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How many games do high school basketball teams play
How many games do high school basketball teams play
GAME OF BASKETBALL
INTRODUCTION
In order to determine the nutrition and hydration needs of a basketball player, and develop plans to help meet those needs, the structure of game day, practices, and the off-season must be considered. The rules of the game, which allow for frequent substitutions, time-outs, breaks between quarters (high school and professional) and a halftime break, lend themselves to incorporating good nutrition and hydration habits. These habits should be developed and maintained in practices and training sessions throughout the year.
An actual game of basketball is of fairly short duration, ranging from 32-48 min of total playing time depending on the level. However, like any sport, players have responsibilities before and after a game, during which time nutrition and hydration should also be a consideration. During the season, practices will vary in duration and intensity, although most teams will practice, lift weights, prepare with film sessions, or compete six days per week.![]()
Basketball is a long season; for high school and college athletes it spans semesters and the holidays, which in many cases influences the nutrition and training of the athletes. Tournaments and playoffs provide unique challenges with multiple games in one day or games on consecutive days. Lastly, although off-season expectations vary based on the level, most basketball players are engaged and hydration plans should be developed within the structure of the game as well as with consideration for training and practices throughout the season and year-round.
PART I: HIGH SCHOOL
Alan Stein
Introduction
High school is a unique time period in working with athletes because of the wide range of age, maturity, and physical stature. Regardless of these differences, in general, many high school basketball players have poor nutritional habits, do not get sufficient sleep, and lack proper recovery and training techniques. Addressing these issues is vital to keeping players healthy and maximizing their performance.
The Competitive Season
High school basketball games usually occur 2–3 times per week and are structured as four 8-min quarters with a 10-min halftime. Most high schools will play 25–35 games per season, depending on tournament play. The structure of game day varies widely amongst high schools. Some may have a walk-through or shoot-around right after school on weekdays and in the morning of a weekend game. Coaches may have a set meal coordinated with a walk-through; others leave it up to the individual athletes and parents. During the warm-up, most coaches will take the team into the locker room at a set time, which can be used as a planned fueling opportunity. Because of the great variability in schedules and strategies of different coaches, as well as school rules on eating and drinking during the day, an individual approach needs to be used to ensure players are adequately fueled.
The frequency of practices during the season will vary depending on the game schedule, but are usually 4–5 times per week, approximately 2 hours in duration, and consist of moderate to high-intensity drills focused on skill work, conditioning, and offensive and defensive sets and schemes.
The afternoon prior to most games, teams usually gather for 30–45 min to discuss the opponent’s scouting report, walk through plays, and get in additional shooting practice of low to moderate intensity. In addition, some coaches hold film sessions before practices 1–2 times per week, which require about 15–20 min of mental intensity. Most coaches will also maintain in-season strength workouts about 1–2 times per week, 20–30 min in duration, with moderate intensity. The timing of practices and workouts varies greatly, often due to gym availability and coaches’ schedules, since most don’t coach basketball full time. The player’s lunch schedule and school policies are another consideration. Therefore, high school players need help in determining not only the right foods to eat, but also the right time to eat in relation to their school day and practice/training/game schedules.
The Off-Season
The landscape of high school basketball in the United States has changed vastly over the past 20 years.
For both males and females, the now year-round mental and physical demands of the sport are at an all-time high, as is the competition to earn a college scholarship. The two biggest changes include specializing in basketball at an earlier age and participation on AAU travel teams in addition to their high school team, thus making it a year-round sport. The structure of practices and training programs of high school basketball players should be adjusted accordingly to accommodate for these two trends. For example, players participating in the sport at this level of commitment could benefit from a year-round strength and conditioning program focused on injury prevention, using sound recovery techniques (including adequate sleep), and developing good nutrition and hydration habits.
PART II: COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Jeffery Stein, DPT, ATC
Introduction
Collegiate basketball athletes usually range in age from about 18–22 years. While physically and physiologically they are a more uniform group than a high school team, maturity levels vary greatly.
The transition during the freshman year can be difficult for some as they move away from home for the first time. Transition challenges include establishing healthy eating and sleeping habits. Also during the freshman year, players are usually introduced to more intense collegiate strength and conditioning programs, and many players will greatly change their body composition over their collegiate careers.
