Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players (singles) or two opposing

pairs (doubles), who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a
net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock (also known as a shuttle, bird, or birdy) with
their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their opponents' half of the court. Each
side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. A rally ends once the
shuttlecock has struck the floor.

The shuttlecock (or shuttle) is a feathered projectile whose unique aerodynamic properties cause
it to fly differently from the balls used in most racquet sports; in particular, the feathers create
much higher drag, causing the shuttlecock to decelerate more rapidly than a ball. Shuttlecocks
have a much higher top speed, when compared to other racquet sports. Because shuttlecock
flight is affected by wind, competitive badminton is played indoors. Badminton is also played
outdoors as a casual recreational activity, often as a garden or beach game.

Since 1992, badminton has been an Olympic sport with five events: men's and women's singles,
men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles, in which each pair consists of a man and a
woman. At high levels of play, the sport demands excellent fitness: players require aerobic
stamina, agility, strength, speed and precision. It is also a technical sport, requiring good motor
coordination and the development of sophisticated racquet movements.

History and development

Game of Battledore and Shuttlecock in 1804

Battledore and Shuttlecock. 1854, from the John Leech Archive[1]

The beginnings of Badminton can be traced to mid-18th century British India, where it was
created by British military officers stationed there.[2] Early photographs show Englishmen adding a
net to the traditional English game of battledore and shuttlecock. Being particularly popular in the
British garrison town Poona (now Pune), the game also came to be known as Poona.[2][3] Initially,
balls of wool referred as ball badminton were preferred by the upper classes in windy or wet
conditions, but ultimately the shuttlecock stuck. This game was taken by retired officers back to
England where it developed and rules were set out.

As early as 1860, Isaac Spratt, a London toy dealer, published a booklet, Badminton Battledore -
a new game, but unfortunately no copy has survived.[4]

The new sport was definitively launched in 1873 at the Badminton House,Gloucestershire, owned
by the Duke of Beaufort. During that time, the game was referred to as "The Game of
Badminton," and the game's official name became Badminton.[5]

Until 1887, the sport was played in England under the rules that prevailed in British India. The
Bath Badminton Club standardized the rules and made the game applicable to English ideas. The
basic regulations were drawn up in 1887.[5] In 1893, the Badminton Association of England
published the first set of rules according to these regulations, similar to today's rules, and officially
launched badminton in a house called "Dunbar" at 6 Waverley Grove, Portsmouth, England on
September 13 of that year.[6] They also started the All England Open Badminton Championships,
the first badminton competition in the world, in 1899.

The International Badminton Federation (IBF) (now known as Badminton World Federation) was
established in 1934 with Canada,Denmark, England, France, the Netherlands, Ireland, New
Zealand, Scotland, and Wales as its founding members. India joined as an affiliate in 1936. The
BWF now governs international badminton and develops the sport globally.

While set out in England, competitive men's badminton in Europe has traditionally been
dominated by Denmark. Indonesia, South Korea, China and Malaysia are among the nations that
have consistently produced world-class players in the past few decades and dominated
competitions on the international level, with China being the most dominant in recent years.

Laws
The following information is a simplified summary of the Laws, not a complete reproduction. The
definitive source of the Laws is the BWF Statutes publication,[7] although the digital distribution of
the Laws contains poor reproductions of the diagrams.

Playing court dimensions

Badminton court, isometric view

The court is rectangular and divided into halves by a net. Courts are usually marked for both
singles and doubles play, although the laws permit a court to be marked for singles only. The
doubles court is wider than the singles court, but both are the same length. The exception, which
often causes confusion to newer players, is that the doubles court has a shorter serve-length
dimension.
The full width of the court is 6.1 metres (20 ft), and in singles this width is reduced to 5.18 metres
(17 ft). The full length of the court is 13.4 metres (44 ft). The service courts are marked by a
centre line dividing the width of the court, by a short service line at a distance of 1.98 metres (6 ft
6 inch) from the net, and by the outer side and back boundaries. In doubles, the service court is
also marked by a long service line, which is 0.76 metres (2 ft 6 inch) from the back boundary.

The net is 1.55 metres (5 ft 1 inch) high at the edges and 1.524 metres (5 ft) high in the centre.
The net posts are placed over the doubles sidelines, even when singles is played.

The minimum height for the ceiling above the court is not mentioned in the Laws of Badminton.
Nonetheless, a badminton court will not be suitable if the ceiling is likely to be hit on a high serve.

Equipment laws
The Laws specify which equipment may be used. In particular, the Laws restrict the design and
size of racquets and shuttlecocks. The Laws also provide for testing a shuttlecock for the correct
speed:

3.1
To test a shuttlecock, use a full underhand stroke which makes contact with the
shuttlecock over the back boundary line. The shuttlecock shall be hit at an upward angle
and in a direction parallel to the side lines.
3.2
A shuttlecock of the correct speed will land not less than 530 mm and not more than
990 mm short of the other back boundary line.
Scoring system and service
Main article: Scoring system development of badminton
The basics

Each game is played to 21 points, with players scoring a point whenever they win a
rally regardless of whether they served [7] (this differs from the old system where
players could only win a point on their serve and each game was played to 15 points).
A match is the best of three games.

