Basketball: History, Rules, and Gameplay
The Origins and Evolution of Basketball
In 1891, James Naismith was developing a new game. The objective was to introduce a ball into peach baskets, and the gym was the play space. This allowed for a fun activity, even on a cold, rainy day. Thus, basketball was born. Millan’s father introduced basketball in Spain in 1921.
Regulation
Objective
Try to get more points than the opposing team.
Pitch
28 x 35 meters and the basket at 3.05 meters high.
Material
A basketball.
Duration
Four periods of 10 minutes each, with a 2-minute rest between each, except between the second and third periods, which have a 15-minute rest. If the game ends in a draw, two overtime periods of 5 minutes each are played.
Players
Each team is composed of 5 players and 5 reserves. Depending on their height and technique, each player has a specific role on the court.
- Point Guard: Masters the dribble and the pass; is the central player and directs the play.
- Shooting Guard: Assistant to the point guard; dominates the dribble and shooting.
- Small Forward: Must have great technique and good outside shooting.
- Power Forward: Usually one of the taller players; must secure rebounds and shoot close to the basket.
- Center: Typically the tallest player on the team; must get rebounds and master close-range shots.
Scoring
- 3 Points: Awarded for shots made from outside the 6.25-meter line.
- 2 Points: Awarded for shots made from within the 6.25-meter line.
- 1 Point: Awarded for free throws after a foul.
Fouls
- Personal Foul: Results in a side throw-in or 2 or 3 free throws if the foul is committed in the act of shooting.
- Traveling: Called when a player lifts their pivot foot and puts it back down without dribbling.
- Double Dribble: When a player dribbles, stops, and then dribbles again, or dribbles with two hands simultaneously; results in a side throw-in for the opposing team.
- Backcourt Violation: When a player crosses into the opponent’s half of the court and then returns to their own half; results in a side throw-in for the opposing team.
- 3-Second Rule: No offensive player can stay in the restricted area (the “paint”) of the opposing team for more than 3 seconds; results in a side throw-in for the opposing team.
Offensive and Defensive Actions
Offense
- Dribbling or Bounce: A high, fast bounce used to move across the court.
- Passing: The usual way to move the ball between players.
- Shooting or Releasing: The action of pushing the ball towards the basket with the goal of scoring.
- Fake: This is intended to deceive the opponent with movements.
- Backdoor Cut: The action in which the attacking player runs behind the defender to receive the ball.
- Pass and Cut: The player with the ball passes and, after making a feint, runs towards the basket to receive the ball again.
- Screening/Blocking: One or more offensive players obstruct opponents to free a teammate from the defender.
Defense
- Interception: Action in which a player recovers the ball.
- Rebound: Action in which a player attempts to retrieve the ball after a missed shot by a teammate or opponent.
- Marking: The action of guarding an opponent.
Game Systems
These refer to the location, ownership, and movements that players must carry out.
Defensive Systems
- Man-to-Man: Each defender is responsible for one attacker.
- Zone: Proper disposal of players according to the position of the ball. Examples: 2-3, 2-1-2, 1-2-2.
- Mixed: This is a combination of the previous systems.
Offensive Systems
- Counterattack: A quick action to get to the basket before the opposing team can organize its defense.
- Attack Against Man-to-Man Defense: Use one-on-one plays with a variety of feints and technical elements such as blocking.
- Attack Against Zone Defense: Systems used to attack a positioned defense. Examples: 2-1-2, 1-3-1.