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Basketball: Rules and Regulations
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. Two
points are scored for a successful shot, three points for a successful
long-range shot (6.25 metres from the basket), and one point for each
successful
free throw.
Playing regulations
At the professional level,
games are played in four quarters of 10 (international) or 12 minutes
(NBA) each. Games take longer than this allotted game time. The
clock stops when the ball is not in play; for example, when it goes out
of bounds or a foul is committed. Fifteen minutes are alloted for a
half-time break, and two minutes are allowed at the other breaks. At
lower levels, various time regulations exist.
Time-outs and substitutions
are permitted during a game. A substitution swaps one player on
the court for another on the team bench. A time-out is a clock
stoppage requested by the coach of either team, in which he can discuss
strategy. A time-out lasts one minute in international basketball and
either 100 seconds, 60 seconds or 20 seconds in NBA basketball.
Time-outs are limited: in international basketball, 2 time-outs are
allowed in the first two periods, 3 in the last two periods, and 1 in
each extra period, while in NBA basketball, six 100/60-second time-outs
are allowed in the entire game, of which a maximum of three can be in
the last quarter. Additionally, 3 100 or 60-second time-outs are allowed
in each extra period.
Equipment
The only essential
equipment in basketball is the court, which consists of two baskets with
backboards, and a basketball. At competition level, clocks are necessary
to regulate game time. Professional and international games often call
for more equipment to assist in administration and officiating. This can
include shot clocks, scorer's tables, and whistle-operated stop-clock
systems.
The men's ball's
circumference ranges between 749 and 762 mm (29.48 and 30 in); its
diameter 238 to 242 mm (9.3 to 9.5 in). Its mass is from 567 to 624 g
(1.246 to 1.374 lb). The smaller women's ball's circumference is between
724 and 737 mm (28.50 and 29.01 in), its diameter 230 to 235 mm (9.07 to
9.23 in), and its mass from 510 to 567 g (1.123 to 1.246 lb).
Playing the ball
The ball may be advanced
toward the basket by being shot, passed, thrown, tapped, rolled or
dribbled. Passing is the act of throwing the ball from player to
player. Dribbling is the act of running while continuously
bouncing the ball. The ball cannot be kicked or struck with the fist,
and must stay within the playing court.
Running with the ball
without bouncing it, called travelling, is illegal; as is
double dribbling, the act of dribbling with two hands or starting a
second dribble after having caught the ball after a first one. A
player's hand cannot pass the vertical while dribbling, so that his hand
is partially below the ball; this is known as carrying the ball.
In higher levels of basketball time limits are imposed on advancing the
ball past halfway, remaining in the restricted area (also known as the
"paint") and attempting a shot. Rules are generally stricter in the NBA.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no limit to the amount of steps a
player can take between bounces while dribbling.
To interfere with the ball
while on its downward flight for a basket, or while it is bouncing on
the basket, is called goal tending, and is a violation. Goal
tending is one of the most complicated calls of basketball, and is
significantly different in international basketball.
Fouls
An attempt to unfairly
disadvantage an opponent through personal contact is illegal and is
called a
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
whther the shot was successful. One point is awarded for making a free
throw, which is attempted from a line 4.5 metres (15 feet) from the
basket.
If a team surpasses a
preset limit of team fouls in a given period (4 in international and NBA
games), the opposing team is awarded free throws on all subsequent fouls
for that period. Offensive fouls and double fouls are not counted as
team fouls in the NBA, but they are counted in international games.
A player or coach who shows
poor sportsmanship, for instance, by arguing with a referee or by
fighting with another player, can be charged with a
technical foul. A player or coach with two technical fouls is
disqualified from the game and is required to leave the stadium. Blatant
fouls with excessive contact or that are not an attempt to play the ball
are called unsportsmanlike fouls (or flagrant fouls in the NBA) and
incur a harsher penalty; in some rare cases a disqualifying foul will
require the player to leave the stadium.
If a player commits five
fouls (including technical fouls) in one game (six in some professional
leagues, including the NBA), he is not allowed to participate for the
rest of the game, and is described as having "fouled out". If no
substitutes are available, the team must forfeit the game. Some leagues,
including the NBA, allow disqualified players to re-enter the game at
the cost of a technical foul on the team.
Players
A team consists of five
players and up to seven substitutes, although in series where there are
three games or less, only five substitutes are allowed. Any number of
player substitutions are allowed during the game, although substitutes
can only enter a game during a stoppage of play.
Male players generally wear
shorts and a sleeveless top, and high-top sneakers that provide extra
ankle support. Female players have worn shirts and skirts in the past,
but most female players now wear uniforms identical to those worn by
men.
Officials
A referee and one or two
umpires, called officials, control the game. On the scorebench,
there are table officials, who are responsible for the
administration of the game. The table officials include the scorer,
who keeps track of the score and fouls by each player; the assistant
scorer, who controls the scoreboard; the timekeeper, and the
shot clock operator.
Referees and umpires
generally wear a grey shirt and black trousers. These officials call
fouls, award successful baskets, and so on.
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