HISTORY OF BASKETBALL season and only finished one game before shutting down for good, which

happened on January 4th, 1904.

Basketball is a team sport played by two teams of five players on
a rectangular court. The objective is to shoot a ball through a hoop 18 Formation of FIBA (Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur)
inches (46cm) in a diameter and mounted at a height of 10 feet (3.048m) to
The history of basketball is a long and interesting one, with many
backboards at each end of the court.
new innovations that have revolutionized the game. One such innovation
Brief History was on June 18th, 1932 when sixteen nations founded FIBA to coordinate
international tournaments amongst themselves as well as teams from
• The basketball game was invented by Dr. James Naismith in other countries (Argentina, Czechoslovakia Greece Italy Latvia Portugal
December 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts, who would be the Romania & Switzerland).
first basketball coach of the Kansas Jayhawks, one of the most
successful programs in the game history. Introduced to Olympics

• James Naismith (November 6, 1861 – November 28, 1939) was Probably the most notable history of basketball timeline is when
a Canadian-American physical educator, physician, chaplain, the sport was introduced to the Olympics. This event took place in 1936
sports coach and innovator. when the Olympics were held in Berlin. The game was played at a very fast
pace and included nine players per team.
Invention of the game
The United States of America won the very first Olympic title at
• He published 13 rules for the new game. He divided his class of the game, and it all happened on an outdoor clay court. Canada came in
eighteen into two teams of nine players each and set about to second with Great Britain third!
teach them the basics of his new game. The objective of the
game was to throw the basketball into the fruit baskets nailed to The rise of the NBA (National Basketball Association)
the lower railing of the gym balcony.
The Basketball Association of America (BAA) was founded on
• The first public basketball game was played in Springfield, June 6, 1946. This league adopted the name National Basketball
Massachusetts, on March 11, 1892. Association after merging with their rival NBL in 1949 to become one major
professional basketball league across North America.
Two peach baskets, a soccer ball, and an innovative game
As it stands today, there’s no doubt that the NBA is still the most
Naismith incorporated a soccer ball and two peach baskets to prestigious basketball organization. This iconic sporting event promises
play the first game of basketball. This first game was played at the creativity through competition while also providing entertainment for all
International YMCA Training School and it revolutionized history. viewers around the world.
YMCA brought the game to the world. NBA introduces professional women’s league in WNBA (Women’s National
Basketball Association)
YMCA helped spread the game of basketball across the USA,
Canada, and the entire world. In 1893, Mel Rideout arranged the first The female equivalent to the NBA, the WNBA was founded in
European match in Paris and Bob Gailey went to Tientsin. 1997. It has been a huge success and provides women with an option for
professional sports careers unlike any other league out there now or before
While they were both involved with basketball at different times
its inception!
throughout their lives, it was not until after World War II that Americans
took up this new game on the international scene thanks largely due to History of Basketball in the Philippines
YMCAs who spread American rules over there during reconstruction efforts
following WWII. The history of basketball in the Philippines dates to the American
colonial period. American teachers introduced this sport to Filipinos in
Players Started Out Using Soccer Balls 1910 through the YMCA as part of the then Philippine public school system.
• Basketball was initially played using soccer balls. The game Basketball in the Philippines was first introduced as a women’s
involved throwing soccer balls into peach baskets. The referee of sport and was played in interscholastic events from 1911 to 1913. The idea
the game then had to retrieve the balls. of women playing basketball was met with a lot of opposition from
conservative groups, especially the Catholic church. They viewed the
• Basketball changed in the early 1900s to include baskets with
bloomers worn by female Filipino basketball players during basketball
openings at the bottom. This helped avoid the process of having
games as inappropriate.
to retrieve the ball after scoring.
During that period (around 1910), the first basketball men’s
• Backboards were later added to the baskets. This is the setup
national team was also formed. This team went ahead to win Far Eastern
used today.
Championship Games in 1913. The team won nine out of the ten basketball
• Since soccer balls were first used in the game, there wasn’t any game tournaments that took place from 1913-1934.
dribbling in basketball at first. Basketballs that players could
Later, the Philippines became a member of the International
dribble weren’t created until the 1920s.
Basketball Federation (FIBA) through the Basketball Association of the
First college basketball game in 1896 Philippines in 1936. The Philippines then made their debut in the Olympic
games in the same year, finishing fifth in the competition.
In 1986, the University of Iowa and the University of Chicago
conducted an experimental game with basketball as a sport. The game was Since then, the country has made quite a name for itself when it
played in close, and due to seating capacity constraints, only 500 people comes to this sport. For instance, the Filipino basketball team won the gold
were able to watch. medal at the Asian Games, which took place in 1951. The country’s
basketball team also won the 1954 FIBA World Championship bronze
First professional basketball league
medal.
Shortly after the first collegiate basketball game, a professional
Trivia:
league was founded and it became known as the National Basketball
League (NBL). Two Women Have Played in the NBA

