How wide are basketball court lines

Of the two major American-invented sports — baseball and basketball — only one has gained worldwide popularity. We play baseball across parts of the globe, but we play basketball worldwide. You can play with as few as two people and as many as ten. Shoot hoops indoors and outdoors and on any surface hard or flat enough to bounce a ball.

Indoor courts are usually made from hardwood, though other, more easily-maintained surfaces are gaining in popularity. Outdoor courts can be either asphalt or concrete. You can put a permanent basketball court just about anywhere you would like. Don’t have the room for a full-length court? Fitting just a half court into your driveway, backyard, or commercial gym would be just as useful.

So, have a space in mind and wondering “What are the dimensions of a basketball court?” Let’s take a look at the standard sizes for every level of basketball, from high school all the way up through international competition.

The National Basketball Association, better known as the NBA, boasts the largest court dimensions of any level of basketball — domestic or international. The outer dimensions are 94 feet long by 50 feet wide. The half court line is, as the name would suggest, halfway between each end line. In the middle of the half court line is a tip-off circle with a six-foot radius, which often sports the home team’s logo.

The key is 16 feet wide and 19 feet from the baseline to the foul line. A semicircle with a six-foot radius extends from the foul line. Some courts have the other side of the half-circle drawn in a dotted line inside the key to complete the circle and create a clear boundary for any jump balls.

The backboard protrudes four feet out from the baseline, and the rim of the basket hangs 10 feet off the ground. Subtracting the four feet overhang from the 19-foot length of the key, we get the familiar 15-foot distance from the foul line to the front of the backboard. It’s a misconception that the foul line is 15 feet from the center of the basket. The backboard itself measures six feet wide and 42 inches high.

Inside the key, a four-foot arc is aligned with the center of the basket to designate the restricted arc. If a defender is inside this semicircle, he cannot draw a charging foul. Along both sides of the key, lines are drawn three feet apart to create the standing positions for other players during a free throw attempt, starting with a box that is seven feet from the baseline and one foot wide.

Outside the key, the three-point line forms an imperfect arc stretching one side of the baseline to the other. The arc isn’t a perfect circle because it would run out of bounds on the sides of the court.

Instead, the three-point line runs in a straight line from the baseline out 16 feet, nine inches, at which point the line begins to curve. The straight lines are an even 22 feet from the center of the basket, and on the arc, the distance is 23 feet and nine inches.

Starting at the baseline and running 28 feet toward the center of the court, a line bounds the team bench area. The line also acts as the starting place for inbounds passes after timeouts and fouls.

The Women’s National Basketball Association or WNBA’s court dimensions are identical to the NBA court in every way except the three-point line. Instead, the distance is equal to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) at 22.15 feet from the center of the hoop. WNBA teams share arenas and playing surfaces with the NBA, which is why it’s no wonder the court dimensions are so similar.

National Collegiate Athletic Association or NCAA basketball courts have similar dimensions to the NBA and WNBA, which include the:

• Court
• Foul line
• Backboard
• Basket height
• Tip-off circle

That said, there are a few significant differences in the dimensions of the NCAA court. For starters, the key is only 12 feet wide, rather than 16. The first box on the side of the key is only six feet from the baseline, not seven. The restricted area under the basket is also one foot smaller, at three feet in diameter rather than the NBA’s four.

However, the most recognizable difference between the NBA’s court dimensions and the NCAA’s is the distance of the three-point line. The NCAA three-point line is only 20 feet, nine inches from the center of the basket. Because of the smaller diameter, it is a continuous arc from one side of the baseline to the other, with no straight lines necessary to create space on the sidelines.

The difference in three-point line distances is the biggest adjustment for shooters to make as they begin their professional careers, and also why it’s so difficult to project how well a player will shoot in the pros.

High school basketball courts are a little different from their college and professional counterparts. The most noticeable difference is that the court is a full 10 feet shorter, measuring only 84 feet. However, there are some similarities. The court is still 50 feet wide. The basket is also 10 feet off the ground.

The tip-off circle has a six-foot radius, just like the big kid courts, and while the high school landscape isn’t as standardized as college and professional basketball, the backboard is supposed to have the same measurements as the NCAA and NBA.

