Basketball, invented by James Naismith in 1891, is a team sport that requires considerable agility and endurance, developing hand-eye coordination among its players. The game consists of two teams of five players, competing for points by throwing the ball through a hoop suspended without a bottom (a “basket”) attached to a backboard at each end of a court, usually up to 94 feet/29.7 metres long and 50 feet/15 metres wide. It is a highly popular and widely played recreational sport, especially in the US, and many of its players compete at professional level.
The most basic version of the game involves a player advancing the ball by bouncing it while walking or running, known as dribbling. It is considered a violation to lift or displace the pivot foot while dribbling, carry the ball, or resume dribbling after having held it in both hands for more than one second. There are also time restrictions imposed before passing the ball beyond halfway (8 seconds in FIBA and NBA play; 10 seconds in high school and NCAA play for both sexes), while holding the ball while closely guarded (5 seconds) and remaining in a restricted area of the court called the free-throw lane (3 seconds).
Typically, each team has three players on the floor at any one time, with each position characterized by their height: the tallest player is the center, the next-tallest and strongest is the power forward, and the shortest and most agile are the small forward and shooting guard. The point guard, the fastest player on the team, manages the execution of a coach’s game plan by controlling the ball and positioning teammates to advance the ball into scoring positions.
The highest-percentage shot in the game is the slam dunk, where a player jumps high and throws the ball downward through the basket with both hands. A successful basket earns two points, while a field goal, made from beyond the three-point line, earns three points. A foul committed during the shooting of a basket results in a free throw that is worth one point.
In addition to the rules that govern how a game is played, there are other aspects of basketball, such as how to play defense and offensive plays, that require considerable skill. In order to improve their skills, most basketball players participate in regular workouts that consist of strength and conditioning sessions 3-5 days per week and on-court drills with the coaches. The NCAA requires a minimum of 8 h of team-related activity per week during the off-season, with up to 2 h of this being direct contact. During the season, most basketball teams have between 2 and 5 hours of practice each day. During these sessions, players learn how to play the game properly and develop the necessary physical skills. In addition, they work on their offensive and defensive tactics with their coaches.