At the start of the rally, the server and receiver stand in diagonally opposite service
courts (see court dimensions). The server hits the shuttlecock so that it would land in
the receiver's service court. This is similar to tennis, except that a badminton serve
must be hit below waist height and with the racquet shaft pointing downwards, the
shuttlecock is not allowed to bounce and in badminton, the players stand inside their
service courts unlike tennis.
When the serving side loses a rally, the serve immediately passes to their opponent(s)
(this differs from the old system where sometimes the serve passes to the doubles
partner for what is known as a "second serve").

In singles, the server stands in her/his right service court when her/his score is even,
and in her/his left service court when her/his score is odd.

In doubles, if the serving side wins a rally, the same player continues to serve, but
he/she changes service courts so that s/he serves to a different opponent each time. If
the opponents win the rally and their new score is even, the player in the right service
court serves; if odd, the player in the left service court serves. The players' service
courts are determined by their positions at the start of the previous rally, not by where
they were standing at the end of the rally. A consequence of this system is that, each
time a side regains the service, the server will be the player who did not serve last
time.
Details

When the server serves, the shuttlecock must pass over the short service line on the
opponents' court or it will count as a fault.

If the score reaches 20-all, then the game continues until one side gains a two point
lead (such as 24-22), up to a maximum of 30 points (30-29 is a winning score).

At the start of a match, the shuttlecock is cast and where ever the shuttlecock is
pointing that side begins or a coin is tossed. The winners of the coin toss may choose
whether to serve or receive first, or they may choose which end of the court they wish
to occupy. Their opponents make the remaining choice. In less formal settings, the
coin toss is often replaced by hitting a shuttlecock into the air: whichever side the
corked end points will be the side that serves first.

In subsequent games, the winners of the previous game serve first. These can also be
called rubbers. If one team wins a game they play once more and if they win again
they win that match, but if they lose they play one more match to find the winning
team. For the first rally of any doubles game, the serving pair may decide who serves
and the receiving pair may decide who receives. The players change ends at the start
of the second game; if the match reaches a third game, they change ends both at the
start of the game and when the leading pair's score reaches 11 points.

The server and receiver must remain within their service courts, without touching the
boundary lines, until the server strikes the shuttlecock. The other two players may
stand wherever they wish, so long as they do not unsight the opposing server or
receiver.
Lets

If a let is called, the rally is stopped and replayed with no change to the score. Lets
may occur because of some unexpected disturbance such as a shuttlecock landing on
court (having been hit there by players on an adjacent court) or in small halls the
shuttle may touch an overhead rail which can be classed as a let.

If the receiver is not ready when the service is delivered, a let shall be called; yet, if the
receiver attempts to return the shuttlecock, he shall be judged to have been ready.

There is no let if the shuttlecock hits the tape (even on service).

Equipment

Badminton racquets
Racquets
Badminton racquets are lightweight, with top quality racquets weighing between 70
and 95 grams (2.4 to 3.3 ounces) not including grip or strings.[8][9] They are composed
of many different materials ranging from carbon fibre composite (graphite reinforced
plastic) to solid steel, which may be augmented by a variety of materials. Carbon
fibre has an excellent strength to weight ratio, is stiff, and gives excellent kinetic
energy transfer. Before the adoption of carbon fibre composite, racquets were made of
light metals such as aluminium. Earlier still, racquets were made of wood. Cheap
racquets are still often made of metals such as steel, but wooden racquets are no
longer manufactured for the ordinary market, because of their excessive mass and
cost. Nowadays, nanomaterials such as fullerene and carbon nanotubes are added to
rackets giving them greater durability.

There is a wide variety of racquet designs, although the laws limit the racquet size and
shape. Different racquets have playing characteristics that appeal to different players.
The traditional oval head shape is still available, but an isometric head shape is
increasingly common in new racquets.

Strings
Badminton strings are thin, high performing strings in the range of about 0.62 to
0.73 mm thickness. Thicker strings are more durable, but many players prefer the feel
of thinner strings. String tension is normally in the range of 80 to 160 N (18 to 36 lbf).
Recreational players generally string at lower tensions than professionals, typically
between 80 and 110 N (18 and 25 lbf). Professionals string between about 110 and
160 N (25 and 36 lbf). Some string manufacturers measure the thickness of their
strings under tension so they are actually thicker then than specified when slack.
Ashaway Micropower is actually 0.7mm but Yonex BG-66 is about 0.72mm.

