Basketball.docx

Basketball Game

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball through the defender's hoop while preventing the opposing team from shooting through their own hoop.

Basketball Skills Dribbling - is important to penetrate to the hoop, move the ball across the court, get away from the defense, and find a good passing lane. Dribbling is the art of bouncing the ball up and down off the floor with one hand, in order to advance the ball up the court. It is illegal to touch the ball with both hands simultaneously, a.k.a double dribbling. While dribbling, a player should protect the ball to prevent the defender from stealing it. Top point guards dribble and control the ball as if it were on a string. Good technique is critical for a ball handler. You should dribble with your fingertips rather than your palm. Dribble with your head up so you can see the opposition and your teammates. Keep your body low and use your off-ball hand to help keep your defender at bay. Work on dribbling with both hands, so you'll be as comfortable going to your left or your right. Tips for dribbling include: not looking at the ball, pounding the ball hard, and using the free arm as a shield. There are different types of dribbles: • change-of-pace, • crossover dribble, • behind the back, • pull back dribble, • low dribble, • basic dribble, • between the legs dribble Passing - A good offensive attack requires good passing from players. A pass happens when one player throws the ball to another player with the purpose of setting up a play or taking a shot. In basketball there are two main types of passing. The first type happens when one player throws another player the ball and the receiving player then scores a basket. The player who threw the ball gets credit for an assist. Great passers can see the whole court and anticipate where a teammate will go and what a defender will do. Mastering the basics is the place to start. Develop a two-hand chest pass, bounce pass and overhead pass so you can deliver the ball to your teammates in the best position for them to shoot or beat their defender. Steve Nash or Derrick Rose can dazzle you with a behind-the-back or a no-look pass. But those moves are not just for show; they provide a teammate the best chance to score.This helps find an open man, to find a good shooter or to get away from a defender. There are several types of passes you need to learn: • Overhead Pass • Chest Pass • Push Pass • Baseball Pass • Off-the-Dribble Pass • Bounce Pass

Shooting - The object of the game is to win by scoring the most points. Shooting consists of launching the ball toward the basket in an arcing motion with the purpose of it going in and scoring points. When shooting, keep your eyes on the target, place the ball on your fingertips (not the palm), place your feet shoulder width apart, place your elbow under the ball, and then follow through and hold the finish. It's difficult to score if you can't shoot the ball effectively. As Better Basketball Coaching explains, shooting is something of an art form, and some players, such as Kevin Durant and Ray Allen, have a knack for it. But everyone can improve their shooting through proper technique and lots of practice. Proper technique includes squaring your body up to the target, shooting the ball with your fingertips, keeping your elbows from flying, putting backspin and arc on the shot and following through completely after letting the ball fly. Therefore, improving the team's shooting is important to win a game. There are several ways to score in the game: • Jump Shot • Dunk • Alley oop • Free throw • Layup • Three-Point Shot • Hook Shot Rebounding - is essential to gain or regain possession after the shot. Usually, the team who has the most number of rebounds after the game has more shot attempts and chances to score. An offensive rebound is obtained when the team that just shot the ball misses and then recaptures the ball again. As a general rule it is tougher for a player to get an offensive rebound than a defensive rebound because after a shot misses the opposing team's players are closer to the basket and in a better position to grab the ball. Although it helps to be tall and have jumping ability, rebounding is a matter of desire as well as ability. Charles Barkley was relatively small for a forward, but he was an outstanding rebounder. He had the ability to determine where an errant shot was likely to fall, the willingness to crash the boards relentlessly and the strength to block out taller opponents. Blocking out your opponent -- also called boxing out -- is one of the keys to good rebounding. To do it effectively, maintain your concentration and focus. Offense - is the only chance that the team has a shot at the basket and scoring. Playing a good offense requires coordination among players and individual skill to execute well plays.