Lastly, the student-athletes have class, practice, and eating schedules that vary each day and from semester to semester. Athletes must be able to juggle their academic schedules and the demands of their sport, as well as the social environment of a college campus. The day-to-day variability in schedules means preparation is important for proper fueling throughout the day.
The Competitive Season
College basketball games are structured with two 20–min halves with a 15–min halftime. Many colleges will play about 25–35 games per season, depending on the level (NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA, or NJCAA) and tournament play.
NCAA teams must follow the 20–hr rule, which states teams are allowed up to 20 hrs of team activities per week, not including competition. Team-related activities can include practice, film, and weight training. Most programs will practice 4–6 days per week, depending on the game schedule, and practices may be up to 3 h of high-intensity work. In addition to on-court time, athletes are expected to attend film sessions, strength train, and attend to injuries in the training room when needed. Overall, the time commitment is greater than as a high school athlete. The travel requirement during the competitive season is also greater and, depending on the level, more time-intensive. While the top Division I programs charter flights to return home the night after a game, smaller schools rely on bus trips and spend significant time on the road. The provision of food and nutrition services also varies based on level. Most top-level schools have a sports dietitian on staff for consultation and education, but even at the Division I level, the use of a registered dietician varies greatly between schools.
At the majority of the major and mid-major universities, athletes are provided a “training table,” or a cafeteria with foods selected specifically for the athletes. However, per NCAA rules, only one meal at the training table can be provided per day while the athletes are on campus. Snacks, such as fruits, nuts, and bagels, can also be provided along with occasional meals on special occasions. At smaller schools, athletes rely on their own cafeteria plan, and the budget is often limited to provide meals and snacks on the road. Overall, the demands of the sport increase at the collegiate level compared to the HS and AAU levels, along with the increased demands placed on the athlete to also handle their academic, family, and social lives. The increased demands combined with the increased independence of the athlete make it difficult to ensure that they are appropriately fueling and getting enough rest.
The Off-Season
The majority of collegiate basketball players are one-sport athletes and dedicate the off-season to improving their game, although multi-sport athletes are found at every level of competition.
Most collegiate basketball players will be given a short time off after the competitive season, usually 2–4 weeks, to recharge and catch up on family and school matters as necessary before starting back with skill work and strength and conditioning workouts.
Basketball commitments during the off-season will vary depending on the level and coaching demands. Spring semester workouts can range from captain-led workouts and open gyms to coach-led individual skill workouts that vary from 1 to 5 athletes at a time. The non-competitive season is also prime time for the strength and conditioning program to ramp up to work toward the specific goals set for each athlete. During the summer, athletes at smaller colleges are usually at home and often balance an off-season training program provided by their coach with a summer job. At larger schools, the athletes are usually on campus for summer school and summer workouts. These workouts include strength and conditioning sessions 3–5 days per week and on-court workouts with the coaches.
Overall, during the off-season the NCAA allows up to 8 h of team-related activity per week, 2 h of which can be direct contact, with the basketball coaches on the court.
Back on campus in the fall, again the commitment will vary depending on the level. Most teams will start up with open gyms and strength and conditioning workouts as soon as the athletes arrive back on campus. Shortly after the start of the school year, individual workouts might take place with the coaching staffs. During the preseason, coaches can work with players on the court for up to 2 h per week, preparing for the competitive season.
PART III: PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL
Jack Ransone, PhD, ATC
Introduction
The best of the best basketball players make it to the professional level. For the first time, the athlete’s schedule is completely dedicated to the sport; however, there are also increased demands for the athlete’s time for charity work, endorsements, social obligations, etc.
The Competitive Season
For male athletes in the United States, the National Basketball Association (NBA) regular season runs October-April, with the playoffs extending into June. It is not unusual to play 3 to 4 games per week with the possibility of competing on back-to-back days. Each team plays 8 preseason games and 82 games in the regular season. Teams competing in the World Championship finals will play over 100 games in a season and postseason. Women play in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), whose regular season of 34 games runs June—September, with playoffs extending into October. For both leagues, most team practices are short (less than 1 h) and infrequent due to game and travel demands. Travel requirements are extensive, including a minimum of 42 regular season games on the road for the NBA and 17 for the WNBA. Both the NBA and WNBA have the luxury of traveling by charter airplane and staying at the best 5-star hotels with excellent restaurants.
