Basketball

The 2004 Basketball World Championship.

Basketball is a popular team sport that was invented by a Canadian, James Naismith in 1892. The game is played with a ball that is usually colored orange with black stripes. There are five players on each team and each team tries to "shoot" the basketball through their opponent's "baskets" (orange metal rims that are ten feet high, suspended by "backboards"). A completed shot is also referred to as a "basket". The ball is advanced by "dribbling" (moving the ball down the court of play by bouncing) and by passing the ball among teammates. Walking with the ball is not permitted, and is called "traveling". An assist, or a "dime," is when a player passes the ball and a basket is made without the ballholder dribbling. A rebound, or "board," is when a player catches ball after a missed shot.

The rules of the game have evolved over the years. Originally, dribbling was not permitted.^[1] Also, baskets were originally only worth one point. Later, they became worth two points, and late in the 20th century, a "three point line" was added. This is an arc, and shots completed from beyond this arc are worth three points. In college basketball, the three point line is 19 feet, 9 inches out from the center of the basket.^[2] In the NBA (National Basketball Association, a professional basketball league), the three point line is 23 feet, 9 inches out from the center of the basketball except in the corner of the court, where the line is 22 feet out.^[3] In some situations after fouls (instance where rough play leads to the referee calling for a stoppage in play), players are allowed to take uncontested "free throws" worth one point.

References[edit]

1. ↑ http://www.hoophall.com/default/bhof-default.html
2. ↑ http://www.ncaa.org/releases/rules/2004/hs~2004011401ru.htm
3. ↑ http://www.rauzulusstreet.com/basketball/nba/nbahistory.htm