It is often argued that high string tensions improve control, whereas low string tensions
increase power.[10] The arguments for this generally rely on crude mechanical
reasoning, such as claiming that a lower tension string bed is more bouncy and
therefore provides more power. This is in fact incorrect, for a higher string tension can
cause the shuttle to slide off the racquet and hence make it harder to hit a shot
accurately. An alternative view suggests that the optimum tension for power depends
on the player:[8] the faster and more accurately a player can swing their racquet, the
higher the tension for maximum power. Neither view has been subjected to a rigorous
mechanical analysis, nor is there clear evidence in favour of one or the other. The
most effective way for a player to find a good string tension is to experiment.

Grip
The choice of grip allows a player to increase the thickness of his racquet handle and
choose a comfortable surface to hold. A player may build up the handle with one or
several grips before applying the final layer.

Players may choose between a variety of grip materials. The most common choices
are PU synthetic grips or towelling grips. Grip choice is a matter of personal
preference. Players often find that sweat becomes a problem; in this case, a drying
agent may be applied to the grip or hands, sweatbands may be used, the player may
choose another grip material or change his grip more frequently.
There are two main types of grip: replacement grips and overgrips. Replacement grips
are thicker, and are often used to increase the size of the handle. Overgrips are
thinner (less than 1 mm), and are often used as the final layer. Many players, however,
prefer to use replacement grips as the final layer. Towelling grips are always
replacement grips. Replacement grips have an adhesive backing, whereas overgrips
have only a small patch of adhesive at the start of the tape and must be applied under
tension; overgrips are more convenient for players who change grips frequently,
because they may be removed more rapidly without damaging the underlying material.

Shuttlecockswith feathers

A shuttlecock with a plastic skirt

Shuttlecock
A shuttlecock (often abbreviated to shuttle) is a high-drag projectile, with an
open conical shape: the cone is formed from sixteen overlappingfeathers embedded
into a rounded cork base. The cork is covered with thin leather or synthetic material.

Synthetic shuttles are often used by recreational players to reduce their costs as
feathered shuttles break easily. These nylon shuttles may be constructed with either
natural cork or synthetic foam base, and a plastic skirt.

Additionally, nylon shuttlecocks come in three varieties, each variety for a different
range of temperatures. These three varieties are known as green (slow speed which
will give you an extra 40% hang time/shot length), blue (middle speed), and red (fast
speed). The colours, and therefore speeds, are indicated by coloured strips fastened
around the cork. In colder temperatures, a faster shuttle is used, and in hotter climates,
a slower one is chosen.

Shoes
Badminton shoes are lightweight with soles of rubber or similar high-grip, non-marking
materials.

Compared to running shoes, badminton shoes have little lateral support. High levels of
lateral support are useful for activities where lateral motion is undesirable and
unexpected. Badminton, however, requires powerful lateral movements. A highly built-
up lateral support will not be able to protect the foot in badminton; instead, it will
encourage catastrophic collapse at the point where the shoe's support fails, and the
player's ankles are not ready for the sudden loading, which can cause sprains. For this
reason, players should choose badminton shoes rather than general trainers or
running shoes, because proper badminton shoes will have a very thin sole, lower a
person's centre of gravity, and therefore result in fewer injuries. Players should also
ensure that they learn safe and proper footwork, with the knee and foot in alignment on
all lunges. This is not only a safety concern, as proper footwork is critical in order to
move effectively around the court.

Strokes
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A player flies high at the Golden Gate Badminton Club (GGBC) in Menlo Park, 2006
Forehand and backhand
Badminton offers a wide variety of basic strokes, and players require a high level of
skill to perform all of them effectively. All strokes can be played
either forehand or backhand. A player's forehand side is the same side as their playing
hand: for a right-handed player, the forehand side is their right side and the backhand
side is their left side. Forehand strokes are hit with the front of the hand leading (like
hitting with the palm), whereas backhand strokes are hit with the back of the hand
leading (like hitting with the knuckles). Players frequently play certain strokes on the
forehand side with a backhand hitting action, and vice versa.

In the forecourt and midcourt, most strokes can be played equally effectively on either
the forehand or backhand side; but in the rearcourt, players will attempt to play as
many strokes as possible on their forehands, often preferring to play a round-the-
head forehand overhead (a forehand "on the backhand side") rather than attempt a
backhand overhead. Playing a backhand overhead has two main disadvantages. First,
the player must turn their back to their opponents, restricting their view of them and the
court. Second, backhand overheads cannot be hit with as much power as forehands:
the hitting action is limited by the shoulder joint, which permits a much greater range of
movement for a forehand overhead than for a backhand. The backhand clear is
considered by most players and coaches to be the most difficult basic stroke in the
game, since precise technique is needed in order to muster enough power for the
shuttlecock to travel the full length of the court. For the same reason, backhand
smashes tend to be weak.

Position of the shuttlecock and receiving player

A player does a forehand service, 2009, Philadelphia.

