Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players

each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective
of shooting a basketball (approximately 9.4 inches (24 cm) in diameter) through the
defender's hoop (a basket 18 inches (46 cm) in diameter mounted 10 feet (3.048 m) high
to a backboard at each end of the court) while preventing the opposing team from
shooting through their own hoop. A field goal is worth two points, unless made from
behind the three-point line, when it is worth three. After a foul, timed play stops and the
player fouled or designated to shoot a technical foul is given one or more one-point free
throws. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins, but if regulation play
expires with the score tied, an additional period of play (overtime) is mandated.
Players advance the ball by bouncing it while walking or running (dribbling) or by
passing it to a teammate, both of which require considerable skill. On offense, players
may use a variety of shots—the lay-up, the jump shot, or a dunk; on defense, they may
steal the ball from a dribbler, intercept passes, or block shots; either offense or defense
may collect a rebound, that is, a missed shot that bounces from rim or backboard. 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 five players on each side at a time fall into five playing positions: the tallest
player is usually the center, the tallest and strongest is the power forward, a slightly
shorter but more agile big man is the small forward, and the shortest players or the best
ball handlers are the shooting guard and the point guard, who implements the coach's
game plan by managing the execution of offensive and defensive plays (player
positioning). Informally, players may play three-on-three, two-on-two, and one-on-one.
Invented in 1891 by Canadian-American gym teacher James
Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, basketball has evolved to become
one of the world's most popular and widely viewed sports.[1] 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][3] Outside North America,
the top clubs from national leagues qualify to continental championships such as
the Euroleague and FIBA Americas League. The FIBA Basketball World Cup and Men's
Olympic Basketball Tournament are the major international events of the sport and attract
top national teams from around the world. Each continent hosts regional competitions for
national teams, like EuroBasket and FIBA AmeriCup.
The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup and Women's Olympic Basketball
Tournament feature top national teams from continental championships. The main North
American league is the WNBA (NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship is
also popular), whereas strongest European clubs participate in the EuroLeague Women.

HISTORY
In early December 1891, Canadian James Naismith,[4] a physical education
professor and instructor at the International Young Men's Christian Association Training
School[5] (YMCA) (today, Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts, was trying
to keep his gym class active on a rainy day. He sought a vigorous indoor game to keep
his students occupied and at proper levels of fitness during the long New England winters.
After rejecting other ideas as either too rough or poorly suited to walled-in gymnasiums,
he wrote the basic rules and nailed a peach basket onto a 10-foot (3.0 m) elevated track.
In contrast with modern basketball nets, this peach basket retained its bottom, and balls
had to be retrieved manually after each "basket" or point scored; this proved inefficient,
however, so the bottom of the basket was removed, allowing the balls to be poked out
with a long dowel each time.
Basketball was originally played with a soccer ball. These round balls from
"association football" were made, at the time, with a set of laces to close off the hole
needed for inserting the inflatable bladder after the other sewn-together segments of the
ball's cover had been flipped outside-in.[6][7] These laces could cause bounce passes and
dribbling to be unpredictable.[8] Eventually a lace-free ball construction method was
invented, and this change to the game was endorsed by Naismith. (Whereas in American
football, the lace construction proved to be advantageous for gripping and remains to this
day.) The first balls made specifically for basketball were brown, and it was only in the
late 1950s that Tony Hinkle, searching for a ball that would be more visible to players and
spectators alike, introduced the orange ball that is now in common use. Dribbling was not
part of the original game except for the "bounce pass" to teammates. Passing the ball
was the primary means of ball movement. Dribbling was eventually introduced but limited
by the asymmetric shape of early balls.[dubious – discuss] Dribbling was common by 1896, with
a rule against the double dribble by 1898.[9]
The peach baskets were used until 1906 when they were finally replaced by metal
hoops with backboards. A further change was soon made, so the ball merely passed
through. Whenever a person got the ball in the basket, his team would gain a point.
Whichever team got the most points won the game.[10] The baskets were originally nailed
to the mezzanine balcony of the playing court, but this proved impractical when spectators
in the balcony began to interfere with shots. The backboard was introduced to prevent
this interference; it had the additional effect of allowing rebound shots. [11] Naismith's
handwritten diaries, discovered by his granddaughter in early 2006, indicate that he was
nervous about the new game he had invented, which incorporated rules from a children's
game called duck on a rock, as many had failed before it.
Frank Mahan, one of the players from the original first game, approached Naismith
after the Christmas break, in early 1892, asking him what he intended to call his new
game. Naismith replied that he hadn't thought of it because he had been focused on just
getting the game started. Mahan suggested that it be called "Naismith ball", at which he
laughed, saying that a name like that would kill any game. Mahan then said, "Why not call
it basketball?" Naismith replied, "We have a basket and a ball, and it seems to me that
would be a good name for it."[12][13] The first official game was played in the YMCA
gymnasium in Albany, New York, on January 20, 1892, with nine players. The game
ended at 1–0; the shot was made from 25 feet (7.6 m), on a court just half the size of a
present-day Streetball or National Basketball Association (NBA) court. At the time,
football was being played with 10 to a team (which was increased to 11). When winter
weather got too icy to play football, teams were taken indoors, and it was convenient to
have them split in half and play basketball with five on each side. By 1897–1898 teams
of five became standard.
Rules and regulations