The National Basketball League stretched from New York City all • Denise Long was the first female player chosen during the 1969
the way down to Delaware. The NBL began operations in the 1898-99 NBA draft. She went on to play with the San Francisco Warriors.
 • Luisa Harris was the second woman drafted into the NBA in • Have widths of 54” (137.2 cm) and heights of 33” (83.8 cm)
1977. She joined the New Orleans Jazz team.
SCOREBOARD
• The first NBA player to score 38,000 points was Kareem Abdul-
A scoreboard is a large board for publicly displaying the score in a game.
Jabar in 1989.
A basketball scoreboard will at the minimum display the time left in the
• Karl Malone, known as the Mailman and a retired legend of the
period and both teams' scores.
Utah Jazz, has the highest number of defensive rebounds with
11,406. Besides that, he also ranks second with the most number In the past, they used a mechanical clock and numeral cards to display the
of career points in NBA history, and still holding the record of the score. When a point was made, a person would put the appropriate digits
most number of free throws attempted and made. on a hook. Now, they use electromechanical or electronic means of
displaying the score.
BASKETBALL EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
SCORE SHEET
BALL
A basketball score sheet is critical for official games.

It's an important document used to keep track of scoring, fouls, and

timeouts.

KNEE EQUIPMENT

Come in many different sizes, shapes, and materials that are all utilized for
different purposes.

Some of its purposes are to soften blow from collisions, to prevent re-injury
by protecting knee ligaments and tendon, and basically to provide a sense
of safety to players.
Basketball is an orange-colored and rough-textured spherical ball with
black contours usually made of leather or composite tough materials. TYPES OF KNEE EQUIPMENT

Basketball sizes vary by age, gender, and level of play. Knee braces – the most sturdy and reliable protection; used to prevent
injuries and are typically used in recovery; provide knee stability and
The official NBA and competitive professional basketball is 29.5” | 74.9 cm
prevent the joint from bending the wrong way
in circumference with a diameter between 9.43”-9.51” | 24-24.2 cm.
Knee pads – provide the players with a cushion to absorb impact from
Professional basketballs must be inflated to a pressure between 7.5-8.5
collisions; reduces the risk of fracture and gives a sense of security
PSI and cannot exceed the maximum weight of 22 ounces
Knee sleeves – used for future injury prevention and provide compression
Indoor basketballs are made of full-grain leather; basketballs meant for
that can alleviate knee pain
outdoor use are made of rubber.
Whistle
BASKET
It uses air or a button to produce a loud high-pitched sound.
Basketball rims, or hoops, are orange painted goals attached to
the backboard and used for scoring points in a game of basketball. These A piece of equipment used by the referees in order to signal the start of a
are designed as breakaway rims comprised of a hinge and spring that play, stop of play, a foul, or a timeout.
allow the rim to bend when a player dunks without shattering the
backboard. SHOT CLOCK

Made of a 5/8” | 1.6 cm steel diameter steel rod that is formed into a ring A countdown timer used for competitive games of basketball. It indicates
with an inner diameter of 18” | 45.72 cm how long the offensive team can possess the basketball. It is also used to
increase the scoring, pace and competitiveness of the game.
Basketball nets are hung from the bottom of the rim with lengths between
15”-18” | 38.1-45.7 cm This requires the teams to make timely decisions and be mindful of the
time remaining on the clock.
Basketball rims are mounted 10’ | 3.05 m from the court floor
NBA and FIBA shot clock is set at 24 seconds to keep the game as high-
BACK BOARD scoring and fast-paced as possible.

Backboards are flat elevated vertical boards with mounted baskets, or rims, TABLE-TOP SHOT CLOCK
used to assist or return the basketball after a shot in a game of basketball.
Most affordable and portable type of shot clock.
Commonly made of Plexiglas or tempered glass, backboards are designed
to prevent shattering when a player dunks. Typically sits at the half-court sideline.

