Basketball

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SLAM-DUNK!
This month GIRL.com.au discusses the very popular game of basketball.

BASKETBALL is played by two teams of five players each and is one of the most popular sports among males and females alike. Games last forty minutes, consisting of two twenty minute halves with a fifteen-minute interval at half time. The object of the game is to score a greater number of points than the opponents in the playing time. The ball may be passed, thrown, tapped, rolled or dribbled in any direction, subject to the restrictions set out in the game rules. The winner of the game is the team that has scored the greater number of points at the end of playing time.

THE RULES

Ø Play begins with a "jump ball" where the ball is tossed in the air and two opposing players must leap up in an attempt to tap it to their team.

Ø All goals score two points, except for those taken from the free throw line after a foul. These score one point.

Ø A long distance throw (outside the key) scores three points.

Ø When a goal is scored, the opposition are given a throw-in from the endline for play to resume.

BASKETBALL ORIGINS

1891 Although basketball seems so American, it was in fact invented by Canadian Dr James Naismith. He introduced the game
to add variety to sports lessons at the college he was teaching at.

1895 The backboard was introduced to prevent fans from interfering with play (baskets were often hung on balconies).

1904 Basketball was a demonstration sport at the Olympic Games, before first appearing as an Olympic sport in the 1936 Games in Berlin.

At the Olympic Games, basketball is played under the International Basketball Federation Rules.

THE PLAYERS

Ø Five members of the team are on the court and are referred to as players.

Ø The remaining five members of the team's bench are substitutes. Players may be substituted at the discretion of the coach.

Ø The coach may use the players as often as desired.

Ø Each team is allowed a coach and an assistant coach who can call for "time-out" (periods where the clock is stopped and the team can consult on tactics) Teams are allowed two time-outs per half, each of one minute and one time-out in any period of extra time.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

ALLEY-OOP PASS: The pass is thrown as a player runs towards the basket. The receiving player catches the ball in the air and either dunks or lays it in the hoop without touching the ground.

BOUNCE PASS: Passing the ball from one player to another by bouncing it on the floor.

BLOCKING OUT: A legal move to stop/screen the opponent from gaining easy access to rebound.

REBOUND: The gathering and controlling of a missed shot.

SCREEN: A legal position taken by a player to force an opponent to stop or to change direction.

STEAL: The action of a defensive player in either taking the ball away from an offensive player or intercepting a pass.

TRAVEL: Progress without dribbling the ball.

DRIBBLE: Bounce the ball to the floor with one hand while moving forward.

BENCH: Where substitutes and coaches reside during games. A 'bench' player is another term for a reserve.

DRIVE: An aggressive dribble to the basket by an offensive player.

DUNK: One or two-handed shot in which the player pushes or drops the ball into a basket. When force is used it is called a slam-dunk.

FREE THROW: When a foul is committed, the player fouled usually gets to take two shots from the free throw line which is 15 feet from the basket. Free throws are worth one point.

JUMP SHOT: A shot taken away from the basket. Players usually jump into the air, set themselves and take the shot. Sometimes referred to as a 'jumper'.

OVERTIME: When a game is tied at the end of regulation play, the two teams play a five-minute overtime period. A game can include as many overtime periods as are necessary to determine a winner.

TURNOVER: A play that results in a change of possession with the control of the ball going from one team to the other.

<< Source: http://www.nbl.com.au >>

- Annemarie Failla

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