Measurements and time limits discussed in this section often vary among
tournaments and organizations; international and NBA rules are used in this section. The
object of the game is to outscore one's opponents by throwing the ball through the
opponents' basket from above while preventing the opponents from doing so on their own.
An attempt to score in this way is called a shot. A successful shot is worth two points,
or three points if it is taken from beyond the three-point arc 6.75 metres (22 ft 2 in) from
the basket in international games[citation needed] and 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) in NBA
games.[34] A one-point shot can be earned when shooting from the foul line after a foul is
made.

Playing regulations
Games are played in four quarters of 10 (FIBA)[35] or 12 minutes (NBA).[36] College
men's games use two 20-minute halves,[37] college women's games use 10-minute
quarters,[38] and most United States high school varsity games use 8-minute quarters;
however, this varies from state to state.[39][40] 15 minutes are allowed for a half-time break
under FIBA, NBA, and NCAA rules[37][41][42] and 10 minutes in United States high
schools.[39] Overtime periods are five minutes in length[37][43][44] except for high school,
which is four minutes in length.[39] Teams exchange baskets for the second half. The time
allowed is actual playing time; the clock is stopped while the play is not active. Therefore,
games generally take much longer to complete than the allotted game time, typically
about two hours.
Five players from each team may be on the court at one
time.[45][46][47][48] Substitutions are unlimited but can only be done when play is stopped.
Teams also have a coach, who oversees the development and strategies of the team,
and other team personnel such as assistant coaches, managers, statisticians, doctors
and trainers. For both men's and women's teams, a standard uniform consists of a pair
of shorts and a jersey with a clearly visible number, unique within the team, printed on
both the front and back. Players wear high-top sneakers that provide extra ankle support.
Typically, team names, players' names and, outside of North America, sponsors are
printed on the uniforms.
A limited number of time-outs, clock stoppages requested by a coach (or
sometimes mandated in the NBA) for a short meeting with the players, are allowed. They
generally last no longer than one minute (100 seconds in the NBA) unless, for televised
games, a commercial break is needed. The game is controlled by the officials consisting
of the referee (referred to as crew chief in the NBA), one or two umpires (referred to as
referees in the NBA) and the table officials. For college, the NBA, and many high schools,
there are a total of three referees on the court. The table officials are responsible for
keeping track of each teams scoring, timekeeping, individual and team fouls, player
substitutions, team possession arrow, and the shot clock.