Regulation Basketball Backboards Commonly used in amateur basketball competitions.

• Have a width of 72” (183 cm) and a regulation height of 42” (107 SINGLE-SIDED SHOT CLOCK
cm) with an inner rectangle that is 24” (61 cm) wide and 18” (45.7 Sits atop each team’s basketball hoop. This displays the countdown timer
cm) tall for both teams when they are trying to score.
• Heights may vary up to 48" (121.9 cm) adding extra length at the 3 or 4 SIDED SHOT CLOCK
bottom of the backboard
Most professional and expensive.
• Hung 10’ (3.05 m) above the court floor
It displays the shot clock countdown for both players on the court and the
Fan Shaped Basketball Backboards audience viewing the game.
• Non-regulation backboards that are typically found on casual Requires the most time to mount and set up as it is the heaviest and
courts at playgrounds or indoor side courts bulkiest.
• Smaller than Regulation Rectangular Backboards BASKETBALL COURT
Basketball courts is the playing surface, consisting of a rectangular floor, CROSSOVER is a basketball manoeuvre in which a player dribbling the ball
with baskets at each end. These come in different sizes based on the level switches the ball rapidly from one hand to the other, to make a change in
and type of basketball being played. direction.

Courts are comprised of several foundational components: the baskets, the BEHIND THE BACK is a move where the ball is moving from one hand to
three-point arcs, free-throw (foul) lines, and the half court line. Indoor another, but the ball bounces behind the player's back.
courts are usually made with polished wood (often maple), while outdoor
BETWEEN THE LEGS To set up for the move, you first have to know how to
courts are typically made from paving, concrete, or asphalt.
control the ball. A quick step forward gives you a chance to cross the ball
Court Sizes to your other hand.

In the National Basketball Association (NBA), the court size would be 94’ PASSING -passing in basketball has been defined as "The deliberate
by 50’ or 28.7 by 15.2 m. attempt to move a live ball between two teammates", a definition which
might equally apply across other sports equally well, albeit with a change
Under the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules, the court is
to the item being passed where appropriate.
slightly smaller, measuring 28m by 15m or 91.9’ by 49.2’.
CHEST PASS
In amateur basketball, court sizes vary widely.
-Hold ball in both hands, chest high.
PARTS OF A BASKETBALL COURT
-Step forward, extend your arms and snap your wrists to throw the ball in a
FREE THROW LANE
straight line to your teammate’s chest.
It is a rectangle in a team’s front court and used to line up players during a
-Finish with your arms in front, chest high.
free throw. Its standard dimension is 19’ long by 12’ wide.
-Use whenever possible because it is the most accurate pass.
Sometimes referred to as the paint or the key.
BOUNCE PASS
THREE-POINT LINE
-Hold ball in both hands, chest high.
A semi-circle that surrounds the basket area on each team’s side of the
court. -Step forward, extend your arms and snap your wrists to throw the ball
forward and down into the floor, to bounce it to your teammate.
Dimensions
-Finish with arms in front, thigh high.
Amateur Basketball
-Use whenever a defender’s arm or body might block a chest pass.
Women: 19’ by 9” from the center of the basketball hoop
OVERHEAD PASS -Bring the ball directly above your forehead with both
Men: 20’ by 9” away from the center of the hoop
hands on the side of the ball and follow through. Aim for the teammate's
Professional chin. Some coaches advise not bring the ball behind your head, because it
can get stolen and it takes a split-second longer to throw the pass.
NBA: 23’ by 9” from the hoop at the top of the arc and 22’ at the sidelines
HOOK PASS - is a type of basketball shot wherein an offensive player
BASELINES AND SIDELINES throws up a single arm over their head sideways to make a basket. This
shot can be part of a layup or function as its own shot.
These mark the outside boundaries for out-of-bounds purposes.
BASEBALL PASS - A “baseball” pass is a one handed pass that is used to
Sidelines run the length of the court and the baselines are behind each
throw the ball long distances. When throwing the pass the person stands
basket
side on to their target and lifts the ball to just above their shoulder.
CENTER JUMP CIRCLE
SHOOTING - To shoot accurately, square your shoulders to the basket and
It is where the game action starts and has a radius of 6 feet. It is not used place your feet shoulder length apart. With your knees bent slightly and
at any other point in the game other than the opening tip and if the tip is back leaning towards the basket, put the fingers of your shooting hand
needed to start an overtime period. under the ball and tuck your elbows close to your body. Flick your wrist
towards the hoop to release the shot.
Two jump circles located at the free throw line are used in the NBA for held
ball situations. SHOOTING SKILLS

