Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by throwing a ball through a 3.05 m high hoop (the goal) under organized rules.

Points are scored by passing the ball through the basket from above; the team with more points at the end of the game wins. The ball can be advanced on the court by bouncing it (dribbling) or passing it between teammates. Disruptive physical contact (fouls) is not permitted and there are restrictions on how the ball can be handled (violations).

Rules and regulations

The object of the game is to outscore one's opponents by throwing the ball through the opponents' basket from above while preventing the opponents from doing so on their own. An attempt to score in this way is called a shot. A successful shot is worth two points, or three points if it is taken from beyond the three-point arc which is 6.25 meters from the basket.

Games are played in four quarters of 10 minutes. Overtime periods are five minutes long.

Five players from each team (out of a twelve player roster) may be on the court at one time. Substitutions are unlimited but can only be done when play is stopped.

Fouls

An attempt to unfairly disadvantage an opponent through physical contact is illegal and is called a foul. These are most commonly committed by defensive players; however, they can be committed by offensive players as well. Players who are fouled either receive the ball to pass inbounds again, or receive one or more free throws if they are fouled in the act of shooting, depending on whether the shot was successful. One point is awarded for making a free throw, which is attempted from a line 4.5 m from the basket.

If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is unsuccessful, the player is awarded a number of free throws equal to the value of the attempted shot. A player fouled while attempting a regular two-point shot, then, receives two shots. A player fouled while attempting a three-point shot, on the other hand, receives three shots.

If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is successful the player will be awarded one additional free throw.

If a team surpasses the limit of four team fouls in a quarter, the opposing team is awarded one or two free throws on all subsequent fouls for that period.

Playing Positions

• Point guard: usually the fastest player on the team, organizes the team's offence by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right player at the right time
• Shooting guard: creates a high volume of shots on offence; usually guards the opponent's best perimeter player on defence
• Small forward: often primarily responsible for scoring points via cuts to the basket and dribble penetration; on defence seeks rebounds and steals, but sometimes plays more actively
• Power forward: plays offensively often with his back to the basket; on defence, plays under the basket or against the opposing power forward
• Center: uses size to score (on offence), to protect the basket closely (on defence), or to rebound.

This manual page uses material from the Wikipedia article 'Basketball'.