Many teams also employ or consult with a sports dietitian. However, nutrition is still a challenge, as most players seek meals on their own at restaurants outside the control of the team. Additionally, during a game, hydration is always a challenge. Inadequate hydration during competition can be further compromised by the demand for air travel immediately post game (low humidity environment of the fuselage) for half of the regular season games. Given the length of the regular season, frequency of games, and travel demands, proper nutrition and hydration practices are important and should be planned into the schedule wherever possible.
The Off-Season
Professional athletes are employed based on their ability to stay competitive. Therefore, the off-season is a period of time to recover from the long season, rehab injuries, develop a base fitness level, and focus on skill development. Overall the schedule is very individual. For example, younger NBA players might play in the summer league, while veterans may focus more on recovery and some specific skill work.
All players will participate in training camp and preseason games, essentially extending the competitive season.
How Long Is A High School Basketball Season?
The high school basketball season is a long one, with teams playing for about 5 months. This blog post will talk about the high school basketball season. And how it’s split up into different types of games. It also includes some recent history on high school basketball – players that are currently in the NBA or have been drafted by NBA teams, etc.
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Does a High School Basketball Season Go All Year Round?
No, high school basketball seasons are split up into different parts. The high school season is typically stretched out over September to March or April.
This gives high schools a chance to play in tournaments and playoffs for the state title throughout February and early March! That’s about two months of competition on hardwood floors all around America – how cool is that?
Preseason
The high school sports season starts with preseason practice usually starting at the beginning of August.
From there, teams start playing exhibition games against other teams. Which often take place during Labor Day weekend (a holiday celebrated every year on the first Monday of September).
It’s not until October when regular-season games begin, following conferences held by each team. So they know what league they will be competing in.
Heating Up In The Holidays!
The high school basketball season heats up in December and January as teams start to play games against other high schools within their state or region! This is a great way to see how strong the talent pool is for each team. And it gives players a chance to compete with one another on a more competitive level.
In this part of the high school sports season, students often don’t have any homework from about Friday afternoon until Monday morning because there’s no time during these months where they aren’t consumed by studying plays or practicing shooting techniques!
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There are even some high schools that choose not to schedule classes at all when playing games around mid-term exams – talk about dedication!
Start of The Playoffs
The intense competition can be through February and March as playoffs kick off in February. The high school sports season culminates with state championships, played between the best high schools in each region! By now, everyone is exhausted but they put all their efforts into winning that title game.
How Many Highschools Compete?
There are about 15,000 high schools that compete in high school sports across the United States. That’s a lot of high school athletes! It makes sense because high schools have between 500 and 1000 students each. With that many people, you can understand how large sports teams become in high school athletics.
Millions of high school athletes play on different teams during each season! Think about how many students this is – it’s enough to fill every NBA stadium with fans several times over!
How Many Games Are in a High School Basketball Season?
There are typically between 20 and 35 high school games in a high school basketball season.
This is not as many compared to college or professional athletes. But it’s still enough for students to compete against one another on hardwood floors all over America!
No high school basketball season is complete without some sort of playoffs or state championship games. It’s these high-pressure situations that make high school sports so exciting to follow and watch because anything can happen on the court at any moment in time!
High School Basketball Tournaments in the United States
There are high school tournaments throughout the United States that high schools can compete in to make it into their state championship. This is not easy because there are over 15,000 high schools in total across America!
However, some states have more high school teams than others. For example, California has nearly 2000 high schools while Alaska only has about 58 – talk about a huge difference!
The high school sports season in the United States is very competitive and exciting! There are many different high school tournaments across the country.
Some of these include:
The Dick’s High School National Tournament
Held each December at Madison Square Garden (New York City).
The Hoophall Classic
An early January tournament held by the basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul Jabbar that brings top high schools from around America to Springfield Massachusetts for a weekend full of games.
The Les Schwab Invitational
Held every February during Valentine’s Day weekend in Oregon this four-day event highlights some of the best high schools teams in the nation who all compete against one another on hardwood floors. This also features junior players as well so high schoolers can come to watch high school stars of the future!
The Adidas National Tournament
Held in April this is another high-pressure tournament that brings some of America’s best teams together. It has been held at various venues including Hampton, Virginia, and Brooklyn, New York City. This event puts high school students on a national stage where they can compete against one another before graduating.
