Basketball Rules: How to Play Basketball

Basketball can be quite an entertaining sport, if you know what the rules, purpose and plays are for the game. If you are lost as far as the rules go, like any game you will not be able to sit back and enjoy the game the way you are entitled to.

Like most sports, Basketball involves a ball and the object is often to keep the other opponent from scoring with the ball. However, the objection is to keep the opposing team from reaching the goal.

Basketball, involves two opposing teams, each with a total of 15 players. Five of the players are benched while the other 10 are active in the game. Every player on the team has one active role. Without fouling, get the ball in the opposing basket and prevent that same team from scoring in your basket.

The tools used for this fun game are two 10 feet tall goals with baskets that have 18 inch rims facing each other at opposite ends of the court, 94 feet away from each other. Also, a regulation basketball around 29.48 to 30 inches in diameter and weighing around 1.3 pounds is needed. Other seemingly important tools are Coaches, Referees, Cheerleaders and family support for the players.

The court consists of white lines 94 feet long and 50 feet wide. The free throw line stands about 12 feet from the rims and extending further from this free throw line is the three point "arch". Any basket made outside of this arch are worth three points instead of 2.

The game begins with a tip off. A Ref will toss the ball in the air between two opposing players (one selected from each team). Each player jumps to tip the ball first to knock it to their team players waiting for the ball. Then the action begins. Whoever has the ball first will then try to get the ball into the opponent's basket while the opponent defends the ball and tries to steal it from the team with the ball.

There are two sides to this system called offense and defense. If your team is offending the ball is with them. If they are defending the ball is with the other team. The best way to remember this is to think that the team without the ball is the team defending the basket from having to take another ball. If you cannot remember that then think that the team offending is the team that is wanted off the basket.

Now, you may be wondering why the court has free throw lines if this is the purpose of the game. To put it simply, there are a few rules to make the game fair and interesting. Each team is allowed five fouls. A foul is anyway that a team member is unfairly putting the opposing team member at a disadvantage. If either team has more than five fouls, they are automatically disqualified and the other team wins.

As a penalty, the player that was fouled against will be allowed to approach the free throw line and have two shots at one point throws. Three players line up on the side lines of the free throw line while the player takes the shots without any interference to the fouled player. Once the second shot has either sunk or missed then the players assume formation and reach for the ball.

You may notice, on the sidelines a team player will be handed the ball from outside the white lines. When this happens, an out has been taken place by the opposing teams. Anytime that a ball has landed or bounced on the outside of the white line that surrounds the court will result in an "out of bounds" play. There are two ways a player will try to prevent this event from happening. One way is to leap over the out line and toss the ball back into the court before your feet and the ball touch the ground. The second way is called a Safe. This maneuver consists of the player catching the ball before it lands out of bounds, without putting their feet over the out line.

Traveling will also cause a penalty of the other team getting the ball. Traveling is holding the ball for more than 2 steps. A player must be dribbling the ball at all times unless passing or going up for a lay up. During a lay up the one with the possession of the ball cannot stand underneath the goal for more than 3 seconds and still the player is only allowed two steps.

Now that you understand what the rules and the purpose of the game, Basketball can be a fun event to take your family too, watch on television or even participate in. Keep in mind that it is just a game. Good sportsmanship is important in any game and even if you lose the game it is best to end it with a smile.