Just as in college and professional basketball, the foul line is 15 feet from the backboard, and the key is 19 feet long. It’s also the same 12 feet wide as the NCAA — four feet narrower than the NBA and WNBA.

The other visible difference is the distance from the three-point line. Shorter than either the NCAA or NBA, the high school free throw line is just 19 feet, nine inches from the center of the basket. Additionally, high school basketball courts do not have any restricted area under the basket, since that rule doesn’t exist in high school basketball.

FIBA governs international basketball courts. The measurements for FIBA basketball courts differ from U.S. courts because of the difference between our Imperial measurements — feet and inches — and the more standard metric system.

FIBA courts are an even 28 meters long, which converts to almost 92 feet. The 15-meter width converts to just over 49 feet. The tip-off circle is a bit smaller as well, at 3.5 meters in diameter. This difference translates to a radius of about five feet, seven inches.

The key is almost the same size at 5.8 meters long and 4.8 meters wide. These numbers convert to within a few inches of 19 and 16 feet. The basket is 1.2 meters, or almost four feet, in from the baseline, which puts the foul line at 4.6 meters — 15 feet — away. The restricted area under the basket is 1.25 meters or just a shade more than four feet in radius.

The basket is still 10 feet off the ground, which means the biggest difference is the three-point line. At the top of the arc, the three-point line is 6.75 meters from the center of the basket or 22.15 feet. This measurement works out to about 22 feet, two inches. The FIBA three-point line, which has also been adopted by the WNBA, is over a foot and a half closer than the NBA line.

Since its invention in 1891, basketball’s court dimensions have varied. Let’s look at some of its historical changes, as well as answering that nagging question — “Why are basketball hoops 10 feet high?” — below:

The Story Behind the 10-Foot High Hoop

It would appear the 10-foot basketball hoop is the result of a careful calculation that considers the human anatomy and mechanics of the game. After all, even the tallest players today have to jump to dunk a ball, and a ten-foot high rim gives a comfortable target to shoot for at a distance. But as we see so often in history, the truth is much more mundane.

When James Naismith dreamed up the game in Springfield, MA in 1891, the railing he chose to hang the baskets on was ten feet off the ground. So, while everything else about the sport has changed since that first game, the baskets are still right where Dr. Naismith hung them.

The History of the Three-Point Line

The three-point line is arguably the most recognizable aspect of a basketball court’s dimensions and part of the reason why is attributed to the history surrounding this semicircle.

The first instance of the three-point line appeared in the American Basketball League in 1961, a full 70 years after Dr. Naismith invented the game. The line was added to increase excitement, but the league folded in just one and a half seasons, so the idea never had a chance.

In 1967, the next competitor to the NBA arrived. The American Basketball Association, or ABA, instituted the three-point line from the very start, and it was a huge success. The ABA had many exciting innovations that produced a better product for the fans. But ultimately, there was not enough room for two professional basketball organizations, so the NBA and ABA merged in 1976.

The three-point line, however, was not included in the merger! The decision-makers in the NBA at the time were too stubborn to adopt such a radical change. They held out for three years before implementing the three-point line in the 1979-1980 season. The NCAA didn’t integrate it until 1986, and it didn’t arrive on high school basketball courts until 1987.

That isn’t the end of the story, however. The line was moved closer for three seasons in the ‘90s to try to boost scoring, but it was quickly moved back to its original place. Taking the idea to the extreme, the NBA has even admitted to having discussions about a four-point line. Ultimately, we’ll believe it when we see it.

The Original Cage Matches

In the early days of professional basketball, the game was played inside an actual cage. The reasons were more about practicality than about safety. The rule for who got to inbound a ball that left the court was “whoever got to it first,” so organizers took to putting up a cage so the ball could never go out of bounds in the first place.

Those first basketball courts were about a third smaller than they are today, and the cages provided a physical boundary and an extra immovable for savvy teams. Could you imagine how much different the game of basketball would be today if those cages had stuck around?

The Alternative Key Designs

Today, basketball courts at all levels share a common design for the key — a rectangle measuring either 19 feet by 16 feet or 19 feet by 12 feet. However, this was not always the case. From the creation of FIBA in 1956 until 2010, the key was a trapezoidal design that was significantly wider at the baseline.

