How wide is the paint in high school basketball

What Is the Paint in Basketball? The Definitive Guide

If you play basketball long enough, there are things you will inevitably hear. Some of these things include “and one!”, “Keep shooting!” and “go hard in the paint!”

But what exactly is the paint in basketball?

The paint is the rectangular area under the basket that stretches from the baseline to the free-throw line, which is connected by two lane lines. Each lane line has hash marks to show players where to stand during free throws. The paint is often a different color than the rest of the basketball court.

The paint is central to many basketball rules and is a huge part of how the game operates. Your favorite team might even run its offense through the paint. If you would like to learn more about the paint in basketball and why it’s so important, continue reading below!

The paint is home to several rules that govern player positioning. There are three rules/violations to watch for in the paint: the three-second rule, lane violations, and fouls in the restricted zone.

The three-second rule (also called “3-in-the-key”) prevents players from staying in the paint for extended periods of time. The rule allows players to have both feet in the paint for up to three seconds.

The three-second count resets whenever the player moves both feet out of the paint. In all basketball leagues, offensive players are subject to the three-second rule. The penalty for violating this rule is a loss of possession.

In the National Basketball Association (NBA), there is also a defensive three-second rule. The penalty for defensive 3-in-the-key is a free throw for the offensive team, who keeps possession after the free throw.

Basketball leagues introduced the three-second rule in 1936. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) did this in response to the overwhelming play of Kentucky Wildcats center Leroy Edwards.

According to a letter from his college head coach, Edwards was “deadly” under the basket and teams resorted to violent fouls and clogging the paint in an attempt to stop Edwards.

Edwards played just one college season, winning the National Player of the Year award, and outscoring eight of the 21 opponents that Kentucky faced.

The lane violation rule also applies during foul shots, as part of the benefit of shooting a free throw is the ability to take an unguarded shot for a chance at one point.

Entering the paint before the ball leaves the shooter’s hands results in a lane violation. When an offensive player commits a lane violation, they negate the free throw, and it may not be re-shot.

This means that your made free throw can be nullified if your teammate steps in the lane too early. When a defender commits a lane violation, the shooting team may re-attempt the free throw, if missed, or decline the penalty, if the shooter makes their free throw.

Last but not least, the restricted zone is a semicircle under the goal. This area is important because it protects offensive players driving to the basket.

A restricted zone violation occurs when a defensive player attempts to draw a charging foul while standing in the semicircle. This violation results in a personal foul on the defensive player – even if they’re standing with their feet planted to take a charge.

The paint is a rectangle that stretches from the baseline, underneath the basket, to the free-throw line. Universally, the free-throw line is 15’ from the backboard and 18’ 10” from the baseline. 

For college and high school competitions, the paint is 12’ wide, matching the length of the free-throw line. Under the NBA and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules, the paint is 16’ wide, extending 2’ past the free-throw line on both sides. 

The free throw circle is 12’ in diameter. The restricted zone arc is 4’ in diameter and is located under the basket.

In 1951, the paint in basketball was widened from 6’ to 12’ in an attempt to limit George Mikan’s dominance. In turn, Mikan had to stay further from the basket to avoid three-second violations.

In 1964, the NBA elected to widen its lane again, this time to 16’, due to Wilt Chamberlain’s dominance (Chamberlain was just two years removed from averaging 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds per basketball game). 

The NBA introduced the restricted arc in 1997.

FIBA was the last governing body to make changes to the lane. Until 2010, each international basketball court had a trapezoidal painted area – with the paint widening as you approach the baseline. FIBA courts now have the same painted area as the NBA.

The final important aspect of the painted area is the hash marks along each lane line. These marks are set 3’ apart from one another and players stand beside them during free throw attempts.

Usually, the defensive team’s best players stand on the hash marks closest to the goal, with offensive players standing on the marks next-closest to the goal.

The mark closest to the goal is called the “low block.” It takes this name because, on many courts, this mark is painted in the shape of a small rectangle. The low block is the closest a player can stand to the goal during a free throw.

The post is a section of the paint where players can “post up.” Posting up occurs when an offensive player positions himself with his back to the basket, with his defender behind him.

Posting up involves players using their bodies as barriers to their defenders, thus creating space to catch passes. The post is split up into two parts: low post and high post. 

The low post is a portion of the paint in basketball near the low block. This area is close enough for players to take close-range/high percentage shots – usually a hook, up-and-under, or dunk attempt.

The high post is the general area between the highest hash mark and the free-throw line. The high post is a useful spot for setting screens, taking jump shots, or passing/handing off the ball to an open teammate.

When you hear the term “post player,” it’s usually in reference to a center or power forward. The post is advantageous for bigger players. In the low post, a tall player can use their size to get as close to the rim as possible when they shoot.

In the high post, taller players can either shoot over shorter defenders or scour the basketball court for good passing opportunities. 

Kevin McHale and Hakeem Olajuwon are among the most skilled post players in basketball history. Both McHale and Olajuwon used a variety of shoulder fakes, head fakes, spins, and pivot moves to create shots in the high and low post.