DIVISION LINE LAY-UP -is a shot near the basket, usually off the backboard. For a layup,
you run towards one side of the basket, jump, and lay the ball off the
It is a line running the width of the middle court that divides it into two
backboard into the hoop.
equal sections.
SET SHOT -The set shot in basketball is when a player is stationary, or set,
Also known as half-court line.
holds the ball with two hands and shoots it towards the basket without
BASKETBALL SKILLS jumping off the ground.

JUMP SHOT -a shot in basketball made by jumping into the air and
Shooting, dribbling, defending, rebounding, and passing are among the
releasing the ball with one or both hands at the peak of the jump.
most significant abilities in the game of basketball. Aside from these
basketballspecific talents, agility, acrobatic ability, speed, and endurance BASKETBALL TERMINOLOGIES
are all valuable assets in the game.
● Backboard: The surface to which the basket is mounted.
DRIBBLING -is a repetitive action in which a player uses one hand to bounce
the basketball continuously, that is, without interruption, on the court. It ● Basket: Consists of the rim and the net, also known as ‘the
ends the moment that continuity ends. hoop’.

RIGHT HAND Keep feet shoulder width apart, weight slightly over the right ● Basketball: A round ball made of rubber, leather or synthetic
foot. You should bounce the ball outside of the right foot. leather. Comes in 3

LEFT HAND On the left side of your body, push and pull the ball at your side different sizes (size 5, 6 or 7).
low and fast.
● Scoreboard: A large board for publicly displaying the score in back court area over the mid-court line.
a game.
● Down Court: Moving from the back court toward the offensive
● Shot Clock: A device that keeps track of the limited time the basket.
team in possession of the
● Ball Handler: The player with the ball. Usually the guard at the
ball has to take a shot at the basket. start of the play.

● Possession Arrow: Usually a wooden or plastic arrow that sits ● Receiver: The player who receives a pass from the ball handler.
on the scorer's table.
● Center: Usually the tallest player on the team in position near
Many leagues use a possession arrow to determine who starts the basket to capture
each quarter with the
rebounds and block shots.
basketball and who takes possession when a jump ball is called.
● Forwards: Players positioned along the free-throw lane and
● Court: The floor upon which the game of basketball is played. who are generally closer to

● Baselines: Also known as "end lines,” the boundary lines the basket than the guards.
extending across both ends of
● Substitute: A player that comes in to replace a teammate on
the court behind the baskets. the court.

● Sidelines: The boundary lines that run the length of the court ● Referee: The person(s) assigned to the game to maintain the
on either side. flow and integrity of

● Center Court: The circle in the middle of the court where the the game.
jump ball takes place
● Scorekeeper: An official responsible for filling out a scoresheet
at the start of every basketball game. throughout the game.

● Jump Ball: The ball tossed into the air by the referee between This requires them to keep track of points scored, fouls, and
two opposing timeouts.

players in order to start the game. ● Dribble: Bouncing the ball off the floor with one hand.

● Half-Court Line: The line through the middle of the basketball ● Crossover Dribble: A front-of-the-body dribble from one hand
court and the center to the other.

court that divides the basketball court into two halves. ● Behind-the-back Dribble: A dribble from one hand to the other
behind the back.
●Three-Point Line: Also known as the 3-point arc.This is the strip
along the outside of ● Between the Legs Dribble: A dribble between the legs from
one hand to the other.
the offensive zone and any shot made from behind it is worth
three points. ● Change of Pace Dribble: Slowing down and speeding up
dribble to get past an
● Three-point Shot: A shot attempted from beyond the three-
point line. opponent.

● In the Paint: Refers to the area within the free-throw lane that ● Control Dribble: A closely guarded low dribble.
is painted a different color
● Dip: The process of bringing the basketball down to a lower
than the rest of the court. Also known as the ‘key.’ starting point before

● Free-Throw Line: This is the line that players stand behind to shooting. Dipping the basketball allows players to have a
shoot free-throws. consistent starting point and

● Free Throw: The act of shooting the ball from the marked free also adds power and momentum to the shot.
throw line while the
● Balance Hand: The non-shooting hand when going through the
remaining players line up down the ‘key.’ process of taking a

● Inbounds: The area within the end lines and sidelines of the shot. The role of this hand is to balance the basketball on the
court. shooting hand until the

● Out-of-Bounds: Outside the end lines and sidelines. basketball is about to be released.

