Basketball is a team sport in which players compete to score points by shooting a ball through a basket attached to a backboard. Each successful hoop shot scores one to three points. Offensive and defensive skills are important, and players must be able to hold and see the ball correctly at all times. In addition, a player must be able to pass the ball to teammates and make overhead passes. The game is played with two teams of five players, and the winner is the first to get more points than its opponent in four quarters of varying length.
The game begins with a jump ball, in which the referee tosses the ball between opposing players, one on each team, at center court. The team that gains control of the ball plays offense first. From there, the players must try to move down the court and into the other team’s territory without getting fouled. They can do this by passing the ball to teammates, running with it or dribbling, which is bouncing the ball on the floor as you run.
Whenever the ball is not being passed or shot, it is defended by the defensive team. The defense must cover the entire area of the floor, known as the paint, a round line on the ground just inside the bottom of the hoop. If a player makes a basket from inside this arc, it scores two points; long shots made from behind the arc score three points. Players may also earn a free throw, worth one point, after being fouled while shooting.
A player is assigned another player to guard, and they must follow that player around the court. A common technique is man-to-man, in which each player covers the same area of the floor, with guards covering the top and forwards taking the top by the hoop. Some teams also play zone defense, in which each player is assigned a section of the floor to defend.
Learning to shoot a basketball well requires a lot of practice. The best way to learn is to work on basic fundamentals with a coach or an experienced teammate. A good shooter puts a consistent amount of backspin on the ball before it is released. This helps the ball bounce and travel further when it hits the rim or backboard. It is also essential to practice the proper “follow through” after releasing the ball, which increases the chance of the basket being made.
Finally, a good basketball player must be strong and fast. Running with the ball, especially when chasing an opposing player, is challenging, and players must be able to jump and stay in the air for a while, as is required in a layup or slam dunk. For this reason, they must also work on running exercises, such as taking a big step in one direction and crossing the trailing foot just behind it to increase their speed. They must also be able to set clean picks, in which they block an opposing player with their body and give a teammate a clear lane to the basket.