National High School Invitational (NHSI)
Another high-profile tournament for high schools across America with top-tier talent from California up through New England playing on hardwood floors towards the end of March each year.
These are just four famous high school tournaments hosted throughout the United States but there are many more at lower levels as well!
How Can I Follow The High School Basketball Season?
The high school sports season is usually followed on local news stations or ESPN! There’s a lot of high school basketball highlights, recaps, and updates that are covered on all types of media.
Make sure to subscribe or bookmark high school sports news on RSS feeds, social media, and high school basketball websites!
Additionally, high schools often have a Twitter or Instagram account for their sports teams so you can follow along with all the high school games and high school player stats!
You could always attend high school games in person if you want to make sure not to miss a high school sports score, or take your kids along with you! High schools are always looking for volunteers and there are usually opportunities to help out on the sidelines.
High School Basketball Rules
The high school basketball rules are the same as those that college players follow, high school athletes just need to meet certain eligibility requirements. Usually, high schools will only allow students between 14 and 19 years old on their teams because it’s fairer for everyone!
It also prevents any unfair advantage some of the taller or stronger athletes may have over other high schoolers who are smaller in stature.
A Game of Four Quarters
No matter what level you play at (kindergarten, middle school, high school), every game is usually played with four eight-minute quarters followed by a running clock during halves where your team is ahead by twenty points or more. That way there aren’t too many dead periods where nothing can happen – fans hate that!
If they’re losing, however, high school teams can play with a “stall” clock which means the game continues to run even when there are no team possessions.
No Gifts!
Furthermore, high school basketball players can’t be paid or accept gifts of any kind. Since high schools are subsidized by donations and often funded through taxes, this is a great rule to follow so that no high school athletes get an unfair advantage over other students on the team.
One Sport, One Team
Since high school athletes’ bodies are still developing, high schools don’t allow players to play on multiple teams in the same sport. That way they’ll get plenty of rest and time for their muscles to recover! It also helps to prevent injuries since high schools want every player to be 100% healthy when playing games.
Conclusion
While high school basketball is played during a shorter season than college or professional sports, it’s just as important that students continue with their studies throughout the year so that they can achieve success both on and off the court.
We hope you enjoyed this high school basketball blog post! Have you ever competed in a high school basketball tournament/league? If so, let us know! We’d like to hear from you!
Here are Some of our Favourite Basketball Sneakers
Here we will be giving more of an opinion, rather than facts.
Are the sneakers worth the price that they are being sold at? Should you upgrade from your current sneakers, depending on what boots you own? What features stand out on these sneakers? If any. Does it do the job? Speed, control, stability etc. Depending on your needs/preferences. We can also mention its durability, if we have collected enough data on the specific sneakers.
What did we expect vs. what we got. Is it maybe overrated/underrated?
Elite
Here’s our pick from the very best of the bunch.
Pro
On your way to the pro leagues? Here’s our pick.
Beginner
Want something to start with? Have a look at our pick.
Basketball rules for schoolchildren: clear and concise
Few people know, but it was in one American school that the first basketball appeared. One teacher challenged himself to come up with an intense and fun game, and his students really liked his idea.
Many years have passed since then, but basketball remains one of the most popular sports in physical education classes. The rules and refereeing have become a little easier, but for the students and schools, this has only benefited.
Brief history
Rugby was the most popular sport in the United States until the 20th century. It was a good relaxation and workload for the students, but it required a lot of strength and heavy build of the players. James Naismith, a schoolteacher at one of the schools, set himself the task. He needed to come up with a game in which agility and speed would be the most important attributes of the players. Thus, James in 1891 came up with the first basketball prototype.
The PE teacher set up two baskets on opposite sides and told the students to throw the ball into someone else's basket. In the beginning, the basketball score might not differ much from the football score. The players pushed hard, and it rarely came to throws.
However, with the help of word of mouth, the game suddenly began to gain popularity.
James began to come up with new rules and make basketball stricter and more spectacular. He placed the rings at a certain height and fastened them to metal shields. Wooden buckets now have a bottom cut out so that the ball can quickly fall to the players.
For about 50 years, basketball has evolved unevenly. He had bad moments, which were dictated by the Great War, the depression of the 30s, the Second World War. But at the same time, the game is starting to gain popularity in colleges and universities. In parallel with this, basketball came to the USSR. George Dupperon popularized this sport, and also held the first official games in 1906 year.
