How do basketball games start? What's a jump ball?
Dear Sports Fan,
How do basketball games start? I know there’s a jump ball to begin but I don’t really understand how it works and what it decides.
Thanks, Drew
Dear Drew,
Every college and NBA basketball game begins with a jump ball. During a jump ball, two players stand on either side of a referee who then throws the ball up between them. Once the ball has reached the highest part of its arc, it is then free to be touched. Both players attempt to tip the ball to one of their teammates who are set up around the jump ball in a circle with alternating players on each team. Once the ball is tipped, it’s a free-for all. Whichever team gets the ball, gets the ball.
Basketball games in the NBA and WNBA start with a jump ball. There isn’t a jump ball at the start of each quarter, instead the initial jump ball is used to determine who gets the ball to start each of the other three quarters. The team that loses the initial jump ball gets the first possession of the second and third quarters. The team that gains possession of the jump ball to start the game also starts with the ball in the fourth quarter. I’ve never seen a study which tried to figure out whether it was actually better to win the jump ball and get the ball in the first and fourth or lose it and get it in the second and third. My guess is that it’s insignificant because of the high number of possessions overall (around 200) in each game.
The jump ball is not a unique feature of sports. It is a little bit like a face off in hockey or lacrosse, although in both those games the ball/puck is either dropped down onto the ground or begins on the ground. In all three sports, the goal is to start play with both sides having an even (or close to even. In hockey the home team gets a small advantage) chance of gaining possession of the ball. In lacrosse there are face offs at the start of the game, at halftime, and after every goal. In hockey, face offs are quite common, and are used whenever play needs to be restarted after a whistle.In basketball, jump balls are much more rare. In many games, the jump balled used to start the game, sometimes called an opening tip, will be the only jump ball during the game. In the NBA and WNBA, jump balls can happen during the game if there is a “tie-up” when two players from opposing teams seem to simultaneously have possession of the ball. When that happens, the referee stops play and those two players compete in a jump ball to see who can get the ball. This is better than allowing the game to dissolve into a wrestling match but it does sometimes result in some pretty funny looking jump balls between players of very different heights.
The jump ball hasn’t always been rare. Before the 1930s, it was used just like a hockey face off is, to restart play after almost every stoppage. Think about how often that must have been in as high scoring a sport as basketball! This was before the shot clock had been implemented, so basketball wasn’t as high scoring as it was today, but there still must have been a lot of jump balls. Winning jump balls would have been an important skill to have because a team that was good at it could have gotten possession of the ball, scored, and then gotten possession right back again. Today, the jump ball is archaic and almost extinct. It’s not used in college basketball or international basketball except to start the game. If there is a tie-up during a game in college or internationally, one team will get the ball and then the next time it happens the other team will. This is called alternating possession. Although equally fair, there’s something more pleasing to me about the jump ball. I hope it doesn’t disappear completely.
One of the most popular sporting disciplines in the world, basketball made its first appearance at the Olympics as a demonstration sport at the 1904 St Louis Games.
At the 1936 Games, basketball was included as a medal event and has been a permanent fixture at the quadrennial sporting showpiece since. Women’s basketball made its Olympic debut in 1976.
For people unfamiliar with the sport, here are the modern-day basketball rules, the regulations, scoring system, positions, and the origin of the sport.
Basketball has been a regular fixture at the Olympics since 1936.
Who invented basketball?
The origin of basketball can be traced to Springfield, Massachusetts in the USA. Dr James Naismith, a Canadian physical instructor working at the YMCA International Training School in Springfield, introduced basketball in 1891.
Instructed to devise an indoor sport to keep the YMCA athletes in shape during the harsh winter months, Naismith came up with a sport involving two peach baskets and a soccer ball with a set of 13 rules.
The first game of basketball was a 9 vs 9 contest according to Naismith’s rule book but over the years, the laws have been changed and fine-tuned to make what we know as modern-day basketball.
Basketball court: Dimensions and markings
To understand basketball, it’s important to have an idea of the court’s layout.
According to FIBA (international basketball federation) guidelines, a basketball court is a rectangular playing area 28m in length and 15m in width. International competitions including the Olympics follow FIBA guidelines.
The border markings along the length of the court are called sidelines and the breadth of the court are called endlines or baselines.
The key in the basketball court is a rectangular painted area inside the three-point arc.