Defense - To be able to get a chance to score and gain possession, the team should play good defense and try to stop their opponent from scoring. As said, "A good defense is a good offense." Even the best scorers go into shooting slumps. But you can always play good defense if you hustle and understand both individual and team defense. When you are defending a player, keep you head lower than his. Stay close enough to the offensive player to bother him -- but not so close he can blow by you with one step. Know your opponent's tendencies so you can dictate the direction you want him to move. Be aware of the other players on the court, so you can play help defense when a teammate loses his man. 

The block is another spectacular crowd favorite. It occurs when the offensive player shoots and the defender swats the ball away, blocking its trajectory to the basket and preventing any points from being scored.

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The steal, or taking the ball away from an opposing player to gain possession for your own team, requires quick hands and great timing. A player can steal a pass out of midair or from the other team while someone is dribbling.

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A defensive rebound is obtained when one team misses a shot and the opposing team grabs the ball. An important skill needed to collect defensive rebounds is known as boxing out, a technique by which players use their bodies to shield the opposing team from grabbing the ball.

Moves - There are different kinds of basketball moves that are important in executing both a good offense and a good defense. Moves are helpful in finding an open man, make a good shot or create an amazing play. Assist - is given to a teammate to help him score easily. Thus is it important to find an open man on the court

Basketball Fouls and Violations ( Rules of the game) One of the important parts of coaching basketball to anyone is understanding the fouls and violations which occur during practices and games. The fouls explained below will teach you to be an honest and responsible player. 24-Second Violation All NBA teams have to make a shot within 24 seconds. If not, then the violation results in change of ball possession. 8-Second Violation After the basket is made by a team, the offensive team gets only 8 seconds to bring the ball over the mid court line. Blocking Once the game or practice is on, a player tries to position his or her body in a way to prevent the opponent from getting ahead. Blocking is mostly done by the defense team players. Charging This is an offense team's foul. One of the offensive team's player runs into a defending team's players who has already established his or her position. Defensive Foul When a player practices an unnecessary or illegal contact with either the ball or away from the ball, a defensive foul is said to have been committed. Defensive Foul The offense player who dribbles the ball, stops, and then begins to dribble it again is said to have committed the double dribble violation. Elbowing Elbowing can be done by any of the teams. This is when a player swings his or her elbows in a forceful, excessive manner. The elbowing player makes contact with the opponent at this point. Five-Second Violation A five-second throw-in violation generally occurs during a throw-in when the ball is not passed by the player who is supposed to inbound the ball before 5 seconds have gone by after he or she got the ball. Usually the penalty for a five-second violation is losing of the ball from that team. Flagrant Foul This is a serious contact foul where a player tries to unnecessarily and intentionally make contact during the game. Usually the penalty for flagrant foul is that the other team gets 2 free throws and the possession of the basketball out-of-bounds. And the player who committed the flagrant foul is automatically disqualified from the game.

Floor Violation This is an action of a player who violates the rules but doesn't commit any foul or hinder the opponent. Usually the penalty for floor violation is a change of ball possession. Foul Trouble During the track of a game, one or more players who have collected way too many fouls are said to be in "foul trouble". All the players who have collected 5 fouls in high school and college game, or 6 fouls in NBA game will be disqualified or eliminated from that game. Which is why all teams must be careful not to accumulate more than 6 fouls in each half. Goaltending This violation is generally committed by the defense team's player. The player illegally interferes with a shot on the rim or on a downward path to the hoop. Usually the penalty for this violation results in the shot by the offense team being assumed in and they receive a basket. Hand Check This is a personal foul done by the defense team player. When he or she occasionally or continuously uses his or her hand(s) on the opponent player who has the ball. Holding Whether you are in a defense or offense team, using your hands to interfere your opponent's freedom of movement commits a holding fouls. Illegal Screen A player who is setting the screen still moves when the defense team's player makes contact with him or her. Illegal screen is a type of blocking where the defender is prevented from moving around the screen. Intentional Foul This foul is committed by the defense team's player on purpose to stop the clock. Usually in a college basketball game, the team which was fouled gets the advantage of 2 free throws and also the possession of the ball. Lane Violation At the time of a free throw, if a player enters the lane too soon, lane violation is said to have been committed. Usually the penalty for lane violation results in a turnover or the other team receives another free throw. Offensive Foul This is a personal foul committed by the offense team's player. The player, who has the ball in his or her hands, charges into the defense team's player who is standing in a stationary, defensive position. Over-the-Back A player who jumps on and goes over the back of his or her opponent who is trying to attempt a rebound with the ball. Palming