The choice of stroke depends on how near the shuttlecock is to the net, whether it is
above net height, and where an opponent is currently positioned: players have much
better attacking options if they can reach the shuttlecock well above net height,
especially if it is also close to the net. In the forecourt, a high shuttlecock will be met
with a net kill, hitting it steeply downwards and attempting to win the rally immediately.
This is why it is best to drop the shuttlecock just over the net in this situation. In the
midcourt, a high shuttlecock will usually be met with a powerful smash, also hitting
downwards and hoping for an outright winner or a weak reply. Athletic jump smashes,
where players jump upwards for a steeper smash angle, are a common and
spectacular element of elite men's doubles play. In the rearcourt, players strive to hit
the shuttlecock while it is still above them, rather than allowing it to drop lower.
This overhead hitting allows them to play smashes, clears (hitting the shuttlecock high
and to the back of the opponents' court), and dropshots (hitting the shuttlecock so that
it falls softly downwards into the opponents' forecourt). If the shuttlecock has dropped
lower, then a smash is impossible and a full-length, high clear is difficult.

A player prepares for a vertical jump smash

Vertical position of the shuttlecock
When the shuttlecock is well below net height, players have no choice but to hit
upwards. Lifts, where the shuttlecock is hit upwards to the back of the opponents'
court, can be played from all parts of the court. If a player does not lift, his only
remaining option is to push the shuttlecock softly back to the net: in the forecourt this is
called a netshot; in the midcourt or rearcourt, it is often called a push or block.

When the shuttlecock is near to net height, players can hit drives, which travel flat
and rapidly over the net into the opponents' rear midcourt and rearcourt. Pushes may
also be hit flatter, placing the shuttlecock into the front midcourt. Drives and pushes
may be played from the midcourt or forecourt, and are most often used in doubles:
they are an attempt to regain the attack, rather than choosing to lift the shuttlecock and
defend against smashes. After a successful drive or push, the opponents will often be
forced to lift the shuttlecock.
Other factors
When defending against a smash, players have three basic options: lift, block, or
drive. In singles, a block to the net is the most common reply. In doubles, a lift is the
safest option but it usually allows the opponents to continue smashing; blocks and
drives are counter-attacking strokes, but may be intercepted by the smasher's partner.
Many players use a backhand hitting action for returning smashes on both the
forehand and backhand sides, because backhands are more effective than forehands
at covering smashes directed to the body. It is very good tool to play hard shots which
are directed towards your body.

The service is restricted by the Laws and presents its own array of stroke choices.
Unlike in tennis, the servers racket must be pointing in a downward direction to deliver
the serve so normally the shuttle must be hit upwards to pass over the net. The server
can choose a low serve into the forecourt (like a push), or a lift to the back of the
service court, or a flat drive serve. Lifted serves may be either high serves, where the
shuttlecock is lifted so high that it falls almost vertically at the back of the court, or flick
serves, where the shuttlecock is lifted to a lesser height but falls sooner.

Deception
Once players have mastered these basic strokes, they can hit the shuttlecock from
and to any part of the court, powerfully and softly as required. Beyond the basics,
however, badminton offers rich potential for advanced stroke skills that provide a
competitive advantage. Because badminton players have to cover a short distance as
quickly as possible, the purpose of many advanced strokes is to deceive the opponent,
so that either he is tricked into believing that a different stroke is being played, or he is
forced to delay his movement until he actually sees the shuttle's direction. "Deception"
in badminton is often used in both of these senses. When a player is genuinely
deceived, he will often lose the point immediately because he cannot change his
direction quickly enough to reach the shuttlecock. Experienced players will be aware of
the trick and cautious not to move too early, but the attempted deception is still useful
because it forces the opponent to delay his movement slightly. Against weaker players
whose intended strokes are obvious, an experienced player may move before the
shuttlecock has been hit, anticipating the stroke to gain an advantage.

Slicing and using a shortened hitting action are the two main technical devices that
facilitate deception. Slicing involves hitting the shuttlecock with an angled racquet face,
causing it to travel in a different direction than suggested by the body or arm
movement. Slicing also causes the shuttlecock to travel much slower than the arm
movement suggests. For example, a good crosscourt sliced dropshot will use a hitting
action that suggests a straight clear or smash, deceiving the opponent about both the
power and direction of the shuttlecock. A more sophisticated slicing action involves
brushing the strings around the shuttlecock during the hit, in order to make the
shuttlecock spin. This can be used to improve the shuttle's trajectory, by making it dip
more rapidly as it passes the net; for example, a sliced low serve can travel slightly
faster than a normal low serve, yet land on the same spot. Spinning the shuttlecock is
also used to create spinning netshots (also called tumbling netshots), in which the
shuttlecock turns over itself several times (tumbles) before stabilizing; sometimes the
shuttlecock remains inverted instead of tumbling. The main advantage of a spinning
netshot is that the opponent will be unwilling to address the shuttlecock until it has
stopped tumbling, since hitting the feathers will result in an unpredictable stroke.
Spinning netshots are especially important for high level singles players.

