Basketball is a sport that was designed in the late 19th century in Springfield by Dr. James Naismith. Like any other sport, basketball also has some rules that must be followed in order for a basketball game to be played in an adequate way. Since the inception of this game, the rules have been modified over time.

What are the basic rules of basketball? What should be known to everyone is that basketball is a sport in which, as the name of the sport itself says, the goal is to achieve a basket. The team that scores the most points during the game is the winner. Both teams are made up of five players on the floor. While one team is trying to score a basket, the other team aims to prevent it, but of course, respecting all the rules.

Basketball rules mean that players are penalized if they do not protect their opponent adequately. In an attempt to stop their opponent, players can commit various types of offenses such as personal fouls, flagrant fouls, technical fouls, etc. It is necessary to respect the duration of the attack during the game, to keep the ball in the right way, for the player to take care not to go out with the ball, etc. There are generally several rules that players must follow whether they are in the attacking or defensive phase.

1. Five players per team on the court

Basketball is a sport in which two teams play, each with five players on the floor, whether it is the NBA, WNBA, or NCAA. Sometimes, due to the negligence of the bench or the players on the field, it can happen that at one point one of the teams has more than five players on the field. If any of the teams violate the main rule that there can be a maximum of five players on the field at any one time, they are penalized by taking the ball. Such mistakes happen, but very rarely at the level of a professional league such as the NBA. Those mistakes happen much more often in leagues that are at the amateur level, so it happens that one player enters the field, and the other one who was supposed to leave the field did not do it on time.

2. The team which score more points wins

In every basketball game, the team that scores more points during the game wins. Every shot threw during the game, whether it is worth one, two, or three points, counts as a basket. When a team commits a certain number of fouls, as well as in situations when a foul is committed during an opponent’s shot, the player comes to the free-throw line. A basket thrown from the free-throw line is worth one point. All other baskets scored from the game are worth two or three points. The distance from which the basket is valid is three points different from the one in Europe, and in the NBA it is 23 feet and 9 inches. Only points scored within 24 seconds of the attack or depending on how much time is left until the end of the match are counted. All baskets scored after the siren sounds are canceled. The matches last 48 minutes. Four periods of 12 minutes each are played. If after 48 minutes there is no winner, an additional five minutes are played.

3. Shot Clock

As we have already said, every attack of a certain team in the NBA lasts 24 seconds. What is important to note is that the duration of the attack begins to be measured only when the basketball player takes the ball in his hands. We often see that players want to save time in this way, so one player takes the ball, and the other lets the ball roll on the ground sometimes almost to the middle of the field, and only then he takes it in his hands and the attack then definitely starts and starts to be measured. time. Above the baskets, there are traffic lights where players can see how much time is left to finish their team’s attack.

4. Dribbling

When a team goes on the attack, it is necessary for the player who leads the ball to dribble during the attack or to pass the ball to his teammate. If at one point a player stops dribbling and then starts leading the ball again, the referee will be forced to play a double ball. So the player must not stop dribbling and start leading it again because it will be interpreted as a violation of the rules and then the opposing team gets a chance to attack. It is also necessary for the player to tap the ball on the floor when he starts dribbling, ie he cannot run forward without tapping the ball on the floor at the same time, because the referee will characterize that as incorrect handling of the ball. The player is allowed to take two steps before tapping the ball on the floor. Everything beyond that is characterized as improper leadership. The player must not clap the ball with both hands because that also counts as a double ball, and the ball must not be above the hand when leading, because that then counts as a carried ball and then the opposing team gets the ball to attack. The player has eight seconds to transfer the ball to the opponent’s half because otherwise the ball will be taken away from him and the opponent will have the attack.

5. Five seconds. Offense must advance the ball.

After one team scores a basket, then the other team has the ball in their possession. The ball must be taken outside the court. If a player steps on the boundaries of the court while taking the ball, the opposing team gets a chance to attack. When taking the ball, the player must not move because even in that case he loses the ball. The player of the defensive team must be at the prescribed distance from the place where the ball is taken. If someone accidentally jumps into space from where the ball is taken, he can be sanctioned with a technical error. When a player takes the ball from the side, he must do so within five seconds, because if he does not do so within the allotted time, the ball belongs to the opponent. Also, once a team enters the attack phase on the opponent’s half of the field, it must not return the ball to its own half, because even in that situation, an attack will be awarded to the opponent.

6. Ballhandler must remain inbounds

When a player has the ball in his possession, as we have already said, he must control it through dribbling or pass it to his teammate. When a player dribbles, he can do so only within the boundaries of the field on which the match is played. If a player who has the ball in his possession steps on the line that marks the boundary of the court or simply leaves the boundaries of the court, the team that was in the attack phase loses the ball, and then the opposing team can start its attack. If a player scores a basket while shooting and steps on the lines that mark the boundaries of the court, the basket will not be counted.