● Possession: To be holding or in control of the ball. ● Field Goal: A shot made from anywhere on the court except for
free-throws. This
● Offense: The team in possession of the ball.
includes both two-point shots and three-point shots.
● Defense: The act of preventing the offense from scoring.
Defense is the team without ● Swish: A shot that goes straight through the net without
touching the rim or
the ball.
backboard, also known as nothing-but-net.
● Front Court: The offensive area running from mid-court to the
end-line. ● Bank Shot: The ball bounces off the backboard and into the
basket.
● Back Court: Area of the court farthest from the offensive
team's goal. ● Set Shot: A two-handed shot in basketball taken from a
stationary position.
● Ten-second Lane: The offensive team has 10 seconds to
advance the ball from the ● Lay up: A shot near the basket, usually off the backboard.
● Drive: An attack to the basket or to move towards the hoop fastbreak.
while dribbling the ball in an
● Fastbreak: The act of moving the ball quickly down court by an
attempt to make a lay up. offensive team in hopes

● Jump Shot: A shot in which an offensive player's feet leave the of getting ahead of the defense to score.
floor.
● Catch and Face: Catching a pass and turning directly toward
● Buzzer Beater: A shot attempted in the final seconds and made the basket before taking a
after the shot clock
shot.
has expired. The points will still count since the basketball left
● Alley-oop: A play where a teammate throws the ball high
the shooter's hands
towards the basket and their
before the clock expired.
teammate jumps up, catches the ball, and then slams it into the
● Overtime: Extra time given a tied regulation game. hoop.

● Time-out: A period of sixty seconds during which the play is ● Assist: Attributed to a player who passes the ball to a
stopped and teams teammate in a way that leads

discuss strategy and a moment to allow players to rest. directly to a score by field goal, meaning that they were
"assisting" in the basket.
● Brick: A shot that bounces off the rim or backboard without
going in. ● Starting Lineup: The five players that begin the game.

● Air Ball: The ball misses the hoop and backboard entirely. ● Scrimmage: Practice play between squads of one team.

● Blocked Shot: A shot deflected on its way to the basket. ● Match-ups: Any pairing of players on opposing teams who
guard each other.
● Dunk: Slamming the ball into the basket.
● Court Vision: Used when a player has great ability to read the
● Feed: To pass the ball to a teammate who is in a scoring
play. Usually goes
position.
hand-in-hand with basketball IQ.
● Baseball Pass: A one-handed pass commonly used to throw a
full-court pass to a ● Ball Fake: To fake a pass or shot.

teammate sprinting down the court. This type of pass will be ● Guarding: To closely watch an opponent with intent to keep the
more powerful than a chest player from gaining

pass but much less accurate. possession of the ball, or from making a pass or shot.

● Chest Pass: A chest-to-chest pass with both hands. ● Zone: A defensive strategy coaches will use that require
defenders to guard specific
● Bounce Pass: A pass is deflected off the floor before being
received by a team player. areas of the court instead of opposition players.

● Hook Pass: An offensive action in which a player in possession ● Steal: To take the ball away from an opponent.
of the basketball
● Screen: An offense player is positioned between a teammate
propels it through the air with a throwing motion that is and the opponent to clear
somewhat similar to a hook.
the way for the teammate's shot at the basket.
● Overhead Pass: A two-handed overhead pass.
● Double Team: Two teammates move in to guard one offensive
● Behind-the-back Pass: A pass made behind the body. player.