The lightness of modern racquets allows players to use a very short hitting action for
many strokes, thereby maintaining the option to hit a powerful or a soft stroke until the
last possible moment. For example, a singles player may hold his racquet ready for a
netshot, but then flick the shuttlecock to the back instead with a shallow lift when she
or he notices the opponent has moved before the actual shot was played. A shallow lift
takes less time to reach the ground and as mentioned above a rally is over when the
shuttlecock touches the ground. This makes the opponent's task of covering the whole
court much more difficult than if the lift was hit higher and with a bigger, obvious swing.
A short hitting action is not only useful for deception: it also allows the player to hit
powerful strokes when he has no time for a big arm swing. A big arm swing is also
usually not advised in badminton because bigger swings make it more difficult to
recover for the next shot in fast exchanges. The use of grip tightening is crucial to
these techniques, and is often described as finger power. Elite players develop finger
power to the extent that they can hit some power strokes, such as net kills, with less
than a 10 cm (4 in) racquet swing.

It is also possible to reverse this style of deception, by suggesting a powerful stroke

before slowing down the hitting action to play a soft stroke. In general, this latter style
of deception is more common in the rearcourt (for example, dropshots disguised as
smashes), whereas the former style is more common in the forecourt and midcourt (for
example, lifts disguised as netshots).
Deception is not limited to slicing and short hitting actions. Players may also
use double motion, where they make an initial racquet movement in one direction
before withdrawing the racquet to hit in another direction. Players will often do this to
send opponents in the wrong direction. The racquet movement is typically used to
suggest a straight angle but then play the stroke cross court, or vice versa. Triple
motion is also possible, but this is very rare in actual play. An alternative to double
motion is to use a racquet head fake, where the initial motion is continued but the
racquet is turned during the hit. This produces a smaller change in direction, but does
not require as much time.

Strategy
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To win in badminton, players need to employ a wide variety of strokes in the right
situations. These range from powerful jumping smashes to delicate tumbling net
returns. Often rallies finish with a smash, but setting up the smash requires subtler
strokes. For example, a netshot can force the opponent to lift the shuttlecock, which
gives an opportunity to smash. If the netshot is tight and tumbling, then the opponent's
lift will not reach the back of the court, which makes the subsequent smash much
harder to return.

Deception is also important. Expert players prepare for many different strokes that look
identical, and use slicing to deceive their opponents about the speed or direction of the
stroke. If an opponent tries to anticipate the stroke, he may move in the wrong
direction and may be unable to change his body momentum in time to reach the
shuttlecock.

Doubles
Both pairs will try to gain and maintain the attack, smashing downwards when
possible. Whenever possible, a pair will adopt an ideal attacking formation with one
player hitting down from the rearcourt, and his partner in the midcourt intercepting all
smash returns except the lift. If the rearcourt attacker plays a dropshot, his partner will
move into the forecourt to threaten the net reply. If a pair cannot hit downwards, they
will use flat strokes in an attempt to gain the attack. If a pair is forced to lift or clear the
shuttlecock, then they must defend: they will adopt a side-by-side position in the rear
midcourt, to cover the full width of their court against the opponents' smashes. In
doubles, players generally smash to the middle ground between two players in order to
take advantage of confusion and clashes.

At high levels of play, the backhand serve has become popular to the extent that
forehand serves have become fairly rare at a high level of play. The straight low serve
is used most frequently, in an attempt to prevent the opponents gaining the attack
immediately. Flick serves are used to prevent the opponent from anticipating the low
serve and attacking it decisively.

At high levels of play, doubles rallies are extremely fast. Men's doubles is the most
aggressive form of badminton, with a high proportion of powerful jump smashes.

A mixed doubles game - Scottish Schools under 12s tournament,Tranent, May 2002
Singles
The singles court is narrower than the doubles court, but the same length. Since one
person needs to cover the entire court, singles tactics are based on forcing the
opponent to move as much as possible; this means that singles strokes are normally
directed to the corners of the court. Players exploit the length of the court by combining
lifts and clears with drop shots and net shots. Smashing is less prominent in singles
than in doubles because players are rarely in the ideal position to execute a smash,
and smashing often leaves the smasher vulnerable if the smash is returned.

In singles, players will often start the rally with a forehand high serve. Low serves are
also used frequently, either forehand or backhand. Flick serves are less common, and
drive serves are rare.
At high levels of play, singles demands extraordinary fitness. Singles is a game of
patient positional manoeuvring, unlike the all-out aggression of doubles.