A player who takes his or her hand under the ball and scoops it while dribbling is said to have committed the palming violation. Reaching In When a player tries to steal the ball from the offense team's player, the player extends his or her arm and hand out, making contact with the player who has the ball. Shooting Foul This foul is committed when a player is fouled while in the act of shooting the ball. If the player misses the shot, he or she receives 2 or 3 free throw, depending on which shot he or she was originally taking. Technical Foul Any violations and misconduct which detriments the game is called a technical foul. Usually the penalty for a technical foul is a free throw to the opponent team. Three in the Key Any defense or offense player cannot remain in the lane for more than 3 seconds at a time. If the violation is committed, it results in change of ball possession. Traveling The offense team's player who has the ball and takes too many steps, anywhere on the court, without dribbling the ball is said to have committed this violation. Tripping When a player uses his or her foot or leg to make the opponent to lose or fall during the game is said to have committed the tripping foul. Unsportsmanlike Foul Any player or team that plays unfairly, unethically, and/or dishonorably is said to have committed the unsportsmanlike foul. Such fouls are usually given a penalty of a free throw to the opponent team.

Foul - is often an accidental contact made by the defender to his opponent or an aggressive move by the ball-handler towards his defender. However, a foul is also used as a strategy to stop the clock or to keep the shooting player from scoring easily. Learning how to use your fouls well is important in the game. While playing basketball, any player who breaks the rules of the game, making illegal personal contact with the other team, and has unsportsmanlike behavior. There are four main types of fouls:    

Personal Technical Flagrant Team foul

Personal fouls: Personal fouls include any type of illegal physical contact.

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Hitting Pushing Slapping Holding Illegal pick/screen -- when an offensive player is moving. When an offensive player sticks out a limb and makes physical contact with a defender in an attempt to block the path of the defender.

Personal foul penalties: If a player is shooting while a being fouled, then he gets two free throws if his shot doesn't go in, but only one free throw if his shot does go in. 

Three free throws are awarded if the player is fouled while shooting for a three-point goal and they miss their shot. If a player is fouled while shooting a three-point shot and makes it anyway, he is awarded one free throw. Thus, he could score four points on the play.

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Inbounds. If fouled while not shooting, the ball is given to the team the foul was committed upon. They get the ball at the nearest side or baseline, out of bounds, and have 5 seconds to pass the ball onto the court.

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One & one. If the team committing the foul has seven or more fouls in the game, then the player who was fouled is awarded one free throw. If he makes his first shot, then he is awarded another free throw.

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Ten or more fouls. If the team committing the foul has ten or more fouls, then the fouled player receives two free throws.

Charging. An offensive foul that is committed when a player pushes or runs over a defensive player. The ball is given to the team that the foul was committed upon. Blocking. Blocking is illegal personal contact resulting from a defender not establishing position in time to prevent an opponent's drive to the basket. Flagrant foul. Violent contact with an opponent. This includes hitting, kicking, and punching. This type of foul results in free throws plus the offense retaining possession of the ball after the free throws.