The outer edge of the key parallel to the endline is called the free-throw line. There’s a 3.6m diameter semi-circle drawn on the outer part of the free-throw line called the free-throw circle.
Basketball rules and sport's regulations
Basketball is a team sport and the game is played between two sides. The core objective in a basketball game is to score points by putting the ball inside the hoop (basket) and to prevent the opposing team from doing the same.
A basketball game starts at the centre of the court when the ball is thrown high up by the referee and one player from each team competing to gain possession. The team that catches the ball, or in possession, is called the offensive team while the team not on the ball is the defensive team.
The offensive team plays with the intent of getting the ball through the opposition hoop or scoring a field goal after moving the ball around the court by passing or dribbling the ball, abiding by a fixed set of basketball rules.
Basketball points-scoring system
Three-point shot: Shooting and scoring a field goal from anywhere outside the three-point line arc wins the team three points. These are referred to as three-pointers.
Two-point shot: A field goal which is scored from inside the area encircled by the three-point arc in the opposition half is worth two points. These are called two-pointers.
One-point shot: Points can also be accumulated through free-throws, which are worth a point each. Free throws are awarded to a team when the opposition team fouls.
During free throw, the fouled player is allowed a fixed number of shots -- depending on the nature and referee’s interpretation of the foul committed -- at an open basket from anywhere inside the free-throw circle with both his feet behind the free-throw line.
Illegal physical contact or obstructions without the intention of winning the ball by a defender when an offensive player is aiming to shoot is regarded as a foul.
A FIBA sanctioned game typically consists of four quarters of 10 minutes each. After two quarters or half-time, the teams switch sides on the court. The team with more points at the end of the four quarters wins the match. If the score is tied at the end of regulation time, the game can go into an overtime period.
Basketball violations
An offensive player can keep the basketball moving around the court by dribbling or passing the ball to a teammate. In a basketball dribble, a player needs to bounce the ball against the floor continuously using one hand at a time.
Using both hands simultaneously to dribble or touching the ball twice before it bounces once constitutes a double dribble violation, which ends in ceding possession to the opponent team.
Furthermore, if a player stops a dribble completely, they need to pass or shoot the ball. In case they start dribbling the ball again after stopping, it is also considered a double dribble violation.
While receiving a ball on the move, a player is allowed to take a maximum of two steps before passing, shooting or starting a dribble. Basically, a player is not allowed to run with the ball. Otherwise, they are called for traveling violation, which again results in turning over possession.
If in a stationary position while receiving a ball or after stopping a dribble, a player also needs to establish a pivot foot, on which they need to stay planted in the same spot while swerving or turning until a pass or shot is made.
Players receiving the ball can start a dribble but can’t lift or displace the pivot foot until the ball leaves his hands. Failure to comply results in a traveling violation.
When a team gains possession inside its own half, the players get 10 seconds to move into the opposition half. Once a team crosses into the midline, possession needs to be maintained in the defending team’s half and offensive players cannot go back to their own half. If the ball is passed back, it results in backcourt violation.
A defensive player is also not allowed to block or touch the ball when in a downward trajectory towards the basket. This is called goaltending violation.
During an attack, an offensive player isn’t allowed to stay in the opposition key for over three seconds without attempting a shot. It is called the three-second rule and results in lane violation.
Shot Clock
Once a team gains possession of the ball, they are put on a 24-second Shot Clock, which means they have to throw the ball at the hoop or attempt a valid field goal before time runs out.
Failure to do so again results in the possession being turned over to the opposition team.
A Shot Clock stopwatch is typically displayed behind the basket during a basketball game.
How many players in a basketball team
A traditional basketball team has 12 players, with five basketball players on the court at any given time. Unlimited substitutions are allowed.
The five players can be segregated into the following positions:
Point guard: Usually players with the best ball-handling skills and vision in the team play as point guards. A point guard’s primary role is to orchestrate both offensive and defensive plays and set up scoring opportunities for team-mates.
Shooting guard: Typically the best long-range and mid-range shooter in the team. Players patrolling the position constantly look for three-pointers or can help drag defenders out wide to create space near the basket for their team-mates.
Basketball legend Michael Jordan typically played as a shooting guard
Small forward: Playing as a short forward needs a versatile skill set. It requires strength and height as well as speed and dribbling abilities. Mid-range and short-range shooting abilities are also important.