Mixed doubles
In mixed doubles, both pairs typically try to maintain an attacking formation with the
woman at the front and the man at the back. This is because the male players are
usually substantially stronger, and can therefore produce smashes that are more
powerful. As a result, mixed doubles requires greater tactical awareness and subtler
positional play. Clever opponents will try to reverse the ideal position, by forcing the
woman towards the back or the man towards the front. In order to protect against this
danger, mixed players must be careful and systematic in their shot selection.[11]

At high levels of play, the formations will generally be more flexible: the top women
players are capable of playing powerfully from the back-court, and will happily do so if
required. When the opportunity arises, however, the pair will switch back to the
standard mixed attacking position, with the woman in front.

Governing bodies
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is the internationally recognized governing
body of the sport. Five regional confederations are associated with the BWF:

 Asia: Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC)

 Africa: Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA)
 Americas: Badminton Pan Am (North America and South America belong to the
same confederation; BPA)
 Europe: Badminton Europe (BE)
 Oceania: Badminton Oceania (BO)

Competitions
A mens doubles match. The blue lines are those for the badminton court. The other coloured lines
denote uses for other sports – such complexity being common in multi-use sports halls.

The BWF organizes several international competitions, including the Thomas Cup, the
premier men's international team event first held in 1948–1949, and the Uber Cup, the
women's equivalent first held in 1956–1957. The competitions take place once every
two years. More than 50 national teams compete in qualifying tournaments within
continental confederations for a place in the finals. The final tournament involves 12
teams, following an increase from eight teams in 2004.

The Sudirman Cup, a gender-mixed international team event held once every two
years, began in 1989. Teams are divided into seven levels based on the performance
of each country. To win the tournament, a country must perform well across all five
disciplines (men's doubles and singles, women's doubles and singles, and mixed
doubles). Like association football (soccer), it features a promotion and relegation
system in every level.

Badminton was a demonstration event in the 1972 and 1988 Summer Olympics. It
became an official Summer Olympicsport at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 and its
gold medals now generally rate as the sport's most coveted prizes for individual
players.

In the BWF World Championships, first held in 1977, only the highest ranked 64
players in the world, and a maximum of three from each country, can participate in any
category. In both the Olympic and BWF World competitions restrictions on the number
of participants from any one country have caused some controversy because they
sometimes result in excluding elite world level players from the strongest badminton
powers such as China. The Thomas, Uber, and Sudirman Cups, the Olympics, and the
BWF World (and World Junior Championships), are all categorized as level one
tournaments.

At the start of 2007, the BWF introduced a new tournament structure for the highest
level tournaments aside from those in level one: the BWF Super Series. This level two
tournament series, a tour for the world's elite players, stages twelve open tournaments
around the world with 32 players (half the previous limit). The players collect points
that determine whether they can play in Super Series Final held at the year end.
Among the tournaments in this series is the venerable All-England Championships,
first held in 1900, which was once considered the unofficial world championships of the
sport.[12][13]

Level three tournaments consist of Grand Prix Gold and Grand Prix event. Top players
can collect the world ranking points and enable them to play in the BWF Super Series
open tournaments. These include the regional competitions in Asia (Badminton Asia
Championships) and Europe (European Badminton Championships), which produce
the world's best players as well as the Pan America Badminton Championships.

The level four tournaments, known as International Challenge, International Series and
Future Series, encourage participation by junior players.[14]

Records
The most powerful stroke in badminton is the smash, which is hit steeply downwards
into the opponents' midcourt. The maximum speed of a smashed shuttlecock exceeds
that of any other racquet sport projectile. The recordings of this speed measure the
initial speed of the shuttlecock immediately after it has left the player's racquet.

The official badminton smash record is 332 km/h (206 mph), set by Chinese
badminton doubles player Fu Haifeng in the 2005 Sudirman Cup.[15]

Tan Boon Heong of Malaysia recorded a faster smash, 421 km/h (262 mph),
during Yonex's speed test of the Arcsaber Z-slash in 2009.[16] Michael Hayes of
badmintondoubles.com suggests that this smash is not comparable to Fu's because it
was hit while shuttles were being gently fed to Tan whereas Fu's smash was hit during
an actual match, and because Tan's was recorded by Yonex whereas Fu's was
recorded by BWF officials.[17]

Comparisons with other racquet sports

 This section may contain original research. Please improve
it by verifying the claims made and adding references. Statements
consisting only of original research may be removed. More details
may be available on the talk page. (May 2010)

Badminton is frequently compared to tennis. The following is a list of uncontentious

comparisons:

 In tennis, the ball may bounce once before the player hits it; in badminton, the
rally ends once the shuttlecock touches the floor.
 In tennis, the serve is dominant to the extent that the server is expected to win
most of his service games (at advanced level & onwards); a break of service,
where the server loses the game, is of major importance in a match. In badminton
a server has far less advantage, and is unlikely to score an 'ace' (unreturnable
serve).
 In tennis, the server is allowed two attempts to make a correct serve; in
badminton, the server is allowed only one attempt.
 In tennis, a let is played on service if the ball hits the net tape; in badminton,
there is no let on service.
 The tennis court is larger than the badminton court.
 Tennis racquets are about four times as heavy as badminton racquets, 10-
12 ounces (approximately 284-340 grams) versus 2-3 ounces (70-105 grams).[18]
[19]
Tennis balls are more than eleven times heavier than shuttlecocks, 57 grams
versus 5 grams.[20][21]
 The fastest recorded tennis stroke is Andy Roddick's 153 mph (246 km/h) serve,
[22]
whereas the fastest badminton stroke was Fu Haifeng's 206 mph (332 km/h)
recorded smash.[15]

Comparisons of speed and athletic requirements

Statistics such as the smash speed, above, prompt badminton enthusiasts to make
other comparisons that are more contentious. For example, it is often claimed that
badminton is the fastest racquet sport.[citation needed] Although badminton holds the record
for the fastest initial speed of a racket sports projectile, the shuttlecock decelerates
substantially faster than other projectiles such as tennis balls. In turn, this qualification
must be qualified by consideration of the distance over which the shuttlecock travels: a
smashed shuttlecock travels a shorter distance than a tennis ball during a serve.
Badminton's claim as the fastest racquet sport might also be based on reaction time
requirements, but arguably table tennis requires even faster reaction times.

While fans of badminton and tennis often claim that their sport is the more physically
demanding, such comparisons are difficult to make objectively because of the differing
demands of the games. No formal study currently exists evaluating the physical
condition of the players or demands during game play.

Comparisons of technique
Badminton and tennis techniques differ substantially. The lightness of the shuttlecock
and of badminton rackets allow badminton players to make use of the wrist and fingers
much more than tennis players; in tennis the wrist is normally held stable, and playing
with a mobile wrist may lead to injury. For the same reasons, badminton players can
generate power from a short racket swing: for some strokes such as net kills, an elite
player's swing may be less than 5 cm (2 in). For strokes that require more power, a
longer swing will typically be used, but the badminton racket swing will rarely be as
long as a typical tennis swing.

It is often asserted that power in badminton strokes comes mainly from the wrist. This
is a misconception and may be criticised for two reasons. First, it is strictly speaking
a category error: the wrist is a joint, not a muscle; the forearm muscles control its
movement. Second, wrist movements are weak when compared to forearm or upper
arm movements. Badmintonbiomechanics have not been the subject of extensive
scientific study, but some studies confirm the minor role of the wrist in power
generation, and indicate that the major contributions to power come from internal and
external rotations of the upper and lower arm.[23] Modern coaching resources such as
the Badminton England Technique DVD reflect these ideas by emphasising forearm
rotation rather than wrist movements.[24]

Distinctive characteristics of the shuttlecock

The shuttlecock differs greatly from the balls used in most other racquet sports.
Aerodynamic drag and stability

The feathers impart substantial drag, causing the shuttlecock to decelerate greatly
over distance. The shuttlecock is also extremely aerodynamically stable: regardless of
initial orientation, it will turn to fly cork-first, and remain in the cork-first orientation.

One consequence of the shuttlecock's drag is that it requires considerable skill to hit it
the full length of the court, which is not the case for most racquet sports. The drag also
 influences the flight path of a lifted (lobbed) shuttlecock: the parabola of its flight is
heavily skewed so that it falls at a steeper angle than it rises. With very high serves,
the shuttlecock may even fall vertically.
Spin

Balls may be spun to alter their bounce (for example, topspin and backspin in tennis),
and players may slice the ball (strike it with an angled racket face) to produce such
spin; but, since the shuttlecock is not allowed to bounce, this does not apply to
badminton.

Slicing the shuttlecock so that it spins, however, does have applications, and some are
particular to badminton. (See Basic strokes for an explanation of technical terms.)

 Slicing the shuttlecock from the side may cause it to travel in a different direction
from the direction suggested by the player's racket or body movement. This is
used to deceive opponents.
 Slicing the shuttlecock from the side may cause it to follow a slightly curved path
(as seen from above), and the deceleration imparted by the spin causes sliced
strokes to slow down more suddenly towards the end of their flight path. This can
be used to create dropshots and smashes that dip more steeply after they pass
the net.
 When playing a netshot, slicing underneath the shuttlecock may cause it to turn
over itself (tumble) several times as it passes the net. This is called a spinning
netshot or tumbling netshot. The opponent will be unwilling to address the
shuttlecock until it has corrected its orientation.