● Blind Pass: A pass from a ball handler who does not see their ● Open: When a defender is unguarded.
receiver but is
● Cut: A quick sprint that can involve changing directions made
estimating where they should be. Also known as the ‘no look’ by a player in an attempt
pass.
to get themselves free to receive a pass or clear out space for a
● Hand-Off: An offensive action involving one player handing the teammate.
basketball to a
● Violation: An infringement of the rules, which does not involve
teammate. contact. Do not result in a

● Rebound: Gaining possession of the ball after it bounces off free throw.
the backboard or rim on a
● Cross-Court Violation: When the offensive team establishes
missed shot. possession of the

● Box Out: Positioning yourself between the basket and your basketball in the front court, they are then not allowed to return
opponent as a way to obtain to the backcourt

a rebound. while still in possession of the basketball. If they do, a cross-

court violation will be
● Offensive Rebound: A rebound taken by an offensive player.
called.
● Defensive Rebound: Rebound by the defense player.
●Three-second Violation: An offensive player is in the free-throw
● Outlet Pass: The first pass made after a defensive rebound to
lane for longer than
a teammate to start a
three seconds. ● Fouled Out: A player having to leave the game because they
have committed five
● Five-second Violation: Taking longer than five seconds to pass
the ball inbounds to a fouls.

teammate. ● Double-Double: A phrase meaning a player recorded two

statistical figures in double
● Shot Clock Violation: If a team is unable to attempt a shot
before the shot clock digits (i.e. 10 points and 12 assists).

expires, a shot clock violation is called and the offensive team ● Triple-double: A player achieves double figures in three out of
loses possession of five offensive categories.

the basketball. For example, 13 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.

● Dead: Offensive player has the ball and has already used their ● Quadruple-Double: A rare stat line where a player reaches
dribble. They must now double-digits in four

either pass or shoot the ball. offensive categories. For example, 15 points, 12 rebounds, 11
assists, and 13 steals
● Double Dribble: This is a dribbling violation that occurs when a
player dribbles the BASKETBALL RULES AND REGULATIONS (FIBA)
basketball, terminates their dribble and then begins to dribble THE GAME
again.
• Basketball is played by 2 teams of 5 players each.
● Carry: A dribbling violation that occurs when a player continues • The team that has scored the greater number of points at the end
their dribble after of playing time shall be the winner.
HOW THE BALL IS PLAYED
placing their hand underneath the basketball. Also called
‘palming.’ • During the game, the ball is played with the hand(s) only and may
be passed, thrown, tapped, rolled or dribbled in any direction,
● Pivot: When a stationary player has possession of the subject to the restriction of the rules.
basketball, they're allowed to • A player shall not run with the ball, deliberately touched the ball,
kick or block it with any part of the leg or strike it with the fist.
move one foot around as long as their other foot stays in contact
GOAL : WHEN AND AND ITS VALUE
with the floor at all
• A goal release from a free throw count as 1 point
times. This is called pivoting. • A goal release from a 2-point goal area counts for 2 points.
• A goal release from a 3-point goal area counts 3 points.
●Traveling: Also known as "walking"; a violation in which the ball • After the ball has touched the ring on the last free throw and is
handler takes fewer legally touched by any player before it enters the basket, the goal
than two steps without dribbling, or holds the ball while counts as 2-points.
changing or moving the pivot PLAYING TIME, TIED SCORE, AND OVERTIME
• The game shall consist of 4 quarters of 10 minutes each.
foot. • If the score is tied at the end of the fourth quarter, the game shall
continue with as many overtimes of 5 minutes duration each as
● Goaltending: A violation of the rules in the sport of basketball.
necessary to break the tie.
It consists of certain
Start and end of the Quarter , Overtime or the Game
forms of player interference with the ball while it is on its way to The first quarter starts when the ball leaves the hand(s) of the crew chief
the basket. on the toss for the jump ball in the center circle.
• All other quarters or overtimes starts when the ball is at the
● Foul: A violation of the rules usually involving illegal contact disposal of the player taking the throw-in.
with a player of the
• A quarter, overtime or game shall end when the game clock
opposition. signals sound for the end of the quarter or overtime .
S H OT C L O C K
● Incidental Contact: Normal, legal contact between players. • 24seconds
• A ft e r o ff e n s i v e r e b o u n d : 1 4 s e c o n d s
● Hand Check: A defender fouls by touching the opposing ball
3-POINT LINE
handler with one or both
6.75m (6.60 on baseline)
hands too many times. When FIBA introduced the three-point arc, it was 6.25 meters (20.5 feet)
from the basket and since 2010, the distance has been 6.75 meters (22.1
● Flagrant Foul: This is unnecessary or excessive contact against
feet) at the radius with no less than 0.9 meters (3.0 feet) from each sideline.
an opponent.
TIME-OUTS
● Personal Foul: Contacting a player in a way that may injure him. • 2 time-outs during the first half
• 3 time-outs during second half (but only 2 in last two minutes of
● Charging: An offensive foul, which occurs when an offensive the 4th period)
player runs into a defender • 1 time-out per overtime period
who has established position. • Always 60 seconds or 1 minute
• Unused time-outs may not be covered over the next half or
● Technical Foul: A foul called as a result of misconduct in which overtime
the opponent is STATUS OF THE BALL
The ball can be either live or dead.
awarded a free-throw.
The ball becomes live when:
● Intentional Foul: A defense player fouls in order to stop the • During the jump ball, the ball leaves the hand(s) of the crew chief
clock. on the toss.
 • During a free throw, the ball is at the disposal of the free-throw • It refuses to play after being instructed to do so by the crew chief.
shooter.
GAME LOST BY DEFAULT
The ball becomes dead when:
• Any goal or free throw is made. A team shall lose a game by default if, during the game, the team has fewer
• A referee blows his/her whistle while the ball is live. than 2 players on the court ready to play.
LOCATION OF A PLAYER AND REFEREE
• The location of the player is determined by where he/she is BASKETBALL: HAND SIGNALS
touching the floor.
A - OFFICIALS’ SIGNALS
• The location of the referee is determined is the same manner as
that o a player. A.1 The hand signals illustrated in these rules are the only official signals.
SUBSTITUTIONS OF PLAYER(S)
• A team may substitute a player(s) during the substitution A.2 While reporting to the scorer’s table it is strongly recommended to
opportunity. verbally support the communication (in international games in the English
• A substitution opportunity ends when the ball is at the disposal language).
of a player for a throw-in or a first free throw. A.3 It is important that the table officials are familiar with these signals.
JUMP BALL AND ALTERNATING POSSESSION GAME CLOCK SIGNALS
• Jump ball to start game Stop The Clock
• The one losing initial jump ball gets possession for the next jump
ball situation Clock shall be stopped only for a charged time out, an injury/blood
• Alternating possession between teams thereafter for all jump substitution, disqualification of player, coach or fan, and administrating
ball situations free throws.