Equipment
The only essential equipment in a basketball game is the ball and the court: a flat,
rectangular surface with baskets at opposite ends. Competitive levels require the use of
more equipment such as clocks, score sheets, scoreboard(s), alternating possession
arrows, and whistle-operated stop-clock systems.
A regulation basketball court in international games is 91.9 feet (28.0 meters) long
and 49.2 feet (15 meters) wide. In the NBA and NCAA the court is 94 by 50 feet (29 by
15 meters).[34] Most courts have wood flooring, usually constructed from maple planks
running in the same direction as the longer court dimension.[49][50] The name and logo of
the home team is usually painted on or around the center circle.
The basket is a steel rim 18 inches (46 cm) diameter with an attached net affixed
to a backboard that measures 6 by 3.5 feet (1.8 by 1.1 meters) and one basket is at each
end of the court. The white outlined box on the backboard is 18 inches (46 cm) high and
2 feet (61 cm) wide. At almost all levels of competition, the top of the rim is exactly 10 feet
(3.05 meters) above the court and 4 feet (1.22 meters) inside the baseline. While variation
is possible in the dimensions of the court and backboard, it is considered important for
the basket to be of the correct height – a rim that is off by just a few inches can have an
adverse effect on shooting.
The size of the basketball is also regulated. For men, the official ball is 29.5 inches
(75 cm) in circumference (size 7, or a "295 ball") and weighs 22 oz (623.69 grams). If
women are playing, the official basketball size is 28.5 inches (72 cm) in circumference
(size 6, or a "285 ball") with a weight of 20 oz (567 grams). In 3x3, a formalized version
of the halfcourt 3-on-3 game, a dedicated ball with the circumference of a size 6 ball but
the weight of a size 7 ball is used in all competitions (men's, women's, and mixed teams).

Violations
The ball may be advanced toward the basket by being shot, passed between
players, thrown, tapped, rolled or dribbled (bouncing the ball while running). The ball must
stay within the court; the last team to touch the ball before it travels out of bounds forfeits
possession. The ball is out of bounds if it touches a boundary line, or touches any player
or object that is out of bounds.
There are limits placed on the steps a player may take without dribbling, which
commonly results in an infraction known as traveling. Nor may a player stop his dribble
and then resume dribbling. A dribble that touches both hands is considered stopping the
dribble, giving this infraction the name double dribble. Within a dribble, the player cannot
carry the ball by placing his hand on the bottom of the ball; doing so is known as carrying
the ball. A team, once having established ball control in the front half of their court, may
not return the ball to the backcourt and be the first to touch it. A violation of these rules
results in loss of possession. The ball may not be kicked, nor be struck with the fist. For
the offense, a violation of these rules results in loss of possession; for the defense, most
leagues reset the shot clock and the offensive team is given possession of the ball out of
bounds.
There are limits imposed on the time taken before progressing the ball past halfway
(8 seconds in FIBA and the NBA; 10 seconds in NCAA and high school for both sexes),
before attempting a shot (24 seconds in FIBA, the NBA, and U Sports (Canadian
universities) play for both sexes, and 30 seconds in NCAA play for both sexes), holding
the ball while closely guarded (5 seconds), and remaining in the restricted area known as
the free-throw lane, (or the "key") (3 seconds). These rules are designed to promote more
offense.
Basket interference, or goaltending is a violation charged when a player illegally
interferes with a shot. This violation is incurred when a player touches the ball on its
downward trajectory to the basket, unless it is obvious that the ball has no chance of
entering the basket, if a player touches the ball while it is in the rim, or in the area extended
upwards from the basket, or if a player reaches through the basket to interfere with the
shot. When a defensive player is charged with goaltending, the basket is awarded. If an
offensive player commits the infraction, the basket is cancelled. In either case possession
of the ball is turned over to the defensive team.

