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.
How Many Periods Are In Basketball Games?
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When watching a basketball game, spectators often pay attention to the remaining time of the match. Usually, there will be a clock to show the time. However, not everyone knows its mechanism of action and calculation. These watches are associated with “periods.”
So How many periods are in basketball? The rules for periods in basketball also vary depending on the tournament. There are four periods in an NBA game lasting for 12 minutes each.
The women’s NCAA basketball and FIBA basketball tournaments will have four 10-minute periods total. The period is also called a quarter because it represents a quarter of the game
Not all basketball leagues use the same time ivision, though. Let’s explore with Scott Fujitathe differences in the periods of the tournaments in this article.
Periods in basketball matches
Contents
How Many Periods Are In Basketball?
When it comes to a basketball game, we will immediately remember the NBA game. An NBA basketball game consists of four periods lasting 12 minutes each.
This number is usually only correct in theory. When playing in real-time, a period may take longer due to external factors. A good example is when a team calls for a timeout.
Different tournaments will also have different timings and periods. Before continuing to explore the timing of varying basketball matches, let’s review the definition of periods.
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What Are Periods In Basketball?
A period in a basketball game means a specific block of time. The time taken by the sum of all periods in a match is called regulation time. If the two teams still have a draw after the end of the official time, they will continue to play in the extra time.
There will be a short break between each period. If the match consisted of four quarters, there would be two short breaks between the first and second periods and the third and fourth periods. Between the second and third halves, there will be a sizeable 15-minute break. It’s called a halftime break.
In NCAA men’s basketball games, there will only be a halftime break.
How Many Periods Are In College Basketball?
The NCAA men’s basketball matches consist of only two periods, with each halves lasting 20 minutes. There is a two-minute interval between the first and second periods and the third and fourth periods.
The regulation games run total is about 40 minutes. After that time, if the two teams are still tied, they will continue with overtime periods lasting 5 minutes each. The number of overtime periods is unlimited, so you can decide who wins.
How Many Quarters Are In The WNBA Games?
The women’s college basketball plays four quarters, each period lasting ten minutes. The total time for a match is 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, men’s college basketball plays two halves of 20 minutes each. Although the division is different, the total playing time of the two tournaments is the same.
A shot clock in basketball
How Many Periods Are In A High School Basketball Game?
Like NBA games, high school games consist of four quarters. Each quarter lasts 8 minutes. The total game time is 32 minutes.
There will be extra time in the event of a tie after the end of the fourth period. Overtime lasts 5 minutes each period. Two teams will play until a winner is found.
How Long Is The Halftime Break In A Basketball Game?
The most extended break in a match is called the halftime break. Its duration is the same in every tournament. Whether it’s NBA games or an NCAA tournament, the break period lasts 15 minutes.
Usually, the players will sit back and relax while waiting for the next game. Coaches also use this time to re-evaluate the game and the team’s previous performance. The whole team will have meetings or brainstorms to discuss strategies for the rest of the game.
What Is The Longest Game Ever In NBA History?
The longest NBA game
On January 6, 1951, the Rochester Royals played a basketball match against rival Indianapolis Olympions. It is the longest NBA game of all time as it lasted for six periods. The final score of this match was relatively low. The Olympians defeated the Royals 75-73.
The allotted time of a basketball game is 63 minutes on average, but it is often longer in practice because of delays, errors, or stoppages. Not only was the 1951 game long-lasting, but there were also a few other examples in history.
The second-longest game in NBA history took place on November 9, 1989. The Seattle Supersonics had to accept their defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks after five extra time periods. At that time, the score was extremely close, 155-154.
Supersonics’ Dale Ellis sets the record for the most playing time in a game. He played 69 out of 73 minutes. Six different players scored over 20 points in this match.
You can re-watch this match here
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article has helped you gain helpful information about periods in basketball. Contrary to popular belief, periods can be quarters or halves depending on the time division of the different tournaments.
