BASKETBALL STUDY GUIDE

History:
Basketball was invented by during the school year of 1891-92 at Springfield College,
Springfield, Massachusetts. Dr. James A Naismith conceived the idea of attaching peach
baskets at opposite ends of the gym on the track that encircled the playing floor. This is
where the height of 10 feet for the basket was arrived at. The game, basketball, derives
its name from the original ball and basket used in the first games. The game was
introduced in YMCAs across America and also to foreign countries. Basketball became a
part of the Olympic games in 1936.

THE GAME:
The object of the game is to score more points than your opponent. The ball is passed,
thrown, bounced, batted, or rolled from one player to another. A player in possession of
the ball must maintain contact with the floor with one foot (pivot foot), unless the player
is shooting, passing, or dribbling. Physical contact with an opponent can result in a foul if
the contact impedes the desired movement of the player.
The game begins with a jump ball at center court using any two opponents (usually the
center). After a field goal is made, the opponent must take the ball out-of-bounds
(behind the basket that the score was made), to put the ball back in play. One exception
is when the basket is a result of a technical foul at which time the ball is taken out of
bounds at mid-court by the scoring team. The ball may be thrown in by any player, but
must be done within five seconds.

BASIC RULES:

Players: Five players per team on the floor at a time with unlimited substitutions.
Usually players fill the standard positions of 2 forwards, 2 guards, and 1 center. The
names of these may be changed depending on the offense played.
Offense: Team or individual patterns or play which are used to get the ball into
scoring position. There are two basic types of offensive attacks: the slow deliberate
attack and the fast break attack.
Defense: Players may choose to play either a man to man defense (person to
person) or zone. In man to man each player is assigned a specific person to
guard/play defense on. In a zone defense players are assigned a specified area to
guard. The object of defense is to try to take the ball away from your person or
person in your assigned zone area, to force them to turn over the ball, or force
them to take a low percentage shot.
Scoring: Field Goals = 2 or 3 points, Free Throws = 1 point

BASKETBALL TERMS:

Dead Ball whenever the whistle is blown

Double Dribble using two hands to dribble the ball, or dribbling, picking up the
ball, and attempting to dribble again
Field Goal a basket scored from the floor
Free Throw (15 feet from basket) an unobstructed shot from the foul line,
awarded as a penalty of an opposing players foul. The player has ten seconds to
shoot the ball and the basket is worth one point. The other players on the court
cannot step over the line until the ball leaves the shooters hand.
Jump Ball a method of putting the ball in play at the beginning of the game. The
referee tosses the ball between opposing centers as they attempt to tip it to
their own team
Out-of-Bounds any space outside the designated playing area
Pick/Screen a legal maneuver in which an offensive player provides his teammate
room to shoot, by taking a position that blocks a defensive player
Pivot the player holding the ball steps one or more times in any direction with the
same foot. The opposite foot must stay in contact with the ground in its initial
position
Rebound a shot coming off of the backboard or basket that may be recovered by
either team
Steal taking the ball from the hands of an opposing player
Traveling moving your feet while holding the ball. A player must dribble when
moving with the ball
Turnover a loss of possession without attempting a field goal
Chest Pass the ball is releases and received at the chest level
Bounce Pass the ball bounces once on the floor before being caught
Two-Hand Overhead Pass uses two hands to throw the ball over the head
Baseball Pass uses one hand to throw the ball like a baseball is thrown
Hook Pass the pass is made from the side using one or two hands