Intentional foul. When a player makes physical contact with another player with no reasonable effort to steal the ball. It is a judgment call for the officials. Technical foul. Technical foul. A player or a coach can commit this type of foul. It does not involve player contact or the ball but is instead about the 'manners' of the game. Foul language, obscenity, obscene gestures, and even arguing can be considered a technical foul, as can technical details regarding filling in the scorebook improperly or dunking during warm-ups. Violations - Knowing the kinds of basketball violations improves your game. Walking/Traveling. Taking more than 'a step and a half' without dribbling the ball is traveling. Moving your pivot foot once you've stopped dribbling is traveling. Carrying/palming. When a player dribbles the ball with his hand too far to the side of or, sometimes, even under the ball. Double Dribble. Dribbling the ball with both hands on the ball at the same time or picking up the dribble and then dribbling again is a double dribble. Held ball. Occasionally, two or more opposing players will gain possession of the ball at the same time. In order to avoid a prolonged and/or violent tussle, the referee stops the action and awards the ball to one team or the other on a rotating basis. Goaltending. If a defensive player interferes with a shot while it's on the way down toward the basket, while it's on the way up toward the basket after having touched the backboard, or while it's in the cylinder above the rim, it's goaltending and the shot counts. If committed by an offensive player, it's a violation and the ball is awarded to the opposing team for a throw-in. Backcourt violation. Once the offense has brought the ball across the mid-court line, they cannot go back across the line during possession. If they do, the ball is awarded to the other team to pass inbounds. Time restrictions. A player passing the ball inbounds has five seconds to pass the ball. If he does not, then the ball is awarded to the other team. Other time restrictions include the rule that a player cannot have the ball for more than five seconds when being closely guarded and, in some states and levels, shot-clock restrictions requiring a team to attempt a shot within a given time frame. In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points by shooting from behind the free throw line, a line situated at the end of the restricted area. Free throws are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team. Each successful free throw is worth one point.

Basketball positions

The five basketball positions normally employed by organized basketball teams are the point guard (PG), the shooting guard (SG), the small forward (SF), the power forward(PF), and the center (C). Some teams use non-standard or hybrid positions, such as the point forward, a hybrid small forward/point guard; the swingman, a hybrid small forward/shooting guard; the big, a hybrid power forward/center; and the stretch four, a power forward with the shooting range of typical shooting guards. The point guard (PG) ,[1] also known as the one, is typically the team's best ball handler and passer. Therefore, they often lead their team in assists and steals. They are often quick and are able to hit shots either outside the three-point line or "in the paint", largely depending on the player's skill level. Point guards are looked upon as the "floor general" or the "coach on the floor". They should study the game and game film to be able to recognize the weaknesses of the defense, and the strengths of their own offense. The shooting guard (SG) is also known as the two or the off guard. Along with the small forward, a shooting guard is often referred to as a wing because of its use in common positioning tactics. As the name suggests, most shooting guards are good shooters from three-point range. Besides being able to shoot the ball, shooting guards tend to have good ball handling skills and the ability to drive the ball to the basket, often creating their own shots off the dribble. A versatile shooting guard will have good passing skills, allowing them to assume point guard responsibilities known as combo guards. The small forward (SF), also known as the three, is considered to be the most versatile of the main five basketball positions. Versatility is key for small forwards because of the nature of their role, which resembles that of a shooting guard more often than that of a power forward. This is why the small forward and shooting guard positions are often interchangeable and referred to as wings. Small forwards have a variety of assets, such as quickness and strength inside. One common thread among all kinds of small forwards is an ability to "get to the line" and draw fouls by aggressively attempting (post-up) plays, lay-ups, or slam dunks.

The power forward (PF), also known as the four, often plays a role similar to that of the center, down in the "post" or "low blocks". The power forward is often the team's most versatile scorer, being able to score close to the basket while also being able to shoot mid-range jump shots from 12 to 18 feet from the basket. Some power forwards, known as stretch fours, have since extended their shooting range to three-pointers. On defense, they are required to have the strength to guard bigger players close to the basket and to have the athleticism to guard quick players away from the basket. The center (C), also known as the five or the pivot, usually plays near the baseline, close to the basket (the "low post"). They are usually the tallest players on the floor. The center usually scores "down low, in the paint" (near the basket, in the key), but some can be good perimeter shooters. They are typically skilled at gathering rebounds, contesting shots and setting screens on plays. The center position has been traditionally considered one of the most important positions, if not the most important.