3º ESO - PE Workbook - IES Joan Miró – Physical Education Department
BASKETBALL
HISTORY
In 1981, James Naismith, a Physical Education teacher
of the YMCA school (today, Springfield College) in
Springfield, Massachusetts (USA) decided to invent a
game to be played inside the gyms during the cold
winter. The game couldn’t be as rough as American
Football but it had to be a physical activity with high
intensity to keep his students fit.
After a lot of thinking he invented a game, in which the players had to put the ball
inside a basket, (the original baskets were used to store peaches!!!!). In this game, the
players threw a soccer ball to each other. In the rules that Mr. Naismith invented, the
teams had 9 players, the contact between players wasn’t allowed and you couldn’t walk
without bouncing the ball. The game soon spread to other U.S. schools and universities.
It was in 1896 when the 5 on 5 matches started.
In the early twentieth century, basketball competitions and leagues were set up all
over North America. The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) was founded in
Geneva in 1932. The National Basketball Association (NBA) was formed in 1949.
THE COURT (28m x 15m)
The COURT is a flat,
rectangular surface with
baskets
at
opposite
ends. The court is
divided into two main
sections by the midcourt or centre line.
THE BALL
The size of the BASKETBALL depends on the category and gender.
For men, the official ball is size 7, and for women the official
basketball is size 6.
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3º ESO - PE Workbook - IES Joan Miró – Physical Education Department
MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GAME
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Basketball is a team sport.
Teams include twelve players, but only five can be on court at one time.
The team that makes more points wins. Points are scored by throwing the ball through the
basket / hoop of the opposing team.
When a team makes a basket, they score two points and the ball goes to the other team.
If a basket is made outside of the three-point arc, then that basket is worth three
points. A free throw is worth one point.
If the score is tied at the end of the last quarter, then overtime periods (5 minutes) are
played until one team wins.
The game is played in four periods, each of 10 minutes of real playing time. (NBA games
are played over four quarters of 12 minutes).
Players can be substituted as often as the coach likes.
Each coach has a limited number of time-outs they can call during a game, and the game
clock is stopped whenever play stops.
The game begins in the center of the court with a “jump-ball” between two players (one
from each team).
The team with the ball is called the offense and the team without the ball is called the
defense. Each team is assigned a basket to defend. This means that the other basket is
their scoring basket. At halftime, the teams switch baskets.
The ball is moved down the court toward the basket by passing or dribbling.
The referees (officials) control the game.
PLAYER POSITIONS
1. Point guard or “playmaker
2. Shooting guard
3. Small forward or forward
4. Power forward
5. Center
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3º ESO - PE Workbook - IES Joan Miró – Physical Education Department
VIOLATIONS AND FOULS
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The ball can be moved by throwing it to another player (passing) or by bouncing it with
one hand while running or walking (dribbling).
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Double Dribble - When a player stops dribbling, holds the basketball, and then starts
dribbling again (it is necessary to pass or shoot the ball). Also when a player dribbles the
ball with two hands at the same time.
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Traveling - If a player moves both feet without bouncing the ball. Also when you move
your pivot foot once you've stopped dribbling. Jumping and landing without doing anything
with the ball (you should shot or pass the ball) is traveling too.
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Over-and-Back - When a player crosses over the midcourt line into the frontcourt and
then crosses back into the backcourt.
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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.
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Carrying/palming - When a player dribbles the ball with his hand too far to the side off
or, sometimes, even under the ball.
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Kick-ball - it is an infraction to intentionally touch the ball with your feet.
*All of these fouls are penalized with your team losing possession of the ball, and
giving it to the other team, from the closest side line.
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A personal foul is committed when a player challenges another player unfairly, such as
pushing, slapping, holding, blocking their run or hitting their arms. A player or coach who
argues with a referee commits a technical foul.
* Fouls can be punished with a free inbound pass, free throws at goal, or with
sending off. A player who commits five fouls (six in the NBA), cannot longer take
part in the game and it is said to have been 'fouled out'.
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3º ESO - PE Workbook - IES Joan Miró – Physical Education Department
BASKETBALL BASIC SKILLS
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DRIBBLING
1. Use your finger tips to dribble, never the palm.
2. Dribble on the side of your body, never bounce the ball in
front repeatedly.
3. Get used to bouncing the ball hard off the ground.
4. Lower your body slightly so that the ball is bouncing rapidly
at waist level.
5. Look up when you are dribbling, not on the ground or on the
ball.
6. When switching the ball from one hand to another, bounce
the ball across hard and quick.