Fouls
An attempt to unfairly disadvantage an opponent through certain types of physical
contact is illegal and is called a personal foul. These are most commonly committed by
defensive players; however, they can be committed by offensive players as well. Players
who are fouled either receive the ball to pass inbounds again, or receive one or more free
throws if they are fouled in the act of shooting, depending on whether the shot was
successful. One point is awarded for making a free throw, which is attempted from a line
15 feet (4.6 m) from the basket.
The referee is responsible for judging whether contact is illegal, sometimes
resulting in controversy. The calling of fouls can vary between games, leagues and
referees. There is a second category of fouls called technical fouls, which may be charged
for various rules violations including failure to properly record a player in the scorebook,
or for unsportsmanlike conduct. These infractions result in one or two free throws, which
may be taken by any of the five players on the court at the time. Repeated incidents can
result in disqualification. A blatant foul involving physical contact that is either excessive
or unnecessary is called an intentional foul (flagrant foul in the NBA). In FIBA and NCAA
women's basketball, a foul resulting in ejection is called a disqualifying foul, while in
leagues other than the NBA, such a foul is referred to as flagrant.
If a team exceeds a certain limit of team fouls in a given period (quarter or half) –
four for NBA, NCAA women's, and international games – the opposing team is awarded
one or two free throws on all subsequent non-shooting fouls for that period, the number
depending on the league. In the US college men's game and high school games for both
sexes, if a team reaches 7 fouls in a half, the opposing team is awarded one free throw,
along with a second shot if the first is made. This is called shooting "one-and-one". If a
team exceeds 10 fouls in the half, the opposing team is awarded two free throws on all
subsequent fouls for the half.
When a team shoots foul shots, the opponents may not interfere with the shooter,
nor may they try to regain possession until the last or potentially last free throw is in the
air. After a team has committed a specified number of fouls, the other team is said to be
"in the bonus". On scoreboards, this is usually signified with an indicator light reading
"Bonus" or "Penalty" with an illuminated directional arrow or dot indicating that team is to
receive free throws when fouled by the opposing team. (Some scoreboards also indicate
the number of fouls committed.)
 If a team misses the first shot of a two-shot situation, the opposing team must wait
for the completion of the second shot before attempting to reclaim possession of the ball
and continuing play. If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is
unsuccessful, the player is awarded a number of free throws equal to the value of the
attempted shot. A player fouled while attempting a regular two-point shot thus receives
two shots, and a player fouled while attempting a three-point shot receives three shots.
If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is successful, typically the
player will be awarded one additional free throw for one point. In combination with a
regular shot, this is called a "three-point play" or "four-point play" (or more colloquially, an
"and one") because of the basket made at the time of the foul (2 or 3 points) and the
additional free throw (1 point).