While frontcourt players are more likely to use the post, guards who are big or athletic enough are effective in the post as well. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant could post up outside of the paint and take turnaround, fadeaway jump shots.

They were so explosive that during these shots they could create enough space in the air to get a good look at the goal. In today’s basketball game, Russell Westbrook is a guard who likes to post up.

Westbrook is one of the most athletic players in basketball history, so he can use similar moves to Jordan and Bryant to create shots from the post.

While used interchangeably with the “paint” or “lane,” the key differs slightly from the other terms. The key is the area that includes the painted rectangle and a circle around the free-throw line. 

Now you might be wondering – where did the name “key” come from? Originally, the distance between the lane lines (the lines that connect the baseline to the free-throw line) was shorter than the free throw circle’s diameter.

With the paint being narrower than the circle, the ensuing shape matched that of a key. 

In 1951, new rules widened the lane from 6’ to 12’. This matched the width of the circle. While the “key” is no longer shaped like a key, the name has stuck. If you watch basketball on TV, you’ll hear coaches and broadcasters routinely use the term “key. ” 

A free throw, also known as a foul shot, is an unguarded shot awarded to an offensive player after a foul. Free throws are taken from the foul line, which is parallel to the baseline and located at the end of the paint.

On a standard basketball court, the foul line is 18′ 10″ from the baseline and 15′ from the backboard.

During a trip to the free-throw line, a player can take one, two, or three foul shots. The number of free-throw attempts depends on the foul:

• 1 Free Throw: Awarded on a shooting foul during a field goal attempt that the shooter makes. The offense may also receive one foul shot if the opposing team commits a defensive non-shooting foul while in the single bonus. In the NBA, a defensive three-second violation also results in one free throw for the offense.
• 2 Free Throws: Awarded on a shooting foul during a two-point field goal attempt that is missed. The offense may also receive two foul shots if the opposing team commits a technical foul, flagrant foul, or a defensive non-shooting foul while in the double-bonus.
• 3 Free Throws: Awarded on a shooting foul during a three-point field goal attempt that the shooter misses.

The free-throw line covers the diameter of the free-throw circle and is for jump balls to determine possession after a held ball situation.

The paint is vital in basketball. Teams create gameplans around it, players master moves in it, and basketball rules govern what happens in it.

Even with the three-point shot rising in popularity and low post scorers becoming less common, the paint will always be important in basketball.

Your team must own the paint to win rebounding battles and prevent open layups. If you can consistently win the paint, you’ll consistently win games.

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What is The Paint in Basketball - What are the Rules?

The colored rectangular area on a basketball court is known as the paint. Other common names include The Lane, Free Throw Lane, and The Key. Here is everything you need to know and more about the painted area on a basketball court!

How Big is the Paint in Basketball?

The width of the painted area is 16 feet long and 15 feet wide in the NBA/WNBA, while the NCAA basketball court paint is 12 feet wide. A regulation basketball court for the NBA, WNBA, and NCAA is 94′  long x 50′ wide. For a High School court, their total dimensions are 84′ long  x 50′ wide. With the court being smaller, their pant is only 15′ x 12′.

Why is it Called the Paint?

The area of the basketball court that is a different color from the rest of the wooden panels is the paint. The painted area on the court represents the free throw line all the way to the basketball hoop. Typically speaking, the painted area is the color of the home team. For example, TD Garden (Boston Celtics) is green, while Madison Square Garden (picture above) for the New York Knicks is orange.

What are the Parts of the Basketball Paint Area?

• Top of the Key: Represents the half-circle in front of the free-throw line
• High Post: A place slightly closer to the basket compared to the top of the key where players might post up to take a shot
• Low Post: An area beneath the high post where players might post up to take a shot from a pass
• The Block: The shapes along the free-throw lane lines where players line up during a free throw attempt

How Many Seconds Can You Be in the Paint?

The defense and offense can only stay in the paint for three seconds or risk a three-second rule violation. A defensive player can’t stand inside the color for more than three seconds unless they actively guard an offensive player. A defensive player that stays in the paint for more than three seconds without defending an offensive player result in a technical foul.

Offensive players have to leave the paint after three seconds as well during a play. If an offensive player stays in color for longer than three seconds, it loses possession of the ball for their team on that play. That is why players stand outside the paint on offensive plays.

When Did the 3-Second Rule Enter the NBA?

The 3-second rule violation in the NBA became part of the league in 1936.

What is the Restricted Area Arc on The Court?

The restricted area is a half-circle that sits directly underneath a basketball hoop via a four-foot dotted or closed circle. A defensive man can’t take a charging penalty within that circle while standing in this area playing defense. If any contact occurs in that restricted arc area, the defensive player automatically gets charged with a foul against the opposing team.

In 1997, the restrictive area became an official rule in the NBA. The restrictive site on the court stops a defensive player from camping out underneath the hoop to draw a foul. For example, you can’t have a defensive player run to this spot to collide with a player on a layup to draw a foul on them.

