BASKETBALL
Team Sports—Columbus North High School
History:
Basketball was invented in 1891 at Springfield College by Dr. James A. Naismith, instructor of
physical education and coach at the school. Dr. Naismith was looking for a vigorous game to condition his
athletes during the winter season and conceived the idea of attaching peach baskets to a raised track,
that encircled the playing floor, at opposite ends of the gym. The original peach baskets were 10 feet high,
a measurement that has continued through today.
Game Rules:
A regulation game is started with a JUMP BALL when the referee tosses a ball between two opposing
players standing in the center circle, at mid-court.
During the game, when two opponents have their hands on the ball, it is considered a JUMP BALL and the
possession alternates with the ball taken out of bounds.
Points are scored by making a goal (shot/basket) from the field (FIELD GOAL) or from the free throw
line (FREE THROW).
A field goal scores 2 points (or 3 points if the shooter is behind the three point arc). A free throw (foul
shot) scores 1 point.
After one team makes a goal, the other team is awarded the ball. The ball is passed in from out-ofbounds under the opponents’ basket.
To keep the game going at a fast rate, each team possessing the ball is required to advance the ball
across the middle of the court (HALF COURT LINE/10 SECOND LINE) within 10 seconds after gaining
possession.
When throwing the ball in-bounds, the offensive team has 5 seconds to put the ball into play. Failure to
put the ball in play results in this team giving up the ball to the opposing team.
Every time a player gains possession of the ball, he/she has the option to shoot, pass, or dribble the ball.
The player may not TRAVEL or DOUBLE DRIBBLE (see basketball terms).
A player commits a FOUL by holding, tripping, charging, pushing, or blocking an opponent. If a player is
fouled in the act of shooting, he/she is awarded 2 free throws (or 3 on a 3-point shot). If the player
made the field goal when fouled, he/she is awarded one free throw.
Once a team has committed 7 fouls (shooting and non-shooting), the opposing team is in the BONUS.
When a team is in the bonus and one of their players is fouled (not in the act of shooting), that player
gets to shoot a ONE-AND-ONE. The player goes to the free throw line and gets 1 free throw shot. If
that shot goes in, the player gets a second “bonus” shot. If the first shot misses, regular play continues.
There are 5 players from each team playing on the floor at one time.
Positions & Team Play:
GUARDS – usually 2, smaller, quicker players who can dribble and pass better than they can rebound.
FORWARDS – usually 2, taller players who are better at rebounding and play closer to the basket.
CENTER – usually 1, often the tallest, and less mobile, player on the team who can rebound well and play
close to the basket.
MAN –TO-MAN DEFENSE – type of defense in which each of the five players is responsible for guarding
one player on the other team.
ZONE DEFENSE - type of defense in which each player on the defensive team is responsible for guarding and protecting one particular area of the floor.
Court Dimensions:
HIGH SCHOOL – 84 feet (minimum 74’) X 50 feet (minimum 42’)
COLLEGE (PRO) – 94 feet X 50 feet
Length of Game:
HIGH SCHOOL (varsity) – 4, 8-minute Quarters
COLLEGE – 2, 20-minute Halves
PRO – 4, 12-minute Quarters
Terms:
Back Court – the half of the court that contains the opponents’ basket
Blocking – a foul involving contact that slows the progress of a player with or without the ball
Bounce Pass - a pass that is bounced to the floor and rebounded to the receiver
Charging – a foul involving personal contact by a player with the ball moving his/her body or the ball into an
opponent whose path or position is legal or already there
Cut – making a move to get open to receive the ball from a teammate
Defense – a team or player who does not have the ball
Double Dribble – a violation that occurs when either a player dribbles the ball with two hands at the same
time or dribbles the ball, stops and starts dribbling again.
Fouling out – any player that commits 5 fouls during the game. This player must be taken out of the game
and replaced with another player
Front Court – the half of the court that contains a team’s basket
Offense – a team or player who has possession of the ball
Pass – throwing, batting, handing, bouncing, or rolling the ball to a teammate
Pivot – a legal tactic in which one player holds the ball and steps once or more in the same direction
(forward or backward) with the same foot. The other foot, pivot foot, keeps its same contact with the
floor.
Press – a defensive tactic when a team tries to closely guard the offensive team and make that team make
an error or turnover. This very tight defense can be played full court or half court.
Screen (or Pick) – a legal play to prevent or delay a defensive player from guarding an offensive player
Three-second lane – the part of the floor between the free throw line and the end line, including the lines
bounding the area. An offensive player can be in this area for less than 3 seconds at a time (violation if the
referee calls it).
Traveling – illegal progress in any direction while keeping possession of the ball, taking more than one step
with the ball without dribbling.
Violation – infraction (breaking) of the rules for which an out-of-bounds throw-in is given to the opposing
team.