Common techniques and practices

Positions

Although the rules do not specify any positions whatsoever, they have evolved as
part of basketball. During the early years of basketball's evolution, two guards, two
forwards, and one center were used. In more recent times specific positions evolved, but
the current trend, advocated by many top coaches including Mike Krzyzewski is towards
positionless basketball, where big guys are free to shoot from outside and dribble if their
skill allows it.[52] Popular descriptions of positions include:
Point guard (often called the "1") : usually the fastest player on the team, organizes the
team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right player at the
right time.
Shooting guard (the "2") : creates a high volume of shots on offense, mainly long-ranged;
and guards the opponent's best perimeter player on defense.
Small forward (the "3") : often primarily responsible for scoring points via cuts to the
basket and dribble penetration; on defense seeks rebounds and steals, but sometimes
plays more actively.
Power forward (the "4"): plays offensively often with their back to the basket; on defense,
plays under the basket (in a zone defense) or against the opposing power forward
(in man-to-man defense).
Center (the "5"): uses height and size to score (on offense), to protect the basket closely
(on defense), or to rebound.
The above descriptions are flexible. For most teams today, the shooting guard and
small forward have very similar responsibilities and are often called the wings, as do the
power forward and center, who are often called post players. While most teams describe
two players as guards, two as forwards, and one as a center, on some occasions teams
choose to call them by different designations.
Strategy
There are two main defensive strategies: zone defense and man-to-man defense.
In a zone defense, each player is assigned to guard a specific area of the court. Zone
defenses often allow the defense to double team the ball, a manoeuver known as a trap.
In a man-to-man defense, each defensive player guards a specific opponent.
Offensive plays are more varied, normally involving planned passes and
movement by players without the ball. A quick movement by an offensive player without
the ball to gain an advantageous position is known as a cut. A legal attempt by an
offensive player to stop an opponent from guarding a teammate, by standing in the
defender's way such that the teammate cuts next to him, is a screen or pick. The two
plays are combined in the pick and roll, in which a player sets a pick and then "rolls" away
from the pick towards the basket. Screens and cuts are very important in offensive plays;
these allow the quick passes and teamwork, which can lead to a successful basket.
Teams almost always have several offensive plays planned to ensure their movement is
not predictable. On court, the point guard is usually responsible for indicating which play
will occur.
Shooting
Shooting is the act of attempting to score points by throwing the ball through the
basket, methods varying with players and situations. Typically, a player faces the basket
with both feet facing the basket. A player will rest the ball on the fingertips of the dominant
hand (the shooting arm) slightly above the head, with the other hand supporting the side
of the ball. The ball is usually shot by jumping (though not always) and extending the
shooting arm. The shooting arm, fully extended with the wrist fully bent, is held stationary
for a moment following the release of the ball, known as a follow-through. Players often
try to put a steady backspin on the ball to absorb its impact with the rim. The ideal
trajectory of the shot is somewhat controversial, but generally a proper arc is
recommended. Players may shoot directly into the basket or may use the backboard to
redirect the ball into the basket.
The two most common shots that use the above described setup are the set
shot and the jump shot. The set shot is taken from a standing position, with neither foot
leaving the floor, typically used for free throws, and in other circumstances while the jump
shot is taken in mid-air, the ball released near the top of the jump. This provides much
greater power and range, and it also allows the player to elevate over the defender.
Failure to release the ball before the feet return to the floor is considered a traveling
violation.
Another common shot is called the lay-up. This shot requires the player to be in
motion toward the basket, and to "lay" the ball "up" and into the basket, typically off the
backboard (the backboard-free, underhand version is called a finger roll). The most
crowd-pleasing and typically highest-percentage accuracy shot is the slam dunk, in which
the player jumps very high and throws the ball downward, through the basket while
touching it.
Another shot that is becoming common[citation needed] is the "circus shot". The circus
shot is a low-percentage shot that is flipped, heaved, scooped, or flung toward the hoop
while the shooter is off-balance, airborne, falling down, and/or facing away from the
basket. A back-shot is a shot taken when the player is facing away from the basket, and
may be shot with the dominant hand, or both; but there is a very low chance that the shot
will be successful.
A shot that misses both the rim and the backboard completely is referred to as
an air ball. A particularly bad shot, or one that only hits the backboard, is jocularly called
a brick. The hang time is the length of time a player stays in the air after jumping, either
to make a slam dunk, lay-up or jump shot.
Rebounding
The objective of rebounding is to successfully gain possession of the basketball
after a missed field goal or free throw, as it rebounds from the hoop or backboard. This
plays a major role in the game, as most possessions end when a team misses a shot.
There are two categories of rebounds: offensive rebounds, in which the ball is recovered
by the offensive side and does not change possession, and defensive rebounds, in which
the defending team gains possession of the loose ball. The majority of rebounds are
defensive, as the team on defense tends to be in better position to recover missed shots.
Passing
A pass is a method of moving the ball between players. Most passes are
accompanied by a step forward to increase power and are followed through with the
hands to ensure accuracy.
A staple pass is the chest pass. The ball is passed directly from the passer's chest
to the receiver's chest. A proper chest pass involves an outward snap of the thumbs to
add velocity and leaves the defence little time to react.
Another type of pass is the bounce pass. Here, the passer bounces the ball crisply
about two-thirds of the way from his own chest to the receiver. The ball strikes the court
and bounces up toward the receiver. The bounce pass takes longer to complete than the
chest pass, but it is also harder for the opposing team to intercept (kicking the ball
deliberately is a violation). Thus, players often use the bounce pass in crowded moments,
or to pass around a defender.
The overhead pass is used to pass the ball over a defender. The ball is released
while over the passer's head.
The outlet pass occurs after a team gets a defensive rebound. The next pass after
the rebound is the outlet pass.
The crucial aspect of any good pass is it being difficult to intercept. Good passers
can pass the ball with great accuracy and they know exactly where each of their other
teammates prefers to receive the ball. A special way of doing this is passing the ball
without looking at the receiving teammate. This is called a no-look pass.
Another advanced style of passing is the behind-the-back pass, which, as the
description implies, involves throwing the ball behind the passer's back to a teammate.
Although some players can perform such a pass effectively, many coaches discourage
no-look or behind-the-back passes, believing them to be difficult to control and more likely
to result in turnovers or violations.