Tracking and understanding the duration of the match is also the best way for the audience to understand more about the current situation between the two teams.
In addition, you should also pay attention to short breaks and halftime breaks. It will help you keep up with the pace of the game and feel more attractive.
Do not forget to share this article if you find it helpful and exciting. If you are interested in basketball or other sports, follow Scott Fujita for the latest information and constant updates.
Thank you for reading!
How long is a quarter in basketball (NBA, FIBA). Number of halves in a game
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12/22/2018 All sports Leave a comment 102,928 Views
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It so happened that some of the rules of basketball in Europe and North America are different, and this primarily concerns the duration of the periods. The number of quarters in FIBA and NBA matches is the same, however, Americans, for whom basketball is considered one of the most popular sports, like to enjoy this wonderful game longer, therefore, in their rules, they increased the duration of each half by two minutes (compared to the International Federation of basketball)
Interesting fact: In the early days of basketball there were only 13 rules, now there are more than 200.
How many periods are there in a basketball game?
A basketball game consists of 4 quarters (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th) , this applies to both NBA and FIBA. Conventionally, the 1st and 2nd periods are the first half of the match, and the 3rd and 4th are the second. Between each quarter there is a two-minute break, but between the second and third half, the duration of the break is as much as 15 minutes.
According to the officially established rules, there can be no draw in basketball. If after 4 periods the score is equal, another quarter is played lasting 5 minutes. The number of extra periods is not limited, there may be several such five-minute periods until the winning team is determined.
How long is a quarter in basketball (NBA and FIBA)?
In Europe, tournaments held under the auspices of FIBA, the duration of each game is 40 minutes, that is, each quarter lasts 10 minutes .
In the United States of America, where the ruling organization in basketball is the NBA, the duration of the match is 48 minutes, that is, the time of each period is not 10, but 12 minutes. It turns out that in the USA, due to these two minutes added to each quarter, advertisers have more time to show their products to the viewer (the longer the viewer is at the TV screens, the more money the clubs earn on advertising). That is why the NBA is the richest and most popular basketball league on the planet.
Many people are also interested in how long a basketball game lasts in Europe and the USA. In general, taking into account the duration of all quarters, half-time intervals and dead ball situations (eg fouls, free throws and other stoppages), the total duration of the match is 2-3 hours.
The average regular season game in the NBA is 137 minutes.
The duration of basketball matches in the Olympic Games and competitions under the auspices of FIBA is shorter than in US tournaments, since the same match duration is 8 minutes shorter. FIBA also has fewer timeouts. In the NBA, both teams get 14 timeouts per game for two, with 2 timeouts in each period being mandatory (so-called television timeouts). FIBA and the Olympic Games have 5 timeouts, and teams may not necessarily use them.
Do you know how long the longest basketball game lasted?
The record for the length of a basketball game was recorded in 2006 in the United States of America. The duel was held specifically to set a record, the student teams "North Carolina" and "Duke" played each other for more than 58 hours in a row, the victory was won by "Duke" with a score of 3688:3444. All proceeds from ticket sales went to charity.
Conclusion
Some NBA and FIBA basketball rules differ. So, one of the main differences is the duration of the periods, in US tournaments each lasts 12 minutes, and in Europe - 10 minutes. A basketball game can never end in a draw, so there is no limit to the number of added halves. If you are planning to visit a basketball game, then please note that it can take as much as 2-3 hours to watch.
Interesting: the tallest basketball players in the world.
2018-12-22
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Basketball game. How many halves in basketball
Basketball is a sports team game in which you need to throw the ball into the opponent's basket with your hands. The winner of a basketball game is the team that scores the most goals and scores the most points in regular time. The question immediately arises of how long a basketball game lasts. The answer to it can be obtained by reading this article to the end. You will also find out how many halves there are in basketball.
Number of halves in basketball
In football, it is customary to call a certain piece of time a half, in tennis a set, in hockey a period. And in basketball, part of the match is called a half or period. The world rules of the game say how many halves there are in basketball. It must be said that in all types there are four halves. For them, basketball players must score the maximum number of points in the opponent's basket.