7. When changing direction, shift the momentum of your body
towards that direction.
Finger tips gives you more control over the basketball. Dribbling on the side minimizes
the possibility of getting your ball stolen. When situation allows, you can even use your
back to shield the ball from your opponent. Bouncing the ball hard off the ground and
lowering your body together allows you to reduce the time the ball is out of your
control. Looking up while dribbling gives you the vision of the court and your defender
while you dribble.
Control or Low Dribble
Use this when a defender
is guarding you closely.
Keep your body between
the ball and the defender.
Keep the ball low to the
floor and close to your
body. Keep your free hand
up to protect the ball.
Keep your head up and
eyes off the ball, so you'll
be able to see open
teammates or openings for
you.
Speed or High Dribble
Use this when you need to
advance the ball quickly.
Push the ball forward,
ahead of you several feet.
Bounce the ball at waist
high. Keep your head up,
and visualize the whole
court, so you can find the
open teammate. Move as
fast as you can, but never
faster than you can
control the ball.
Change of direction
- Crossover dribble
You switch dribbling from
one hand to the other, by
bouncing the ball in front
of you across to the other
side.
- Spin or Reverse Dribble
- Behind the Back
Dribble
- Through the Legs
Dribble
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3º ESO - PE Workbook - IES Joan Miró – Physical Education Department
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PASSING
Successful passing involves two parts, making the pass
and receiving the pass.
- The receiver should have "soft" (relaxed) hands, catch
the ball with both hands and look the ball into his/her
hands.
- The receiver should, in most cases, be moving toward
the pass... "meet the pass". -- Most of the time, the
receiver should not be stationary.
- The receiver must learn to get open.
Holding the ball
-Between your chest and
your waist.
-Keep the fingers wide
apart.
-Touch the ball with your
finger tips.
-The elbows are close to
the body.
-The thumb and the
index finger must for a
“T”.
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Chest pass
Overhead pass
Baseball pass
Bounce pass
PIVOTING
Pivoting, or turning, requires you to keep one foot, your "pivot foot", stationary, while you
turn, or spin, your body around on the ball of your pivot foot.
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3º ESO - PE Workbook - IES Joan Miró – Physical Education Department
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SHOOTING
There are several skills that enable you to score in a basketball game. You can score by
performing the basic basketball or doing a lay-up.
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SET-SHOT
1. Half-bent your knees before shooting a
basketball for more potential power.
2. Your dominant hand should have its fingers
spread out.
3. Only the fingertips should be gripping onto
the ball.
4. Your other hand should support the ball on the
side.
5. The ball should be brought above the head in
one motion.
6. At this point, the angles at your armpit,
elbow, and wrist is at 90 degrees
7. While extending your knees, extend your
forearm and snap your wrist to direct the
basketball and add backspin to it.
8. Make sure you follow through with your wrist
movement.
9. You can also make a jump shot.
 LAYUP
A layup is a two- point shot attempt made by leaping from below, laying the ball up near
the basket, and using one hand to bounce it off the backboard and into the basket.
1. Start by dribbling the basketball towards the right side of the basketball hoop with your
right hand.
2. As you approach the basket, you may carry the ball and take 2 big strides starting
with your right leg.
3. Leap towards the basketball hoop with your left foot and bring your right knee up.
4. Release the ball lightly on the back board with your right hand. (overarm or underarm)
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3º ESO - PE Workbook - IES Joan Miró – Physical Education Department
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DEFENSE
Individual defense
 In order to stop the ball and avoid dribble penetration, you must begin with a
good defensive stance.
 You must be ready to move in any direction quickly. Stand with your feet apart
and your knees bent. Keep your weight balanced on the front part of your feet.
 At the same time you need to learn to watch the ball at the same time. You will
want to be ready to still a pass or block a shot.
 When your player has the ball always stay between them and the basket.
 Hands should be widely spread on the side to increase horizontal coverage
 Place your hands forward so that you can reach to intercept or strip the ball on
sight.
Defensive strategies
There are two main types of defensive basketball strategies:
 Zone: players have certain positions or areas of the court
they cover. The guards usually play at the top of the key
with the forwards playing closer to the basket and on
opposite sides. The center usually plays in the middle of the
key.
 Man-to-man: each player is responsible to cover one player
on the other team. They follow this player wherever they go
on the court.
However, there are a wide variety of zone defenses and combinations of zone and manto-man that basketball teams play. Teams will often switch defenses around during a
basketball game to see which works best against a particular opponent.
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