Power forward: A power forward is somewhat similar to a small forward but with a bigger focus on physicality. A power forward is usually a foil for the center and are the team’s most dependable scorers from inside the paint.
Center: Usually the tallest player in the team, a center is required to occupy the space nearest to the basket in both halves. In defence, they are tasked to pick rebounds and block opposition shooters while their offensive duties require them to finish off short-range moves or shield out defenders to allow their team-mates a clean drive at the basket.
NBA, the popular US-based basketball league, also follows similar rules with very minor alterations.
Basketball Rules
Basketball
Historical development
Rules
Material support
Judging
Technique
Tactics
Education and training
Choosing a basketball
Basketball: team and substitutes.
Each team consists of 5 main players and 5-7 (in major tournaments) permanent substitutes, who can enter the game only after the game has stopped and the referee whistles.
If the team in possession is entitled to a substitution at every stoppage of play, the team not in possession of the ball is only entitled to a substitution in the event of a bounce and time-out or when the team in possession makes a substitution.
Basketball: game time.
In all classes, basketball matches last 2 halves of 20 minutes of pure time. The break between halves is 10 minutes. If at the end of the match the teams scored the same number of points, then extra time (5 minutes) is given to determine the winner.
Basketball: time out.
Each team is entitled to 2 time-outs in each half and 1 time-out in extra time. Coaches usually use the timeout to give players tactical instructions and make substitutions.
Basketball: the beginning of the game.
The game begins with the referee throwing the ball up in the center of the court between 2 players, each of whom tries to return the ball to his team. The rest of the team players are outside the center circle or in the front zone.
Basketball: movement rules.
According to this rule, the player who receives the ball is allowed to take only 2 steps (more precisely, 2 contacts with the floor). Touching the floor while receiving the ball (also catching the ball on the spot) counts as 1st contact. Jumping from a place with the ball in hand is a violation of the movement rule. Especially often this rule is violated during runs, at the beginning and at the end of dribbling.
Basketball: dribbling.
At some point, an athlete can only dribble once. As soon as the athlete touches the ball with both hands or takes it with one or the other hand, the dribbling ends. If the athlete again continues to dribble, then this is considered a violation of the rules (double-dribbling). The ball is passed to the opposing team who put it in play from behind the touchline.
Basketball: stop ball.
A stopping ball is such a game situation in which 1 or 2 players of each team touch the ball and the ball is taken out of the game. In this case, the game continues with a controversial face-off.
Basketball: ball out of play.
If the ball or the ball carrier touches the boundary lines of the court or the floor, an object or a person is off the court, the referee gives the order “offside”.
If the offside is difficult to determine, i.e. if both touch judges have different opinions or if the referees are unable to determine which team caused the offside, the game continues with a controversial face-off.
Basketball: Throw-in.
After the game has been stopped in case of offside or technical errors (violation of the movement rule, double-dribbling, violation of the 3 sec rule, etc.), the ball is put into play by a throw-in from the touchline. In case of a successful throw into the basket, a throw-in occurs from behind the end line.
Basketball: estimates.
Throwing the ball into the basket is counted if the ball falls through the ring and the net from top to bottom. For each successful shot made during the game, a shot from an average or close distance (closer than the three-point line), the team receives 2 points. For a successful shot from behind the three-point line (from a distance of more than 6 meters 75 cm (7.24 m in the NBA)), the team receives 3 points, for each successful free throw - 1 point.
Basketball: foul rule.
One of the most important rules of basketball is the foul rule (translated from English - "mistake"). There are personal and technical fouls.
Personal fouls include any intentional touching of an opponent (holding, pushing, hitting, blocking with hands and feet, etc.). In such cases, the ball is passed to the opponent for a throw-in. After the 11th foul in a half period, a foul on an opponent's missed shot is punishable by 2 free throws.
In addition, all personal comments are recorded in the athlete's personal card. If at the same time 2 players of the team receive a warning, then the opponent is entitled to 2 free throws. In most cases, the free throw is taken by the player against whom the rules were violated.
Players receive a mutual warning in case of simultaneous violation of the rules in relation to each other. In this case, a controversial throw-in occurs. Each player who has received 5 personal or technical remarks must leave the court. In case of gross and intentional violations of the rules, the athlete may be disqualified. But in both cases, the team has the right to change. From 1976 fouls of the attackers when throwing the basket are especially severely penalized. If the ball misses the basket due to a foul, the attacker is entitled to 2 free throws. If the ball misses the basket on the 1st or 2nd free throw, the attacker is entitled to 1 more free throw (3 in total).
