Basketball has evolved many commonly used techniques of Shooting, Rebounding, Passing, Dribbling and Blocking, as well as specialized player positions and offensive and defensive structures and techniques.
* Shooting is the act of attempting to score points by throwing the ball through the basket.
* The objective of Rebounding is to successfully gain possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw, as it rebounds from the hoop or backboard.
* A Pass is a method of moving the ball between players. Most passes are accompanied by a step forward to increase power and are followed through with the hands to ensure accuracy.
* Dribbling is the act of bouncing the ball continuously with one hand, and is a requirement for a player to take steps with the ball. To dribble, a player pushes the ball down towards the ground with the fingertips rather than patting it; this ensures greater control.
* A Block is performed when, after a shot is attempted, a defender succeeds in altering the shot by touching the ball.
Basketball games are played in four quarters of 10 (FIBA) or 12 minutes (NBA). College games use two 20-minute halves, while high school varsity games use 8 minute quarters. 15 minutes are allowed for a half-time break under FIBA, NBA, and NCAA rules and 10 minutes in high school. Teams exchange baskets for the second half. The time allowed is actual playing time; the clock is stopped while the play is not active. Five players from each team may be on the court at one time. Teams also have a coach, who oversees the development and strategies of the team, and other team personnel such as assistant coaches, managers, statisticians, doctors and trainers. For both men’s and women’s teams, a standard uniform consists of a pair of shorts and a jersey with a clearly visible number, unique within the team, printed on both the front and back. Players wear high-top sneakers that provide extra ankle support.
The only essential equipment in a basketball game is the basketball and the court: a flat, rectangular surface with baskets at opposite ends. Competitive levels require the use of more equipment such as clocks, score sheets, scoreboard(s), alternating possession arrows, and whistle-operated stop-clock systems. A regulation basketball court in international games is 28 metres long and 15 metres wide. Most courts have wood flooring, usually constructed from maple planks running in the same direction as the longer court dimension. The basket is a steel rim 18 inches in diameter with an attached net affixed to a backboard that measures 6 feet by 3.5 feet, and one basket is at each end of the court. The size of the basketball is also regulated.
The Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur (FIBA) was formed by eight nations in 1932, to coordinate tournaments and teams. FIBA is an association of national organizations which governs international competition in basketball. Its work was fundamental for the first inclusion of basketball in the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936. FIBA defines the international rules of basketball, specifies the equipment and facilities required, regulates the transfer of athletes across countries, and controls the appointment of international referees. Today, FIBA oversees international competition involving 212 national basketball federations. FIBA estimates that 450 million people play basketball at some level. In 1950 the first FIBA World Championship for men was held in Argentina. Three years later, the first FIBA World Championship for Women was held in Chile.
Basketball was introduced to an international Olympic audience at the 1904 and 1924 Games, where they were featured as a demonstration sport. Basketball first found a place in the Olympic Games in 1936 in Berlin, and the United States team easily dominated the competition. That year, the tournament was held outdoors on a revamped tennis stadium, with a sand and clay surface. The first Olympic title was won by the U.S. national team. Olympic basketball is played with five players to a side. Substitutions can be made at any break in the game, as many times as necessary. If a game ends with a tie, a five-minute overtime round is played. Additional over time can be added if the score remains tied, until one team has won the match. Since its inception in 1976, Olympic basketball has been an exciting and often controversial event. Women’s basketball at the international level started in 1955 with the inclusion of women’s basketball in the Pan-American Games. In 1971 the International Olympic Committee voted to include women’s basketball in the Summer Olympics and in 1996 the United States team won the gold medal.