What is Basketball?
Basketball
What is Basketball?
It is known as basketball, basketball, basketball or basketball to a team competition sport, whose objective is to insert the ball with the hands in an elevated basket. The winner is whoever makes the most scores or "baskets" on the rim of the opposing team.
The name of this sport comes from the word basketball , of Anglophone origin, composed in turn by the words basket , which means basket or basket, and ball , which means ball, ball or ball.
Basic rules of basketball
Currently there are different rules of professional basketball depending on the type of association. The main ones are those of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National University Sports Association (NCAA), the latter two in the USA.
However, at the international level, the FIBA rules apply, which are explained below.
In the game
- Each team has twelve members. Only five players participate during each game turn.
- Substitutions during the match are unlimited.
- The game is structured in four periods of 10 minutes each.
- In the event of a tie, the game is extended for five minutes until one of the teams scores.
- The player cannot stop dribbling and then dribble again.
- Once he stops dribbling, the player is only allowed to take two steps with the ball in hand, in which they must either attempt a shot or pass the ball to another player.
- 24 seconds: each team has up to 24 seconds to attempt to score, once they take possession of the ball.
- Once the team takes possession of the ball and passes the midfield line, it cannot be returned.
- Offensive players cannot be within the restricted area for more than three consecutive seconds.
Annotations
- A basket or score is equal to three points when scored outside the three-point line.
- A basket or score is equal to two points when scored within the three-point line.
- A basket or score is equal to one point when a free throw is scored.
Fouls
- It is called a personal foul when there is illegal contact between two opponents.
- A player is sent off when he accumulates five fouls against his opponents.
- Fouls committed during an attempted shot result in free throws awarded, the number of which will correspond to the shooting position that the player was attempting. If the player tried to shoot from inside the three-point line, he receives two free throws; if he tried from the outside, he receives three free throws.
- Once a team has committed a total of four fouls, each additional foul will result in two free throws, even if the player was not attempting a shot.
Basketball basics
Dribble (dribble)
It is the action of bouncing the ball against the ground, an essential foundation of basketball. Among the essential types of boat we have:
- Progression: the player runs during the boat with space ahead to advance on the field.
- Control: the player maintains a high boat of control by being without pressure.
- Protection: the player must give low bounces and hide the ball with his body to prevent the ball from being stolen.
Happens
It corresponds to the action of passing the ball between the players. Among the essential pass types we have:
- Chest
- From hand to hand
- Overhead
- Behind the back
- With elbow
- Chopped or chopped
- Alley-opp : the player throws the ball close to the basket, waiting for the teammate to place it in position to score.
Threw
It refers to the different types of throwing the ball to dunk it. Among the essential types of shooting we have:
- Hook: the player throws the ball with a sweeping movement, while it is perpendicular to the board, and culminates with a wrist movement. With the other arm, the player protects his strong arm.
- Suspension shot: the player jumps first to propel the throw, that is, throw suspended in the air.
- Tray or double pass: throw made after having advanced two steps when stopping dribbling.
- Slam Dunk , Dunk , Dunk or Dunk: Dunk the ball from top to bottom, either with one or two hands.
- Free kick: it is the launch that is made after a foul from the free throw line.
Defense moves
They are those movements that try to avoid the advance of the opposing team and their annotations. Among the essential types of defense we have:
- Defense in zones: consists of protecting a specific area or zone of the court.
- Individual defense: each player marks a specific opponent on which to defend.
- Mixed defense: combine the previous two.
- Pressure: the defending team overtakes the opposing team to avoid passing the ball to their midfield or three-quarters of the field.
Basketball elements
The necessary elements to play basketball are the following:
Court
The standard measurements of the basketball court are as follows:
- International Court: 28 x 15 meters
- NBA court: 28.65 x 15.24 meters.
Hoop or basket
The basketball hoop or basket has the following measurements:
- Position in the field: 1.20 meters from the limit.
- Hoop or basket board: 1.05 × 1.8 m, at least 30 mm thick, supported on a metal structure anchored to the ground. The board contains the design of a rectangle to calculate the shot, whose measurements are 59 cm x 45 cm.
- Rim height: 3.05 meters.
- Hoop diameter: 45 cm.
Ball
The ball varies by category:
- Men's basketball: number 7 A (73-25 cm; 610-567 g);
- Women's basketball: number 6 A (73-72 cm; 567-510 g);
- Junior basketball: number 5 A (70-69 cm; 510-470 g).
Dress
- Long and wide t-shirt.
- Short pants to the knee.
- High-top sports shoes, to protect the ankle from possible injuries, with air chambers to protect the foot during the rebound and facilitate jumps.
Basketball history
James Naismhith. In the photograph you can see what the ball and basketball baskets were like in their beginnings.
Basketball emerged in the United States in 1891. It was invented by Canadian chaplain and professor James Naismith of the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, now Springfield College, in Massachusetts.
James Naismith had to create a sport that could be played indoors, as the strong Massachusetts winters affected training. In order to design a game to develop agility and dexterity, rather than strength and contact, Naismith considered throwing in a ball, which would bring great dynamism.
Naismith was apparently inspired by a children's game called duck on a rock. The objective of this game was to knock an object down on a high rock, throwing a stone at it.