Dribbling
Dribbling is the act of bouncing the ball continuously with one hand and is a
requirement for a player to take steps with the ball. To dribble, a player pushes the ball
down towards the ground with the fingertips rather than patting it; this ensures greater
control. When dribbling past an opponent, the dribbler should dribble with the hand
farthest from the opponent, making it more difficult for the defensive player to get to the
ball. It is therefore important for a player to be able to dribble competently with both hands.
Good dribblers (or "ball handlers") tend to bounce the ball low to the ground,
reducing the distance of travel of the ball from the floor to the hand, making it more difficult
for the defender to "steal" the ball. Good ball handlers frequently dribble behind their
backs, between their legs, and switch directions suddenly, making a less predictable
dribbling pattern that is more difficult to defend against. This is called a crossover, which
is the most effective way to move past defenders while dribbling.
A skilled player can dribble without watching the ball, using the dribbling motion
or peripheral vision to keep track of the ball's location. By not having to focus on the ball,
a player can look for teammates or scoring opportunities, as well as avoid the danger of
having someone steal the ball away from him/her.
Blocking
A block is performed when, after a shot is attempted, a defender succeeds in
altering the shot by touching the ball. In almost all variants of play, it is illegal to touch the
ball after it is in the downward path of its arc; this is known as goaltending. It is also illegal
under NBA and Men's NCAA basketball to block a shot after it has touched the backboard,
or when any part of the ball is directly above the rim. Under international rules it is illegal
to block a shot that is in the downward path of its arc or one that has touched the
backboard until the ball has hit the rim. After the ball hits the rim, it is again legal to touch
it even though it is no longer considered as a block performed.
To block a shot, a player has to be able to reach a point higher than where the shot
is released. Thus, height can be an advantage in blocking. Players who are taller and
playing the power forward or center positions generally record more blocks than players
who are shorter and playing the guard positions. However, with good timing and a
sufficiently high vertical leap, even shorter players can be effective shot blockers.