INDIVIDUAL FOUL Stop The Clock for Foul

• Foul out on 5 (personal and technical) On fouls called, leave the clock running until the official has reported the
foul and signal for the clock to be stopped.
TEAM FOULS AND BONUS FREE-THROWS
Start The Clock
• 2 free-throws awarded for each (non-shooting) foul after the 4th
period (includes player technical fouls) The shot clock timer starts when the offensive team claims new possession
• Does not include offensive fouls/fouls by team in possession of the ball which is in play.

TECHNICAL FOUL (PENALTY) SCORING

• 1 free throw and play resumes at the point of interruption 1 point

GOALTENDING/BASKET INTERFERENCE When players are fouled, they get free attempts to shoot the ball, which
are called foul shots. A player is given one point for every successful foul
• No blocking a ball in downward flight towards the rim. shot.
• Once the ball strikes the rim, any player can play the ball (i.e.
swat it away or tap it in) 2 points

ZONE DEFENSE When a two-point basket is scored, the official will extend one arm parallel
to the floor and point with two fingers.
LEGAL
3 points

When a three-point basket scored – the official will extend both arms
directly upwards with fingers pointed to signify that a player has scored
three points.

SUBSTITUTION AND TIME-OUT

SUBSTITUTION

It will be made when a substitute player wishes to enter the game

BECKONING-IN

This hand signal is intended to beckon or call-over someone or the

substitute who waited to enter the game

CHARGED TIME-OUT
PLAYER NUMBERS - 00, 0, 1-99
Charged timeouts can be requested by a player or a coach on the offensive
THROW-IN team by signaling to a referee.

A throw-in: Starts when the ball is at the disposal of the player taking the MEDIA TIME-OUT
throw-in. Ends when: (1) the ball touches or is legally touched by any player
If the game clock counts down below a certain time in a period, a
on the court. (2) The team taking he throw-in commits a violation. (3) A live
ball lodges between the ring and the backboard during a throw-in. mandatory media timeout will be taken, and one timeout will be deducted,
or “charged,” from one team's total. In the NBA, this happens at 6:59, and
GAME LOST BY FORFEIT again if a second timeout is not taken by 2:59.