7. Goaltending

What is clear to all of us when we play basketball is that the goal of each team is to score as many points as possible. As we said, a basket can be worth one, two, or three points. What is important to note is that when a player sends a shot towards the basket, the opposing player must not touch the ball in the downward trajectory, because then the opposing team will be awarded points. The defensive player must also not touch the hoop or net, because even in that case points are awarded to the opposing team. Also, when a player starts to pass, the block of the counter-player will be following the rules if the defensive player touched the ball in the ascending path. If a player passes the ball and it first touches the board and then a blockade by a player from the defense follows, that blockade will not count, but points on the scoreboard will be scored for the team that had the attack. Players must find a legal way to stop an opposing player, otherwise a foul will be awarded.

8. Three seconds

The space under the basket is usually called the basket. A player who is in the attacking phase must not stay in that area for more than three seconds, otherwise, the ball will belong to the opponent. Players are not allowed to camp in this area either waiting for assistance from their teammates or preparing for an offensive jump. Once they step out of that space then they can go back to that place again. In addition to offensive, defensive three seconds can also be awarded, which actually tells us that no player on the field, whether in the attack or defense phase, can stay longer than three seconds in an area that is pictorially called basketball.

9. Number of fouls

Certainly, the goal of the team that is in the defensive phase of the game is to stop the opponent sufficiently. Basketball is certainly a game of contact, but players must defend their basket within the rules, that is, they must not use excessive force, because that will then be characterized as a foul. Each team in the NBA is allowed to commit five fouls during one quarter. When the team exceeds that limit, then after each foul committed, the opposing team will have the opportunity to take free throws. It is said in basketball that the team entered the bonus.

10. Illegal contacts

So as we have already said the goal of the team defending their basket is to stop the player of the opposing team in the right way. It is allowed to make certain contacts, but they must be of adequate intensity and without hitting and pushing the opposing player because otherwise a personal foul will be awarded. Each player is allowed to commit six fouls during the game. After that, he has to leave the field. Every foul committed during a shot by an opposing player will reward that player with free throws. The number of free throws depends on whether the foul was committed when shooting for two or three points. Each basket scored from free throws is worth one point.

11. Personal fouls

Any contact that does not comply with the rules of the basketball game will be characterized by the referee as a personal foul. Players foul generally by pushing, blocking, or contacting an opposing player when taking a shot. Any foul committed after exceeding the foul limit of five per quarter is penalized by taking a free throw. As we said, if a foul is committed during a shot, then the player stands on the free-throw line and the number of throws depends on how many points the sent shot was worth. If a player fouls an opposing player and he scores a basket, then the opponent will have the opportunity for an additional point from free throws.

12. Flagrant fouls

A flagrant foul is characterized by any offense for which the referee has assessed that by his act the opposing player could have suffered a serious injury. This type of foul brings with it very severe consequences for the player who commits them. A player can be immediately kicked out of the game, can be suspended, and even fined. There are two types of flagrant fouls. The first type refers to the so-called unnecessary contacts. In that case, the opponent gets a free throw and possession of the ball. The second type of flagrant foul refers to any offense that is considered unnecessary and at the same time excessive force is used. Judges in these situations usually look at the replay to see if the offense was really a flagrant foul. If it is confirmed that it is a flagrant foul, the player who made it is thrown off the field and a fine is prescribed.

13. Offensive fouls

It is not necessary for only the player who is in the defense phase to commit a foul, but the player who started the attack can also do it. In addition to the defensive ones, there are also offensive fouls made by players who are in the attacking phase of the game. There are usually two types of offensive fouls. These are charging and illegal ball screens. The first type of fouls refers to those offenses committed by players who make improper contact with an opposing player who has placed himself in an adequate manner, which means that he did not move at the moment when he was touched by the opposing player. The second type of offensive fouls occurs in situations when a player in the attacking phase who does not own the ball tries to make room for his player with his block so that he can score a basket without hindrance. If the block is placed poorly and if there has been too much contact with the defensive player, a foul is awarded in the attack.

14. Technical fouls

Finally, let’s clarify which violations are characterized as technical fouls. A technical foul is generally awarded in situations where players engage in verbal or physical conflicts. Coaches can be punished in this way when they express excessive dissatisfaction with the referees’ decisions, so they can address inadequate words to the referees or run into the field. When a team is awarded a technical foul, the opposing team gets a free throw and possession of the ball. If a player or coach makes two technical errors during a match, they are automatically expelled from the match. Players and coaches who often make technical mistakes can even be suspended during the regular or playoff part of the season.