If, despite the foul, the player shoots the ball into the basket, then this shot is counted and the player receives an additional 1 free throw.
A technical foul is called for unsportsmanlike conduct by a player and is punishable by 2 free throws by any player on the opposing team.
A player who receives 5 personal and/or technical fouls (or 6 fouls in the NBA) or 2 unsportsmanlike fouls in a match must leave the playing court and may not take part in the match (but is allowed to remain on the bench). A player who receives 2 technical warnings or a disqualifying foul is ejected from the pitch and must leave the match venue (the player is not allowed to remain on the bench).
Basketball: the rules of the time.
Some of the rules of time are extremely important. 24 seconds after the throw-in, the attack must be completed with a throw into the opponent's basket (24 second rule). The 3 second rule states that an attacker cannot be in the opponent's free throw area for more than 3 seconds. For the throw-in and for the implementation of the free throw, the player is given 5 seconds. If the time rules are violated, the ball is given to the opponent for a throw-in.
The 8 second rule implies that the attacking team must, after a throw-in taken in its own half of the pitch, not more than 8 seconds later bring the ball to the opponent's half, after which the attacking team may not return the ball to their own half.
Basketball
Historical development
Rules
Material support
Judging
Technique
Tactics
Education and training
Choosing a basketball
Basketball: official rules of the game in brief
Basketball is a team sport in which players throw the ball with their hands into the opponent's basket. In a duel, 2 teams of 5 field players compete, and the number of substitutions is not limited. The goal of the game is to score more points by throwing into someone else's ring than the opponent. To do this, teams are allowed to dribble and pass according to the official rules.
Today basketball is considered to be one of the most demanded and popular sports on the planet. It is included in the program of the Summer Olympic Games. In addition, world and European championships, various club rating tournaments, for example, the NBA and the Euroleague, are regularly held. Both men and women play professional basketball, but in separate categories (mixed teams are not allowed).
Basic Rules
The International Basketball Rules were adopted in 1932, but have been adjusted more than once. The final set of rules was approved in 2004. It includes all sorts of amendments regarding the nuances of holding national and international tournaments.
The starting line-up for a match must have 10 players on the court (5 from each side). Each team must be in its own half. During the game, the ball can only be touched by hands. Running with the ball is allowed in parallel with hitting it on the floor. It is forbidden to kick the projectile, cover it with the body, throw it into the basket with a fist. A gross violation is a run when a basketball player has taken more than one step with the ball in his hands without hitting it on the floor. In this case, accidentally touching the ball with the foot or back is not considered a violation (at the discretion of the referee).
The victory in the match is won by the team that, after the final beep, scored the most points. In case of a tie, additional time is assigned - 5-minute overtime. If, after the first overtime, the opponents could not determine the winner, a second overtime is assigned, and so on.
For different types of ball hits in the ring, different numbers of points are counted:
for a free throw - 1 point;
for a throw from close or medium distance - 2 points;
for a shot from outside the three-point line - 3 points.
A basketball game always starts with a jump ball in the center circle. Then the teams play for 4 quarters of 10 minutes each with breaks of 2 minutes. In the NBA, a quarter is 12 minutes long. The break in the middle of the match is equal to 15 minutes. After it, the opponents change baskets.
In addition, each team receives 2 time-outs for the first half of the game and 3 time-outs for the second. Their duration is 30 seconds. A time-out taken by one side extends to the other. Unused time-outs may not be carried over to the next half or extra period. In each overtime, the opponents have 1 time-out.
Official competitions may be held indoors or outdoors. The size of the field is 28 by 15 m. The height of the shield is 2.9 m, its dimensions are 1.8 by 1.05 m. The basket is a metal rim covered with a net with a hole in the bottom for the ball. The ring is attached at a distance of 15 cm from the lower edge of the shield and 3.05 m from the field level.
In the men's category, the circumference of the ball should be in the range from 74.9 to 78 cm, and the mass - from 567 to 650 g. In the women's category, the circumference will be 72.4-73.7 cm, the mass - from 510 to 567 g.