In 1946, the National Basketball Association (NBA) was formed. From now on, the game goes to a new level. Now basketball receives accreditation from partners and states that began to compete in the World and European Championships.
Since the middle of the 20th century, millions of spectators have been riveted to the matches of this game.
NBA Logo
The 10 Basic Rules of Basketball
The rules of basketball have been the same for years. In order for the game to be as fair and interesting as possible, the main ones are:
- No more than 5 players from each team can be on one field. Each team has 7 more members in reserve. The stock can change with the base at any time.
- The main goal is to shoot the ball into the enemy basket as many times as possible. Throws from longer distances give more points.
- The game consists of 4 parts, the break between them is 2 minutes. Between the two halves of the match, the break is longer - 15 minutes.
- The game starts with a jump ball. The referee throws the ball up, and the two players in the center try to knock it into their own half of the field.
- The technique of moving with the ball across the field is important: it is imperative to run with the ball, hitting it on the floor, and deliberately hitting it with your foot or fist is a violation.
- The team with the most points in the limited time wins. If at the agreed time the score is equal, then an additional time of 5 minutes is played. It will run until one of the teams wins by points.
- Game time limits must be respected. So, 24 seconds are given for an attack in the opponent's half of the field, and no more than 8 seconds for taking the ball out of one's own zone. The three-second rule says that you can stay under the ring for no more than 3 seconds, then the ball is out of bounds.
- Basketball is a non-contact game in which physical pressure cannot be exerted on the opponent. If the contact of the players was too rough, then such a violation is punishable by free throws.
- If the ball goes out of bounds, it must go to the opposing team.
- You cannot return the ball to your own half of the field after an attack. This is a violation.
How many points are given for what
As already mentioned, in basketball, different numbers of points are given for different shots.
In total, there are three options for accruing when the ball hits the basket:
- 1 point. Given on a free throw. The team throws the ball into the basket from a line close to the ring.
- 2 points. For hitting from medium and close range. The most frequently scored points in basketball.
- 3 points. The ball hit the basket from a distance. Usually such throws can be made from a distance of more than 7 meters.
Although long-range shots are the most valued, the score in the game is gained mainly due to 2-point shots. This is due to the fact that even for professionals such hits are complex and rare.
Is it possible to play by simplified rules?
For schoolchildren of all ages, playing basketball according to the official rules can seem quite difficult, so schools do not penalize so much for violations. It is possible to play by simplified rules, but for this you will need to agree among yourself on what can and cannot be done.
Most often, the rules remain unchanged: the ban on physical contact, match on points, hitting the ball in touch, the rule of the "middle" line.
To simplify the game, teachers in grades 5-6-7 most often forget about time limits. So for an attack, an unlimited amount of time is given (instead of 24 seconds), and for defense, you can pass passes in your own half for quite some time. Since students rarely throw the ball further than 7 meters from the ring, three points during the game are rarely awarded.
Rules of the Seconds
There are times in basketball that all players and both teams must play. Violation of these rules will be regarded as a foul:
- 3 seconds. The athlete spent more than three seconds in the “paint”. In order to "reset" the timer, you need to go with both feet over the line. Otherwise, the violation will be punished with an out and the transfer of the ball to the opposite team.
- 5 seconds of passivity.
When closely guarded by the opponent (less than 1 meter), the athlete does not pass or throw for 5 seconds. This is a violation and is punishable by an out and passing the ball to the other team. - 8 seconds. If the players of the team do not remove the ball from their own half of the field during this time, then a violation is counted. After the lead athlete has entered someone else's zone, the ball cannot be returned back.
- 10 seconds. The free throw must be taken within this time. Otherwise, all additional attempts will be canceled and the other team will receive the ball.
- 24 seconds. The attack must be carried out within this time. If the players did not have time to complete it due to some circumstances (foul or out), then their stay time can be increased to 14 seconds. If this time the attack is not completed, then the team is declared a violation.
- 30 seconds. A throw attempt must be made at least once during this time.
Otherwise, the ball will go to the other team.
The rules of seconds are quite strictly observed in professional basketball, but they are not followed in school. Otherwise, the game turns into an endless violation of the rules and the imposition of penalties because of this.
