Basketball was first played in 1891 and has since grown to be a popular sport worldwide. Many nations have embraced the sport, including Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and portions of Asia, but the NBA, the world’s largest and most lucrative league, is based in America (National Basketball Association).
The Goal of the Game
The basketball goal is to score points by throwing the ball (basketball) into a hoop. The game is played on a rectangular court, and the number of points scored is determined by where a portion of the court you successfully toss the ball into the basket. Dribbling or passing the ball can be used to move it around. The side with the most points at the end of the game is named the winner.
Players and their gear
Each team consists of 12 players, with only five on the court at any given time. The positions are point guard, defensive guard, center, offensive forward, and defensive forward. After that, each player will assume a place on the court but will be free to roam around as they see fit.
The court is rectangular in design, with a length of 91 feet and a width of 50 feet. A little circle in the middle of the midway line marks the start of the game, which begins with a tip-off (the ball is thrown in the air by the referee and a player from each team tries to win possession for their team). Two 10-foot-high baskets stand at each end of the floor. The outside ring is a three-point arc, while the key, which contains a free throw line, sits in the center.
A basketball and a court are all that are required to play. Teams must wear similar uniforms, with some players opting to protect themselves with gum shields and face masks.
The game is divided into four 12-minute quarters, and a 15-minute halftime pause occurs between the second and third quarters.
Scoring
Basketball players may score in three different ways. Any basket made from outside the three-point arc is worth three points, and two points will be awarded for baskets made within the three-point arc. Free throws made successfully will result in one point being awarded each free throw. The location of the foul will determine the number of free throws awarded.