Other Violations in the Painted Area to Know About

Another violation in the paint is during a free throw attempt with the offense or defense. For example, if a shooter’s teammate enters the paint before the ball releases from their hand, the point won’t count even if they make the basket. If a defensive player enters the paint before the shot from a free throw attempt, the offensive team can shoot again even if they miss.

What Does it Mean to Score in the Paint?

Scoring in the paint means that points occur within that painted area on a basketball court. Points can be from a dunk, a layup, or a field goal when the player is in the paint.

Why Does the Paint Yield a High Percentage Shot?

The paint is close to the basketball hoop, which yields high percentage shots. That means a high percentage chance of scoring since the offensive team can dunk, layup, and hit a field goal from a short distance. Unlike a three-point shot that sits 23 feet and 9 inches from the hoop, the paint is much closer to the hoop, making it easier to score points.

How Do Teams Use the Paint During a Basketball Game?

Teams might have their big man or power forward post up near the paint to wait for a pass to then shoot the ball. Depending on the offensive team’s play, you will see that player enter the paint quickly to signal a pass. From there, the big man might take a shot, lay the ball up, or even dunk without creating a three-second violation since the sequence was so quick in that area.

How Can a Defense Protect the Paint?

Some teams like to run a 2-3 zone defense scheme to protect the painted area during a game. The 2-3 defense means you have two players playing the top of the court with three in the back. Having three players play closer to the hoop means one player is in the paint. However, that player needs to leave the color if they are not actively guarding an offensive player or receive a violation.

General Basketball Lines on a Court

• Jump Area: Where the jump ball begins during a basketball game in the 12′ circle in the middle of the court
• Baseline out of Bounds (BoB): This area sits on each side of the court behind the hoops signaling out of bounds
• Free-throw Line: This is where you go to take a free throw shot after a foul
• Half Court Line: Separates the two sides of the basketball court
• Three-Point Line: Anything past the arc that sits 23.9 feet away from the hoop will count as three points on a shot
• Sideline Out of Bounds (SoB): This sideline represents in and out of bounds

Other Sizes to Be Familiar With on the Court

The basketball rim size is 18″ in diameter. There is no size difference from High School to the NBA via the rim. The hoop sits 10′ off the ground from the rim to the floor, while the backboard is 72″ by 42″.

Conclusion: What is the Paint in Basketball?

In summary, the painted area is usually a different color from the rest of the court, which allows it to stand out on the playing surface. It also yields high percentage shots for offensive teams. For the defense, they can collect rebounds or stop the offensive from getting easy layups during a game if they can protect this area.

However, one thing to remember is that it comes down to referees to enforce the three-second violation rule for either the offense or defense. Both the offense and defense can’t camp out in the painted area for too long without potentially having a violation occur.

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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.

School basketball: 6 tips for young snipers

Many kids love team games with the ball — football, volleyball, basketball. These sports are included in the school physical education curriculum. Perhaps the easiest way to equip a gym for basketball is to have a couple of rings fixed at a suitable height and a few balls.

Unlike professional basketball, in school basketball not every player can boast of good ball dribbling, passing accuracy and most importantly - scoring shots.

But it is for hitting the ball into the basket, as you know, points are awarded. Of course, the team that has more tall guys has an advantage, but this is not the main indicator, because almost everyone can learn accuracy. So, what needs to be done for this?

1 Practice regularly

It's not hard to guess that the path to success is through hard training. In physical education lessons, the ball can generally touch your hands a number of times, so train accuracy is better after hours, before or after school, slowly - on any sports ground where there is a basketball hoop. At the same time, the student must be rested, full of energy: after a particularly difficult school day or immediately after eating, it is undesirable to train.

2 Start with light drills

To begin with, you can stand a couple of meters from the basket (left or right) and try to send the ball into it bouncing off the backboard. Despite the fact that many pros consider such hits to be "childish", one can recall that such a throw became "gold" at the Olympics-1972: this is how Alexander Belov brought victory to Soviet athletes in a match with the US team.

3 Practice Clean Throws

The ability to hit the basket without bouncing off the shield or ring is a useful skill and an indicator of a certain skill. Moreover, this is a great challenge to yourself: you always want to make a beautiful and accurate throw, even in training. The trajectory of the ball in this case must be high, so that it can descend in an arc exactly on the target.

4 Work on free throws

Free throws are rare in high school basketball if it's not officiated, but it's still useful to learn this skill. But only trained guys get free kicks: after all, it is necessary that the ball not only hit the basket, but also fly to it, given that such throws are made from afar. Before each attempt, you need to take a deep breath and exhale: in no case should you rush, but it is useful to concentrate and imagine that the fate of the match depends on your hit.

5 Practice long shots as well

As a rule, in high school basketball no one blocks such shots (and blocking is a rarity in general), believing that you can hit only by chance. Of course, a player without experience can only rely on luck, and one who trains hard knows that this can also be learned. Therefore, if such an opportunity presents itself, you should try to use it. A 3-point shot is always beautiful and sure to give you and your team confidence.

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