Rule violations
The list of official violations of the rules in basketball includes:
Out. Standard position when the ball has gone out of the playing area.
Dribbling violation. It is fixed for the following set of actions: dribbling, stopping, covering the projectile with both hands and continuing to dribble.
Jogging. The ball carrier moves more than one step without hitting the ball to the floor, or more than two hits without subsequently throwing into the ring.
Leap with ball in hand.
The 3-Second Rule. An attacking player is in a rectangular area under the opponent's hoop for more than 3 seconds while his team has possession of the ball in the attacking area.
5 second rule. During the throw-in, the player does not put the projectile into play for more than 5 seconds, or the player, while in possession of a “live” ball, does not pass and throw for more than 5 seconds.
8 second rule. The team in possession of the ball in the backcourt did not take it out of the frontcourt line within 8 seconds.
24th second rule. The team in possession of the ball did not make a single shot at the opponent's ring in 24 seconds. The counter is reset when the projectile touches the shackle of the ring. After this touch, the attacking team has the right to rebound and gain possession of an additional 14 seconds.
Ball return violation. The attacking team must bring the ball into the defensive zone, after which a new possession begins.
If a player of the attacking team has been infringed, they are entitled to:
continuation of the countdown from the moment of stop if the team had 14 or more seconds of possession;
new 14 second possession if the team had less than 14 seconds of possession at the time of the violation;
a new 24 second possession if the kick-off in the defensive zone will be made by the team in possession of the ball at the time of the infringement.
Types of fouls
A foul in basketball is a foul play violation. It is given by the referee for non-compliance with the rules of personal contact with the opponent or for unsportsmanlike behavior on the court. The player who committed such a violation receives a personal reprimand (foul).
The following types of fouls exist in official tournaments:
Personal foul. If the infringement is made against an opponent who is not in the throwing phase, then the offending team shall take the throw-in. In the event of a foul on a player who was in the shooting phase, the affected team will shoot as many free throws as the number of points taken from them by the foul. If the shot during the foul was scored, then the injured player receives an additional 1 free throw.
Mutual foul. This refers to a situation where players from different teams commit personal fouls at the same time. As a result, both offenders are punished with a personal foul, but there are no free throws.
Offensive foul. It is fixed by the referee for grabbing or interlacing the defender's arm, using an outstretched arm at the moment of dribbling in order to move the opponent to the desired distance from the ball, as well as when pushing the defender away from the teammate in possession of the ball in order to prevent him from taking the projectile.
Technical foul. Violation of the rules, not caused by contact with the opponent. It implies disrespect for the referee, coach, opponent, violations of a procedural nature, delay of the game. For such a foul, the opposing team receives 2 free throws.
Unsportsmanlike foul. Deliberate violation of the rules when the player did not even try to play the ball. If an unsportsmanlike foul was committed on a player in the shooting stage, then the affected team will attempt a number of free throws equal to the number of points lost. If the foul is committed on a player who is not in the throwing stage, then the injured player performs 2 throws. For 2 such fouls, the player is removed from the court until the end of the match with the possibility of replacement.
Disqualifying foul. A gross unsportsmanlike violation for which the player is immediately removed from the site. In this case, a foul can also be received by a spare game, the coach and any official of the team. An additional penalty will be the assignment of free throws to the basket of the offending side (similar to an unsportsmanlike foul).
For 5 personal fouls, the player must leave the pitch, but he is allowed to remain on the bench until the end of the match. A disqualified basketball player must leave the technical area.
Coach may be disqualified for a match:
for committing two technical fouls;
in the event of one technical foul, whereby a substitute or an official present commits 2 technical fouls;
for 3 technical fouls by substitutes or officials.
National Basketball League
NBA (NBA) is considered the main national tournament in the world. Represents the men's professional league in North America, which involves the best basketball clubs in the United States and Canada. The NBA is one of the TOP-4 professional sports leagues in North America (NHL, NFL, MLB) and is widely covered by hundreds of TV channels around the world.
The
League was formed in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America, but was later expanded and renamed the NBA. The League's headquarters is based in New York City at the Olympic Power Building. Since 2004, the tournament has included 30 teams, which are divided geographically into the Western and Eastern conferences. In turn, each conference consists of 3 divisions of 5 clubs. Teams play the regular season first, then top out in the playoff rounds:
Regular season.