Fouls and Penalties
If the seconds rules are eliminated, there are two areas for fouls - physical contact and loss of the ball. If one of the teams plays too rough, the referee may issue a warning. If such warnings were given to one player 5 during one match, then this person is removed from the field.
Do not grab the opponent by the arms or enclose him in tongs. You need to play mainly by covering the partners of the enemy team and blocking the passes and throws of the player. If the violation is gross, the referee will award free throws. Their number may vary depending on the severity of physical contact.
A special role is given to how to dribble the ball.
You can not pick it up and walk around the field. You need to lead it rhythmically, hitting the floor every time you take a step. Otherwise, the player is credited with a "run", and the team passes the ball to their opponents. You cannot dribble the ball with both hands at the same time or purposely kick it with your foot. This is also considered a violation.
Playing basketball
Position of the players
Since there are 5 players in the team, the positions are the same:
- Point guard. The main brain of the team and the "conductor" of its orchestra. The point guard tends to have the smallest physical attributes, but focuses not on speed or shooting, but on passing and dribbling. Such a player always has several options in his head for playing, as well as for carrying out an attack. In fast playing conditions, he never gets lost and helps his team by creating scoring chances.
- Attacking defender. The person who is responsible in the team for successful long-range and medium throws.
These players usually don't have any obvious strengths, but they need to be fast enough to cover the distance from their own ring to someone else's. The shooting guard has one of the most important roles in scoring goals. - Light forward. This player is higher than the previous ones, but his main task is no longer defense, but attack and score. A light forward will achieve results through good dribbling and speed. This player scores the most goals, and therefore he can be considered the main person responsible for the team's performance. Well blocks throws on the approach of opponents. Also, this player can move into the category of powerful forwards if he gains enough muscle and mass.
- Power forward. One of the easiest roles in the team. Its goal is quite easy to understand, but only truly powerful and tall players will be able to achieve it. This player has the largest height and mass in the team. When attacking, he stands in the zone for 3 seconds and tries to pick up the ball.
Usually in this area of the site the most intense struggle takes place, in which the power forward must pick up the ball and throw it into the basket. The number four has recently started to play as an attacking player, before that he played the role of rebounding the ball in defense under his ring. - Center. The main task is to recover the ball at the beginning of the match and in controversial moments. The center player is versatile in terms of his set of qualities, but at the same time he must be as strong and big as a powerful forward. This person picks up balls from the enemy basket and fights in the center of the field. Good free throws are important to him, as well as the ability to block opponent passes. He usually scores the highest number of blocks and successful rebounds per game.
Placement of basketball players on the field
Now the roles of the players are rather blurred and universal. Due to the great popularity of basketball in good teams, there is always a choice between a more enduring player or a taller one.
Therefore, the roles are often mixed up, supplemented, and the coaches themselves say: the main thing is not your role in the team, but how much you benefit it.
Basic terms
To easily navigate the game, it is worth understanding some words. Players use them during the match, as they are shorter and clearer than their long counterparts. For example, there are such concepts:
- Paint. This is the 3 second zone where 2-point shots are made and the main fight takes place.
Basketball red zone
- Dunk. This is a way to shoot the ball when a small or power forward jumps to the ring and puts the ball in the basket. Looks very impressive.
- Treshka. This is a throw worth 3 points. Sometimes it is called distant or arc.
- Vi-cat. This is an opening for your partner to receive a pass or get out of pressure.
- Brick. When thrown, the ball hit the ring and its metal rod, but the backboard was not hit.
- Jogging. An offense in which a player with the ball in his hands took more than two steps and did not pass, did not shoot.
- Lay-up. Throw from under the basket.
- Assistant A pass to a player who immediately scored a goal after it.
- Pick. After a throw or block, an attempt to reach the ball and take possession of it.
Of course, this is not the whole list of game terms, but if you list all the slang and concepts of basketball, then you can make a list of a couple of dozen A4 sheets. Here are the most common concepts that both professionals and beginners should know.
How long is a basketball game | How long is a game and quarter in basketball
How long is a basketball game?
In any sport, there is a moment when players take a short break, allowing teams to rest and also regroup their game. It is this moment that the timeout expression is considered to be.
In some games it lasts 2-3 minutes, and in more contact games like basketball up to 5 minutes.
What is a time-out in basketball?