Duration of a game in FIBA
The question of how long a half lasts in basketball cannot be answered unambiguously. There are several associations, and the time of the game of the half and the match as a whole is different in them. The European Basketball Association (FIBA) is characterized by four halves of 20 minutes. That is, the entire match lasts one hour and twenty minutes. But basketball is such a game that it is not a fact that it will end in 80 minutes. During the game there are breaks between halves. Between the first and second, third and fourth periods, the break lasts 2 minutes. It is necessary in order to take a breath, drink water and hear the coach's instructions. After the first half of the match, a long break is set, which lasts 15 minutes. At this time, the teams go to the locker room to rest and analyze the first part of the game. At the end of the break, they change baskets. But breaks are not all that can drag out a match. During the game, each coach can take timeouts in order to make a stop and gather the team near him. This is mainly done in order to set up your team in a positive way. Also, fouls can delay the match, and sometimes there are a lot of them. After a violation of the rules, the arbiter awards a free throw, which takes a few more minutes. That's how time rolls on, so that a basketball game can go on for more than two hours.
NBA game length
Basketball is more popular in America than in Europe. There is an association there. It is called the National Basketball Association and has slightly different rules than the European one. Basketball continues 4 halves of 12 minutes. Such rules distinguish the European and American types of the game. NBA basketball lasts less than one hour, if you take into account the main playing time. There is no need to spend more time there as the players are fast and have very good ball control. Despite less playing time, NBA basketball has a higher performance than European associations. The duration of the break after the first half of the game may also vary, a variant with a ten-minute break is possible.
Decisive seconds of the match
How many halves in basketball, so many interesting endings can be seen in a match. This is due to the fact that in the last seconds of each half, you can manage to earn a decisive point. It often happens in basketball that three seconds before the end of the meeting, the team loses, and at the end of regular time remains the winner.
6m diameter semi-circle drawn on the outer part of the free-throw line called the free-throw circle.
These are referred to as three-pointers.
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.
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.
This is called goaltending violation.
A point guard’s primary role is to orchestrate both offensive and defensive plays and set up scoring opportunities for team-mates.
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.
There are four periods in an NBA game lasting for 12 minutes each. 
There is a two-minute interval between the first and second periods and the third and fourth periods.
Overtime lasts 5 minutes each period. Two teams will play until a winner is found.
Not only was the 1951 game long-lasting, but there were also a few other examples in history.
The number of quarters in FIBA and NBA matches is the same, however, Americans, for whom basketball is considered one of the most popular sports, like to enjoy this wonderful game longer, therefore, in their rules, they increased the duration of each half by two minutes (compared to the International Federation of basketball) 
The number of extra periods is not limited, there may be several such five-minute periods until the winning team is determined. 
So, one of the main differences is the duration of the periods, in US tournaments each lasts 12 minutes, and in Europe - 10 minutes. A basketball game can never end in a draw, so there is no limit to the number of added halves. If you are planning to visit a basketball game, then please note that it can take as much as 2-3 hours to watch. 
The answer to it can be obtained by reading this article to the end. You will also find out how many halves there are in basketball. 
During the game there are breaks between halves. Between the first and second, third and fourth periods, the break lasts 2 minutes. It is necessary in order to take a breath, drink water and hear the coach's instructions. After the first half of the match, a long break is set, which lasts 15 minutes. At this time, the teams go to the locker room to rest and analyze the first part of the game. At the end of the break, they change baskets. But breaks are not all that can drag out a match. During the game, each coach can take timeouts in order to make a stop and gather the team near him. This is mainly done in order to set up your team in a positive way. Also, fouls can delay the match, and sometimes there are a lot of them. After a violation of the rules, the arbiter awards a free throw, which takes a few more minutes. That's how time rolls on, so that a basketball game can go on for more than two hours. 