Another design of this feature is responsible for the name “key.” Have you ever thought about how a rectangular area under a basket got such a random name?

The reason is that the original area was much narrower, while the circle surrounding the free throw line was the same size. These two factors combined to create a shape that resembled an old-fashioned key. In 1951, the key was widened to 12 feet and later to the 16 feet we see now in the NBA and FIBA.

While the term lives on, time has erased any record of its design and original reference. And for the record, the official name for this feature is “free throw lane,” which isn’t a phrase many of us hear often.

And that’s a wrap on the history of basketball’s court dimensions.

Perhaps you don’t have 94 feet of flat asphalt or indoor floor space. Don’t worry, because residential half court setups can be just as fun. And whether you are looking to paint your court or apply a pre-made solution, sticking to the official dimensions will take your pickup games to the next level.

Take a look at our selection of goals, nets and accessories to bring your home’s court together. You’ll have a hard time dragging your kids off the court as they spend hours posting up like Boogie, slashing like LeBron and launching it from deep like Steph.

Basketball court markings: standards and norms

Author of the article

Khvatkov Dmitry

Consultant in the production of rubber coatings

Basketball field marking requirements are approved by the FIBA ​​standard. The site must be flat with a hard surface, free of bends, cracks and other obstacles. The accepted dimensions of the field are 28 m long and 16 m wide. By NBA standards, the field is slightly larger: 28.7 m (94' ft) long and 15.3 m (50' ft) wide.

Areas not intended for international competitions may differ from accepted standards (for public use, in schools or universities, etc.) and usually vary from 20 to 28 m in length and from 12 to 16 m in width.

Basketball Court Marking Standards

Basketball court markings are conventionally divided into 5 components:

• Boundary lines. They are located along the perimeter of the site and set its size. The lines that run along the field are called side lines, and those that are behind the baskets are called front lines.
• Central line. Divides the court in half parallel to the front lines.
• Central zone. It is a circle and is placed in the middle of the center line, and, accordingly, in the center of the entire field.
• Three-point line. It is a semi-ellipse and is located around the shields on both sides of the field. It limits the close range.
• Free throw line. It is located in front of the boards parallel to the front line and is limited on the sides by paint lines.

The standard line width is 5 cm. All outlines and lines must be of the same color (usually white) and be clearly visible from anywhere on the court.

Common lines

Common lines are used to limit the playing area of ​​the court. The side lines (along the field) according to FIBA ​​standards should be 28 m long, and the front lines - 16 m. For public areas, deviations from the accepted standards are allowed. Typically, basketball courts in schools or gyms are made from 20 m long and 12 m wide.

Central lines

The center line is parallel to the front and divides the field exactly in half. According to the standards - it should extend beyond the side lines by 15 cm on both sides.

In the middle of the center line there is a circle with a diameter of 3.6 m, which limits the central zone of the field. In this zone, the ball is played at the beginning of the game.

Three-Point Line

Three-Point Lines are located around the backboards on both sides of the field and consist of two straight lines 2. 9 long9 m and a semicircle. Straight lines run perpendicular to the front at a distance of 0.9 m from the side lines. Despite the fact that visually the distance from the ring to the side of the three-point line seems to be less than to its central part, the distance from the backboard to any point is 6.75 m.

Penalty lines

Penalty lines limit the nearest area at the backboard. They consist of a trapezoid and a free throw zone.

Despite the name, the "trapezium" is a rectangle (until 2009year it really was a trapezoid), which is located under the shield. Its dimensions are 5.8 meters long and 4.9 meters wide. The shield is located at a distance of 1.575 m from the end line in the middle of the site. In front of the backboard, at a distance of 1.25 m, there is a semicircle that limits the area for picking up the ball.

At a distance of 4.225 meters from the backboard, the trapeze zone ends and the free throw zone begins. It is a semicircle with a diameter of 3. 6 m (like the central circle).

Paint zone lines

These lines are serifs on both sides of the trapezoid (parallel to the sidelines). They limit the areas for players who are fighting for the ball during a free throw.

Zones on the basketball field

The basketball court is divided into zones using markings. Each zone has its own specific rules.