The first stage of the NBA championship lasts 171 days. The season starts in early October. For 171 days, each team plays 82 matches, that is, approximately every other day. Such a density of games often leads to injuries to basketball players, but the organizers do not deviate from the usual format due to the financial side of the issue (television rights, advertising, etc.).
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During the regular season, each club plays 4 games against divisional opponents, 4 games against 6 teams in its own conference, 3 games against the remaining 4 clubs in its own conference, and 2 games against each team in the opposing conference. The season calendar is based on the results of the previous season and the wishes of the team management. At the same time, matches can be played even on Christmas holidays.
In February, the regular season goes on a short break for a stellar weekend. For several days, the League organizes various basketball-related competitions, and completes the festive program of events with the NBA All-Star Game.
Playoffs.
The elimination stage starts at the end of April. The playoffs feature the top 8 teams from each conference. At the same time, the first 4 places in the conference receive 3 division winners and the best team in terms of winning ratio in the regular season. The remaining 4 places for this conference go to the teams with the best difference of wins and losses.
A pair of teams determines the winner in a series of matches up to 4 wins. Theoretically, a confrontation series can include from 4 to 7 games. Home court advantage is given to the team with the highest win rate. Until the semi-finals, only opponents from their own conference can meet in one branch of the tournament grid. The semi-finals determine the winner of the conference, while the Grand Finals help determine the best NBA team entered for the season.
Euroleague draw
The
Euroleague is Europe's leading basketball tournament for men's club teams. Only representatives of countries included in the European structure of FIBA (International Basketball Federation) can participate in it. The name of the tournament may change depending on the sponsorship contract, for example Turkish Airlines Euroleague. Euroleague matches are broadcast in more than 200 countries around the world.
Only clubs that have received a long-term license based on the Euroleague club rating can take part in the tournament. Championships in national championships, victories in Eurocups and other achievements are taken into account.
Euroleague draw consists of 3 stages:
Regular season.
16 teams take part in it, which are collected in one group. The grid is simple: each team plays one match at home and away with each opponent from the table (30 matches in total). The games of this European Cup tournament are held according to a special calendar, approximately 3-4 rounds per month (on weekdays). At the end of the regular season, the top 8 teams are determined, which automatically advance to the playoff round.
Quarter-finals.
The first round of the non-eliminating tournament consists of 4 pairs. The first place plays with the eighth, the second - with the seventh, the third - with the sixth, the fourth - with the fifth. The advantage of the home court is given to the team that took the highest place in the previous stage. A series of matches is played up to 3 wins. The winners of the pairs advance to the Final Four.
Final four.
The final stage of the Euroleague is held according to the Olympic system at one stadium for 2 days. On the first day, the semi-finals are played, on the second - the match for 3rd place and the main final. At each stage, the teams hold one face-to-face meeting.
International team tournaments
The most significant tournaments among national basketball teams include:
World Championship.
This is the most rated and prestigious tournament for national teams, which is held under the auspices of FIBA. The World Cup is held every 4 years among men's teams. The debut draw of the championship was held in 1950 in Buenos Aires and brought together only 10 teams under its banner. The winner of that tournament was the team of Argentina, which managed to beat the powerful US team in a bitter struggle. From 19For 53 years, the Women's Basketball World Cup has been held every 4 years. The first world champions were Americans.
For the first time, the World Cup was conquered by Soviet male basketball players in 1967, and for women in 1959. Today, Russian teams regularly qualify for the main championship of the planet, but rarely compete for medals. Americans, Serbs, Spaniards, Greeks, Argentines are considered the flagships of world basketball.
European Championship.
Tournament for national teams of European countries. It is held every 2 years. The debut championship among men was played at 1935, among women - in 1938. The best result of victories at the European Championship was with the USSR team, which took gold 14 times. The Russian national team is traditionally ranked among the favorites of the tournament, regularly making it to the decisive rounds of the playoffs.
Olympic Games.
Basketball was first introduced at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. In 1904, only exhibition matches of the best basketball players in the United States were held. It was the Americans who became the first Olympic champions in basketball, who are still considered the main favorites of each next Olympic Games. The USSR team took gold for the first time at 1972 year. The debut women's tournament at the Olympics was held in 1976. Today, professional basketball players are allowed to the Olympic championship.
