the shot clock countdown. Sometimes, the back boards have
bordering lights that light up and indicate that a period is about to end.

8. Team Competition in Basketball

Basketball is a team sport. Two teams of five players each try to score by shooting a ball
through a hoop elevated 10 feet above the ground. The game is played on a rectangular
floor called the court, and there is a hoop at each end. The court is divided into two main
sections by the mid-court line. If the offensive team puts the ball into play behind the mid-
court line, it has ten seconds to get the ball over the mid-court line. If it doesn't, then the
defense gets the ball. Once the offensive team gets the ball over the mid-court line, it can no
longer have possession of the ball in the area in back of the line. If it does, the defense is
awarded the ball.

The ball is moved down the court toward the basket by passing or dribbling. The team with
the ball is called the offense. The team without the ball is called the defense. They try to
steal the ball, contest shots, steal and deflect passes, and garner rebounds.

When a team makes a basket, they score two points and the ball goes to the other team. If a
basket, or field goal, is made outside of the three-point arc, then that basket is worth three
points. A free throw is worth one point. Free throws are awarded to a team according to
some formats involving the number of fouls committed in a half and/or the type of foul

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COTONER, Erlly Kate S. PE 004 Group Sports
BS Psychology 2-A February 9, 2019

committed. Fouling a shooter always results in two or three free throws being awarded the
shooter, depending upon where he was when he shot. If he was beyond the three-point line,
then he gets three shots. Other types of fouls do not result in free throws being awarded
until a certain number have accumulated during a half. Once that number is reached, then
the player who was fouled is awarded a '1-and-1' opportunity. If he makes his first free
throw, he gets to attempt a second. If he misses the first shot, the ball is live on the rebound.

Each game is divided into sections. All levels have two halves. In college, each half is twenty
minutes long. In high school and below, the halves are divided into eight (and sometimes,
six) minute quarters. In the pros, quarters are twelve minutes long. There is a gap of several
minutes between halves. Gaps between quarters are relatively short. If the score is tied at
the end of regulation, then overtime periods of various lengths are played until a winner
emerges.

Each team is assigned a basket or goal to defend. This means that the other basket is their
scoring basket. At halftime, the teams switch goals. The game begins with one player from
either team at center court. A referee will toss the ball up between the two. The player that
gets his hands on the ball will tip it to a teammate. This is called a tip-off. In addition to
stealing the ball from an opposing player, there are other ways for a team to get the ball.
One such way is if the other team commits a foul or violation.