Center circle

The center circle is used as a separate kick-off area at the start of the game. One representative from each team stand in a circle from their side and fight for the ball in a jump, after it is dropped by the referee. All players are exclusively on their side of the field, except for one who rebounds on the opponent's side.

Neutral zone

The peculiarity of this zone is that as soon as the player of the attacking team with the ball crosses the center line and is on the side of the opponent, he cannot pass the ball to the player of his team who is on the other side of the field (i. e. behind center line on your side).

Three-point zone

The three-point line limits the near zone of the shot. Hitting the basket from outside the basket brings the team three points. If the throw was made inside the zone, then it brings two points.

Three-second zone

This is the zone in close proximity to the ring. It is called three-second, since the player of the attacking team cannot be in it for more than three seconds. Most balls are thrown in this zone, so when attacking, it provides maximum protection.

Free throw area

In controversial situations, a free throw is provided from this area. The player of the attacking team must score the ball without stepping over the line of the trapezoid. At the same time, the players of both teams are not in the three-second zone. They take up positions along the paint lines on the sides of the trapezoid and may not step outside the lines until the free throw shooter has shot the ball.

How to mark a basketball field?

Basketball field markings, whether it is an international competition court or an open-air amateur field, are best applied using special equipment. This will ensure the long life of the coating, the lines will not clog and will promote fair play.

You can order the marking of a basketball court in Moscow and the Moscow region from Rezkom. We will measure the premises and develop a design project for the field so that it complies with generally accepted rules and is convenient for operation. For more details, you can contact our manager by phone 8-495-64-24-111.

Three points at the end of the match

Perhaps only the increase in the size of the basketball court to 28 m in length and 16 m in width and the introduction of the three-point shot were the most serious changes in the set of basketball laws in the current Olympic cycle. Now we can say with confidence that the innovations have justified themselves. Basketball has become more interesting, more spectacular, and the main goal has been achieved - many players who are by no means tall, but to a greater extent compensate for their lack of growth with increased performance.

Changes in the rules of basketball force specialists to look for new ways to develop the game. The six-meter arc, which appeared on the court after the 1984 FIBA ​​Congress, was introduced, if not to equalize, then at least to bring the capabilities of the giants and the “little ones” together, to find reliable forms of using the sniper abilities of the back row players. In short, the coaches and basketball players have opened up broader playing horizons.

What are the ways of coaching creativity in the new direction? How actively did our specialists get involved in the development of new game ideas? Have the features of the “three-pointer” tactics appeared in the actions of our teams, and what reserves does it still hold? On these and other issues related to long-range shots, we invite basketball experts to speak.

However, it would be wrong to assume that the impact of the three-point shot on the game was limited to the listed facts. The new rule first of all made basketball much richer in tactical terms. Coaches successfully find options for expanding tactical schemes using throws from behind the six-meter line. For example, in the past, coaches made it mandatory for players to complete a fast break with a shot from under the basket. Now many of them have changed their minds. If the team goes into a breakthrough, having a numerical advantage of at least one player, that is, a situation arises 2 against 1 or 3 against 2, then it makes sense to complete such an attack with a throw from behind the three-point line and, in case of a miss, actively fight under the shield for the rebounded ball. Teams successfully use various combinations in which a tall center receives the ball on the border of the 3-second zone of the opponents and, threatening to pass, pulls an additional 1-2 backing defenders to him, after which he passes the ball to the released partner for a three-point shot.

The new rule affected not only the attack, but also the defense. Concentrated variants of both zone and personal defense, apparently, have outlived their time. The opponent can "shoot" such a defense with three-point shots. All teams are now forced to defend actively, meeting opponents 9-11 meters from the ring, that is, almost from the middle of the site. Thus, the area within a radius of 4-5 m from the ring was cleared of excessive accumulation of players.

Modern basketball places very high demands on defenders. These are requirements of a physical nature - speed endurance, strength, jumping ability, reaction; technical - correct movements in a defensive stance, the ability to knock the ball from an opponent when dribbling and from hands without a foul; of a tactical nature - correctly assess the game situation, choose the right defensive stance, change it as the opponent moves towards the ring or away from the ring. The most important thing is to develop in the defender the ability to fight for the ball. Before the introduction of the three-point shot, the fight for the ball began on the outskirts of the three-second zone, now it starts much earlier - on the outskirts of the perimeter of the six-meter line. And this requires the protection of new skills and great performance, based on excellent physical fitness.