Naismith had the idea of suspending some 50 cm boxes in the galleries of the gym, in which the ball had to be inserted, however, the only material they got him were fruit baskets. Soon the baskets were replaced by hoops with closed nets, and only time later said the net was opened so that the ball could pass it and continue the game with fluidity.
First 13 rules of basketball
Naismith designed the so-called 13 rules of basketball, which have undergone variations over time. There are two versions of these 13 Naismith rules, but this one that we present below was published on January 15, 1892 in The Triangle newspaper , Springfield College.
- The ball can be thrown in any direction, either with one or both hands.
- The ball can be hit in any direction with one or both hands (never with the fist).
- A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the place where it catches it. If the player is running when he catches the ball, he should try to stop.
- The ball must be held in or between the hands; the arms or body cannot be used to support it.
- Charging, hugging, pushing, tripping or hitting an opponent in any way is not allowed; the first violation of this rule will count as a foul, the second will disqualify the player until the next score is made or, if there was an obvious intention to injure the person, throughout the game, no substitute will be allowed.
- Striking the ball with the fist constitutes a foul, as are rules 3 and 4, and must be penalized in the same way as in rule 5.
- If either team commits three consecutive fouls, it will count as a score for the opposing team (consecutive means without another fouling in the same time).
- A score is considered when the ball is thrown or hit from the field towards the basket and has entered, falling to the ground, provided that those who defend do not touch or disturb the position of the basket. If the ball rests on the edges and the opponent moves the basket, it will count as a score.
- When the ball goes out of bounds, the person who touches it first must put it into play in the middle of the field. In the event of a dispute, the referee will throw the ball directly into the field. The player has up to five seconds to serve; if this time is exceeded, the ball will go to the opposing team. If either team tries to delay play, the referee will call a foul.
- The main referee will be in charge of judging the players and indicating their faults. If a player accumulates three fouls, he can be disqualified applying rule 5.
- The second referee will judge the ball and decide when the ball is in play, when it is out and to whom it should be delivered. Likewise, he will be the timekeeper of the game, will decide when a score has been made and will keep track of the points. He will perform any other duties that are generally performed by a referee.
- Each game will have two halves of 15 minutes each, and five minutes of rest between them.
- The side that has made the most scores will be declared the winner. In the event of a tie, the game may extend until a score is scored, by agreement between the captains.
Consecration of basketball at the Olympic Games
The popularity of basketball was such that it reached the Olympic Games as an exhibition sport in the 1928 and 1932 editions, until its officialization as a competitive men's sport in the 1936 edition.
Sendra Berenson and the emergence of women's basketball
Towards the end of the 19th century, Smith College professor Sendra Berenson had adapted the rules of basketball to the physical conditions of women, giving rise to the birth of women's basketball.
The first college women's basketball match in the United States was held on March 21, 1893. A few years later, in 1899, Berenson published the book A Guide to Women's Basketball , many of which applied until the 1960s. Basketball female was only admitted as a category of the Olympic games in 1979.
The recognition of James Naismhith
Naismith lived long enough to witness the sport he invented make it to the Olympics as an official sport. His merit for this contribution to humanity has been recognized numerous times and has earned him induction into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame and the FIBA Hall of Fame. Likewise, it has given its name to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.
Most important players in history
Over the years, a number of internationally renowned basketball players have emerged, and these in turn have driven the popularity of the game, thanks to their extraordinary skills and records. Some of the most emblematic that we can mention are: Michael Jordan, Kareen Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Kobe Brian, Shaquille O'Neal, Pat Ewing, Lebron James, Karl Malone, Larry Bird, Julius Ervin, Wilt Chamberlain and Charles Barkley, among others.
FIBA
In 1932 the International Basketball Federation or FIBA was formed, whose headquarters are currently in Switzerland. The purpose of this federation is to regulate and administer the rules of basketball at the international level. She is also the promoter and coordinator of the different international basketball championships.
It is made up of 215 national federations, organized in turn into five continental federations: America, Europe, Africa, Oceania and Asia.
Basketball Categories
- Men's basketball
- Women's basketball
- Youth or junior basketball. It is subdivided into:
- Benjamin: children between 8 and 9 years old more or less.
- Alevín: 10 and 11 years old.
- Infant: 12-13.
- Cadet: 14-15.
- Youth: 16-17.
- Basketball for paraplegics
Other types and variations of basketball
- 3 x 3 Basketball : this is a new type of basketball promoted by FIBA. It is played in teams of three on a 15 x 11 meter court. Its popularity has grown to such a degree that it is already part of the Youth Olympic Games and has been admitted as a category in the 2020 Olympic Games.
- Streetball : is the one practiced in the open courts of parks and neighborhoods. It gives greater importance to the face-to-face game between the participants and has a humorous component. Some rules of traditional basketball are adapted or not applied.
- Netball : it is an adaptation of the game to midfield. It is characterized by the fact that the team that scores maintains control of the ball. It does not contemplate free throws.
- The clock : it is a style by positions in which the player must rotate his position each time he scores, following the hands of the clock.
- Twenty-one : this modality is played with two teams at half court. The same rules of professional basketball apply with variations. The first team to score 21 points wins.