Development history
The idea of creating basketball belongs to the American teacher of the Massachusetts College J. Naismith. In December 1891, he decided to diversify the traditional gymnastics classes and tied two peach baskets to the railing of the balcony of the sports hall. The students were divided into two teams, whose members had to throw the maximum number of balls into their basket.
Naismith's game was only vaguely reminiscent of modern basketball, since there was no dribbling, and players could only throw a projectile to themselves, standing still, and throw it into the basket in any way. Nevertheless, the game became popular in the US and Canada. It was included in an expanded physical training program for students in schools and colleges. Gradually, the rules began to improve, dribbling, zoning of the site, shields appeared.
The formation of professional basketball took place at the beginning of the 20th century with the emergence of a number of serious basketball clubs. The main problem of the initial stage of the development of the discipline was the lack of a single organization that could control the activities of teams and leagues. The players could easily play for different teams, and the meetings themselves were held in sports halls that did not meet the standards.
In 1932, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) was formed in Geneva. This organization began to gradually unite national basketball associations and make demands for official tournaments. Thanks to FIBA, basketball has gained worldwide popularity.
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It often happens (especially in football) that the more.
In hockey, face offs are quite common, and are used whenever play needs to be restarted after a whistle.In basketball, jump balls are much more rare. In many games, the jump balled used to start the game, sometimes called an opening tip, will be the only jump ball during the game. In the NBA and WNBA, jump balls can happen during the game if there is a “tie-up” when two players from opposing teams seem to simultaneously have possession of the ball. When that happens, the referee stops play and those two players compete in a jump ball to see who can get the ball. This is better than allowing the game to dissolve into a wrestling match but it does sometimes result in some pretty funny looking jump balls between players of very different heights.
Winning jump balls would have been an important skill to have because a team that was good at it could have gotten possession of the ball, scored, and then gotten possession right back again. Today, the jump ball is archaic and almost extinct. It’s not used in college basketball or international basketball except to start the game. If there is a tie-up during a game in college or internationally, one team will get the ball and then the next time it happens the other team will. This is called alternating possession. Although equally fair, there’s something more pleasing to me about the jump ball. I hope it doesn’t disappear completely.
The core objective in a basketball game is to score points by putting the ball inside the hoop (basket) and to prevent the opposing team from doing the same.
These are called two-pointers.
In a basketball dribble, a player needs to bounce the ball against the floor continuously using one hand at a time.
It requires strength and height as well as speed and dribbling abilities. Mid-range and short-range shooting abilities are also important.
In this case, the game continues with a controversial face-off. 
For each successful shot made during the game, a shot from an average or close distance (closer than the three-point line), the team receives 2 points. For a successful shot from behind the three-point line (from a distance of more than 6 meters 75 cm (7.24 m in the NBA)), the team receives 3 points, for each successful free throw - 1 point. 
If at the same time 2 players of the team receive a warning, then the opponent is entitled to 2 free throws. In most cases, the free throw is taken by the player against whom the rules were violated. 
Both men and women play professional basketball, but in separate categories (mixed teams are not allowed). 
A time-out taken by one side extends to the other. Unused time-outs may not be carried over to the next half or extra period. In each overtime, the opponents have 1 time-out. 
It is fixed for the following set of actions: dribbling, stopping, covering the projectile with both hands and continuing to dribble. 
The counter is reset when the projectile touches the shackle of the ring. After this touch, the attacking team has the right to rebound and gain possession of an additional 14 seconds. 
The player who committed such a violation receives a personal reprimand (foul). 
An additional penalty will be the assignment of free throws to the basket of the offending side (similar to an unsportsmanlike foul). 
The season calendar is based on the results of the previous season and the wishes of the team management. At the same time, matches can be played even on Christmas holidays. 
Until the semi-finals, only opponents from their own conference can meet in one branch of the tournament grid. The semi-finals determine the winner of the conference, while the Grand Finals help determine the best NBA team entered for the season. 
On the first day, the semi-finals are played, on the second - the match for 3rd place and the main final. At each stage, the teams hold one face-to-face meeting. 
Today, Russian teams regularly qualify for the main championship of the planet, but rarely compete for medals. Americans, Serbs, Spaniards, Greeks, Argentines are considered the flagships of world basketball. 
The USSR team took gold for the first time at 1972 year. The debut women's tournament at the Olympics was held in 1976. Today, professional basketball players are allowed to the Olympic championship. 