The introduction of the new rule had the greatest impact on the completion of half-time and match endings. About a third of all matches of the last two national championships kept the coaches, players and spectators in suspense until the last moment, and the team that was more confident in the end won. It is not for nothing that many basketball experts have devoted a number of articles to the topic of playing out difficult endings of matches. Leading coaches in the USA wrote about this - Henry Aiba, Joe Hull, John Holden, Bobby Knight. In Europe, the issue was studied by Mirko Novosel. Alesandro Gamba, Diaz Miguel. In our country, more than other coaches, the honored coach of the USSR Vladimir Kondrashin was engaged in the theory of endings. Led by him for more than 20 years, Spartak Leningrad has always been distinguished by its strong holding of difficult endings of matches. Many brilliant victories were won by Spartak not even in the last minutes, but in the last seconds of the games. The team always followed the coach's instructions accurately and quickly, and it was felt that this was not impromptu, but combinations and interactions polished in advance in training. protective schemes. In a word, well-thought-out options for action in difficult game circumstances.

The listed coaches expressed different points of view on the tactics of the game at the end of the meeting with a small difference in the score. However, everyone is unanimous in one thing: this section of the game requires special and very painstaking work in the educational and training process both in the pre-competitive period and throughout the season.

To successfully end the match, first of all, it is necessary to correctly calculate the number of remaining attacks for both teams. These attacks must be counted 120-110 seconds before the end of the match. The calculation of the number looks something like this: a team leading in the score with a small difference will strive to drag out the ball to 23-28 seconds in order to find its offensive leader in a position convenient for throwing, that is, to play “to the right-; the team behind in the score will try to carry out swift counterattacks at -12 s. trying to finish them with either a shot from under the basket or a three-point shot. This means that the total time for two mutual attacks will be 31-40 s. Thus, in 2 min. until the end of the meeting, each team has 3 attacks left, and the last attack in the game will be from the opponent who is defending at that moment. A successful run to the end of the match implies that the team and its coach will do everything possible to qualify for the last shot of the game, which can be decisive. And if the coach of the defending team agrees with the above calculation, then the coach of the team in possession of the ball will seek means to ensure that the last attack still goes to his pupils.

Here are a few tips on tactics for ending intense games.

1. Leave at least one time-out at the end of the match. There is no better way to make adjustments to a game than by taking a minute break, especially with a few seconds left in the game. In this time-out, the coach must clearly, clearly and succinctly state to the players what they now have to implement. - the amount of time for the remaining attacks, indicate the method of their completion (two- or three-point shots), single out the player or players who are instructed to do this, be sure to stop at the defense option chosen for the ending.

2. Substitutions. Those substitutes that the coach intends to use at the end of the match must be warned in advance and ready to enter the court immediately. Some experts, in particular Bobby Knight, suggest making substitutions at the end of games according to the handball principle - one of the players participates only in attack, and when switching to defense, if there is a stoppage of the game, he gives way to a partner who defends better. It makes sense to resort to this technique if the team has a super sniper who does not defend well. So, for example, they use Alexander Gusev in CSKA. It must be recalled that substitutions are also necessary when breaking free throws. When awarding a free kick, it is better to release an additional tall player to ensure the ball is rebounded. You need a replacement and when your team holds the ball. In this situation, it is necessary to have two skillful dribblers on the court who can overcome tight pressure.

3. Have one polished, fast two- or three-turn combo at the end to get the sniper to shoot from behind the three-point line. Each coach will choose such interaction himself, based on the composition of the performers. There is only one thing in common for all teams - the subsequent fight on the shield for the bounced ball with the participation of three or four players.

4.                                                                                                                                              —

5. The team must learn at least two throw-in combinations in practice. One is for taking the ball out from behind the side or end line in their own half of the court, the other is for taking the ball out from behind the side line in the opponent's half of the court, followed by a quick attack of the ring.

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