Time-out is a short pause used by coaches or match officials. Coaches use such a tool to adjust the strategy of the game, as well as to allow the players to take a break. Moreover, not only the coach, but also their assistants can take time-outs by showing the referee a certain hand gesture in the form of palms that are straightened on both hands, making the letter “T”. It is used by judges in case of technical interference, for example, lighting has stopped working, etc.
It is not mandated by the rules to grant a timeout immediately, as there is a specified duration of timeouts. The game should be stopped at the moment when the referee shows a special gesture to all players of both teams. Despite the fact that the timeout is fleeting, such a tactical move cannot be underestimated. There are many cases in history when, with the help of a time-out, it was possible to turn the game around, determining the winner at the end of the match.
Timeout cases
If we talk about a pause in the game, then it is stipulated by the rules, and can be granted in the following cases:
- The ball lies “tight”, the coach and the referees managed to discuss the points related to the timeout. For example, when the ball was scored in the basket (ring).
- At the time of the free throw.
- The right is granted to the team that missed the attack of the opponents.
While the ball is in play, the requested time-out will not be granted to the team. This position was specifically designed to avoid disrupting the most potential game attacks.
How long does it take?
If we talk about the duration of the break, it all depends on the league, under the auspices of which it takes place. That is why the break can last in different ways.
- In FIBA matches, the break lasts one minute.
- Student leagues have 6 breaks, 4 of which last no more than 75 seconds and another 2 of 30 seconds (if the games are not shown on TV).
- Only 4 breaks can be taken at the time of showing student matches on digital TV, one of which is 60 seconds, and three more 30 seconds.
- In school tournaments, coaches may request three breaks of 60 seconds and 2 of 30.
The most difficult time-out report is considered if the match is held under the auspices of the NBA, because:
- there are pauses of 20 seconds in the first half;
- for the whole match, you can apply 6 so-called “minute freezes” for 60 seconds;
- the first and third (odd) quarters have two breaks of 100 seconds each;
- second and fourth (even quarters) 3 timeouts of 100 seconds.
How much can you do?
If matches among professional players are held under the auspices of the IBF (International Basketball Federation) and the EBF (European Basketball Federation), then the coach of either team will be able to require 6 pauses. The same rules apply to matches held during the Olympiad.
Some popular championships also use this rule. If we talk about CA (student association) games, then up to 6 breaks can also be used. Breaks for violations do not count. And this also applies to national competitions.
When broadcasting matches on television, they can be reduced to 5 per match. Commercial breaks and fouls are not taken into account - thus, players have additional moments to rest at the time of the advertisement. If there are school-level competitions, then no more than 5 time-outs per game can be taken.
In the NBA, up to 18 timeouts can be taken per game. At the same time, in those matches where there are commercial breaks, the number was “cut down” to 14 pieces. All this was influenced by the complaints of the audience, which, due to all the interruptions - advertising and requested, the game becomes less spectacular, as well as protracted. And if there is overtime in the match, then the task of watching the match to the end becomes much more difficult.
Speaking about women's basketball, the breaks in them are the same as for men, with the same number of breaks.
General rules for a time-out
A time-out may be granted to a team if the coach or assistant coach has made a certain gesture to the referee, after which the referee responds with a whistle and a reverse signal. At the moment of pause, each player is given the opportunity to sit down and rest. Coaches are also allowed to appoint game substitutions, regardless of the points scored.
The seated may get up from the bench at the time of the break and enter the court. The rule is valid as long as they are close to the line of sight of the bench.
After the pause ends - the referee blows his whistle and the main part of the teams must return to the field to continue the game. Unlike breaks between quarters, when the game starts with a throw-in, the team that was supposed to continue the attack enters the game.
It is these game rules that exist to make it more comfortable for players to play.
Conclusion
How can you understand the rules and procedures for a time-out in basketball is much more interesting and confusing than in football or any other sport. No other sport has such a large number of game breaks. A sufficient amount of playing time is allocated for breaks, especially when it comes to matches held under the auspices of the National Basketball Association. But in modern realities, this is a forced necessity, first of all, to ensure the safety of athletes.
For example, if you compare basketball with bandy, then there is one break per team assigned with a duration of exactly 60 seconds. In addition, you can take a break there only at the moment when the player is in possession of the ball, and at the moment of the pause itself, the players should not leave the field, since the coach should address them from the bench. In basketball, the game stops only when the ball is in a “dead” state. The communication of basketball players takes place on the benches.