Height
At the professional level, most male players are above 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m)
and most women above 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m). Guards, for whom physical coordination
and ball-handling skills are crucial, tend to be the smallest players. Almost all forwards in
the top men's pro leagues are 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) or taller. Most centers are over
6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) tall. According to a survey given to all NBA teams, [when?] the
average height of all NBA players is just under 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m), with the average
weight being close to 222 pounds (101 kg). The tallest players ever in the NBA
were Manute Bol and Gheorghe Mureșan, who were both 7 feet 7 inches (2.31 m) tall. At
7 feet 2 inches (2.18 m), Margo Dydek was the tallest player in the history of the WNBA.
The shortest player ever to play in the NBA is Muggsy Bogues at 5 feet 3 inches
(1.60 m).[53] Other short players have thrived at the pro level. Anthony "Spud" Webb was
just 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) tall, but had a 42-inch (1.1 m) vertical leap, giving him
significant height when jumping. While shorter players are often at a disadvantage in
certain aspects of the game, their ability to navigate quickly through crowded areas of the
court and steal the ball by reaching low are strengths.
Players regularly inflate their height. Many prospects exaggerate their height while
in high school or college to make themselves more appealing to coaches and scouts, who
prefer taller players. Charles Barkley stated; "I've been measured at 6-5, 6-4 3⁄4. But I
started in college at 6-6." Sam Smith, a former writer from The Chicago Tribune, said:
"We sort of know the heights, because after camp, the sheet comes out. But you use that
height, and the player gets mad. And then you hear from his agent. Or you file your story
with the right height, and the copy desk changes it because they have the 'official' N.B.A.
media guide, which is wrong. So you sort of go along with the joke." [54] In the NBA, there
is no standard on whether a player's listed height uses their measurement with shoes on
or without. The NBA Draft Combine, which most players attend before the draft, provides
both measurements. Thereafter, a player's team is solely responsible for their listed
height, which can vary depending on the process selected.
On rare occasions, some players will understate their actual heights, not to be
repositioned. One example is Kevin Durant, whose listed height is 6 feet 9 inches
(2.06 m), while his actual height is 7 feet 0 inches (2.13 m). Durant's reasoning was,
"Really, that's the prototypical size for a small forward. Anything taller than that, and they'll
start saying, 'Ah, he's a power forward.
Variations and similar games
Variations of basketball are activities based on the game of basketball, using
common basketball skills and equipment (primarily the ball and basket). Some variations
are only superficial rules changes, while others are distinct games with varying degrees
of basketball influences. Other variations include children's games, contests or activities
meant to help players reinforce skills.
There are principal basketball sports with variations on basketball
including Wheelchair basketball, Water basketball, Beach
basketball, Slamball, Streetball and Unicycle basketball. An earlier version of basketball,
played primarily by women and girls, was Six-on-six basketball. Horseball is a game
played on horseback where a ball is handled and points are scored by shooting it through
a high net (approximately 1.5m×1.5m). The sport is like a combination of polo, rugby, and
basketball. There is even a form played on donkeys known as Donkey basketball, but
that version has come under attack from animal rights groups.
Half-court
Perhaps the single most common variation of basketball is the half-court game,
played in informal settings without referees or strict rules. Only one basket is used, and
the ball must be "taken back" or "cleared" – passed or dribbled outside the three-point
line each time possession of the ball changes from one team to the other. Half-court
games require less cardiovascular stamina, since players need not run back and forth a
full court. Half-court raises the number of players that can use a court or, conversely, can
be played if there is an insufficient number to form full 5-on-5 teams.
Half-court basketball is usually played 1-on-1, 2-on-2 or 3-on-3. The latter variation
is gradually gaining official recognition as 3x3, originally known as FIBA 33. It was first
tested at the 2007 Asian Indoor Games in Macau and the first official tournaments were
held at the 2009 Asian Youth Games and the 2010 Youth Olympics, both in Singapore.
The first FIBA 3x3 Youth World Championships[62] were held in Rimini, Italy in 2011, with
the first FIBA 3x3 World Championships for senior teams following a year later in Athens.
The sport is highly tipped to become an Olympic sport as early as 2016.[63] In the summer
of 2017, the BIG3 basketball league, a professional 3x3 half court basketball league that
features former NBA players, began. The BIG3 features several rule variants including
a four-point field goal.[64]
Glossary
General references

 National Basketball Association (2014). "Official Rules of the National Basketball

Association" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015.
Retrieved March 6, 2015.
 International Basketball Federation (June 2004). Official Basketball Rules. Archived
from the original on December 22, 2005.
 Reimer, Anthony (June 2005). "FIBA vs North American Rules Comparison". FIBA
Assist (14): 40–44.
 Bonsor, Kevin. "How Basketball Works: Who's Who". HowStuffWorks. Archived from
the original on January 1, 2006. Retrieved January 11, 2006.
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Course Physical Education

Basketball
Presented to the Department of Physical Education
of Leones National High School

Submitted by:

Custo, Joshua
Jacaban, Mark Jernest
Jimenez Jr., Jojo
Mapalo, Jerick
Sotelo, Wendell