A team shall lose the game by forfeit if: INFORMATIVE

• The team is not present or is unable to field 5 players ready to CANCEL SCORE, CANCEL PLAY
play 15 minutes after the game is scheduled to start.
A referee hand signal intends to disallow the preceding basket or play.
• Its actions prevent the game from being played.
VISIBLE COUNT An offensive player setting a screen either moves their feet or leans into
the defender. An illegal screen can also be called if the player setting the
There are specific times to use the visible count: when the ball is at the
screen extends their arm or leg to inhibit a defender's progress.
disposal of a thrower during a throw-in. When a backcourt count applies.
PUSHING OR CHARGING WITHOUT THE BALL
COMMUNICATION
When a defender pushes an offensive player or bumps into the body of an
SHOT CLOCK RESET
offensive player
The shot clock will reset to 14 seconds in three scenarios: after an offensive
HANDCHECKING
rebound of a missed field goal or free throw that hit the rim; after a loose
ball foul is called on the defensive team immediately following a missed Personal foul describing illegal contact by a defender who uses their hands
field goal or free throw that hit the rim to impede the movement of an opponent that possesses the ball.

DIRECTION OF PLAY AND/OR OUT-OF-BOUNDS ILLEGAL USE OF HANDS

The shot clock will reset to 14 seconds in three scenarios: after an offensive Any use of the hands on another player that the referee thinks is illegal
rebound of a missed field goal or free throw that hit the rim; after a loose
CHARGING WITH THE BALL
ball foul is called on the defensive team immediately following a missed
field goal or free throw that hit the rim ILLEGAL CONTACT TO THE HAND
HELD BALL/JUMP BALL SITUATION HIT TO THE HEAD
VIOLATIONS EXCESSIVE SWINGING OF ELBOW
TRAVELLING When a player swings their elbow aggressive and excessively
A violation in basketball that occurs when a player takes too many steps FOUL BY TEAM IN CONTROL OF THE BALL
without dribbling the ball.
Foul that is committed by a member of the team currently in possession of
ILLEGAL DRIBBLE: DOUBLE DRIBBLING the ball, excluding the player controlling the ball
When a player ends their dribble by catching or causing the ball to come FOUL ON THE ACT OF SHOOTING
to rest in one or both hands and then dribbles it again with one hand or
when a player touches it before the ball hits the ground When a defensive player makes illegal physical contact with a player
shooting the ball.
ILLEGAL DRIBBLE: CARRYING THE BALL
FOUL NOT ON THE ACT OF SHOOTING
It occurs when the dribbling player continues to dribble after allowing the
ball to come to rest in one or both hands and/or places their hand Any foul that is not on a shooting player
underneath the basketball.
SPECIAL FOULS
3 SECONDS
DOUBLE FOUL
Occurs when a player stayed on a paint for full three seconds
Occurs in basketball when two opposing players foul each other at the
5 SECONDS same time

It is called against an offensive player with the ball when that player is TECHNICAL FOUL
guarded closely for five seconds or more, and does not pass, shoot, or
Foul that is assessed to a player, coach, or team typically for
dribble within that time.
unsportsmanlike conduct and does not usually involve physical contact
8 SECONDS with an opponent while the ball is in play

An 8-second violation in basketball occurs when a team possesses the ball UNSPORTSMANLIKE FOUL
for more than eight seconds in its backcourt. The backcourt is the half of
Act in a manner unbecoming to the image of professional basketball. It
the court that contains that team's defensive basket.
consists of acts of deceit, disrespect of officials and profanity.
24 SECONDS
DISQUALIFYING FOUL
The attacking team has 24 seconds to attempt a field goal, from the
Any flagrant unsportsmanlike action by players, substitutes, head coaches,
moment they take possession of the ball.
assistant coaches, excluded players and accompanying delegation
DELIBERATE FOOT BALL members.

Kicking the ball or striking it with any part of the leg is a violation when it FOUL PENALTY ADMINISTRATION REPORTING TO TABLE
is an intentional act.
ADMINISTRATING FREE THROWS – ACTIVE OFFICIAL (LEAD)
BALL RETURNED TO BACKCOURT
ADMINISTRATING FREE THROWS – PASSIVE OFFICIAL (TRAIL & CENTRE)
A team in control of a live ball in the frontcourt has caused the ball to be
illegally returned to their backcourt

NUMBER OF PLAYERS

TYPE OF FOULS

HOLDING

Occurs when a defender holds, grabs, or pulls an offensive player

BLOCKING (DEFENSE), ILLEGAL SCREEN (OFFENSE)