Due to the way that its feathers overlap, a shuttlecock also has a slight natural spin
about its axis of rotational symmetry. The spin is in a counter-clockwise direction as
seen from above when dropping a shuttlecock. This natural spin affects certain
strokes: a tumbling netshot is more effective if the slicing action is from right to left,
rather than from left to right.[25]

Badminton in Philippines
Badminton in Philippines is a racket sport played by either two opposing players (singles) or two opposing
pairs (doubles). The players or pairs take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided
by a net.
Badminton in Philippines uses a feathered projectile known as a shuttlecock. Since the shuttlecock is
strongly affected by wind, competitive badminton is always played indoors. This game is quite popular in
Philippines
Features of Badminton in Philippines
Badminton in Philippines include:
Badminton Asia: it is the first Philippine badminton magazine published by Quatro Grafix, Inc.,
Legaspi Village, Makati City.
Badminton Basic Philippines: Get updated with tournament dates, learn the basics and interact
with other players.
Badminton Addicts ng Manila South Area: A Badminton group from Las Pinas, Paranaque,
Alabang and Muntinlupa area.
Beltran Badminton Court: Beltran Badminton Court in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. Number of
Courts: 1 hard court.
Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Badminton: 17 countries participated in last May's Bingo
Bonanza Philippine Open.
Feathers 'n Strings Badminton Center: Play all you want weekends and holidays - Intramuros,
Manila.
Manila Nomads Badminton: Manila Nomads Badminton of Nomad Sports Club, located in,
Merville Park, Paranaque City. A members only club, guests must be accompanied by a
member to be able to play. Number of Courts: 2 flexi court matting.
Smashing Red Lions Badminton Tournament: Manila Nomads shines during the Smashing Red
Lion Badminton Tournament held on August 20 and 21, 2005, at Power Smash Badminton
Court in Makati, Philippines.

Toss

The rules of badminton states that a toss shall be conducted before a game
starts. If you win, you can choose between serving first or to start play at either
end of the court. Your opponent can then exercise the remaining choice.

Scoring system

The rules of badminton states that a badminton match shall consist of the best of
3 games. In doubles and men's singles, the first side to score 15 points wins the
game. In women's singles, the first side to score 11 points wins the game.

If the score becomes 14-all (10-all in women's singles), the side which first
scored 14 (10) shall exercise the choice to continue the game to 15 (11) points or
to 'set' the game to 17 (13) points.

The side winning a game serves first in the next game. Only the serving side
can add a point to its score.
Recently BWF have been testing a new scoring format of 21 points per game on
all major Badminton competition and decided to replace the old format
permanently.

Sign up to our Free Newsletter and learn more about Badminton...

Change of ends

The rules of badminton states that you have to change ends with your opponent
after finishing the first game. If a third game was to be played, you shall change
ends when the leading score reaches 6 in a game of 11 points or 8 in a game of
15 points.

Rules of Badminton - Singles

Serving and receiving courts

You shall serve from, and receive in, the right service court when you or your
opponent has scored aneven number of points in that game.

You shall serve from, and receive in, the left service court when you or your
opponent has scored an odd number of points in that game.

You and your opponent will hit the shuttle alternately until a 'fault' is made or the
shuttle ceases to be in play.

Scoring and serving

You score a point and serve again from the alternate service court when your
opponent makes a 'fault' or the shuttle ceases to be in play because it touches
the surface of your opponent's side of court.

No points will be scored when you make a 'fault' or the shuttles ceases to be in
play because it touches the surface of your side of court. The serving right will
then be transferred to your opponent.
Rules of Badminton - Doubles

At the start of the game, and each time a side gains the right to serve, the service
shall be delivered from the right service court. Only your opponent standing
diagonally opposite of you shall return the service.

Should your opponent's partner touched or hit the shuttle, it shall be a 'fault' and
your side scores a point.

Order of play and position on court

After the service is returned, either you or your partner may hit the shuttle from
any position on your side of the net. Then either player from the opposing side
may do the same, and so on, until the shuttle ceases to be in play.

Scoring and serving

If you are serving or receiving first at the start of any game, you shall serve or
receive in the right service court when your side or your opponent's side scored
an even number of points.

You shall serve from or receive in the left service court when your side or your
opponent's side has scored an odd number of points.

The reverse pattern shall apply to your partner.

In any game, the right to serve passes consecutively from the initial server to the
initial receiver, then to that initial's receiver's partner, then to the opponent who is
due to serve from the right service court, then to that player's partner, and so on.

You shall not serve out of turn, receive out of turn, or receive two consecutive
services in the same game, except as provided in service court errors and 'lets'.
Service court errors

A service court error has been made when a player has served out of turn, has
served from the wrong service or standing on the wrong service court while being
prepared to receive the service and it has been delivered.

If a service court error is discovered after the next service had been delivered,
the error shall not be corrected. If a service court error is discovered before the
next service is delivered, the following rules apply.

If both sides committed an error, it shall be a 'let'. If one side committed the error
and won the rally, it shall be a 'let'. If one side committed the error and lost the
rally, the error shall not be corrected.

If there is a 'let' because of a service court error, the rally is replayed with the
error corrected. If a service court error is not to be corrected, play in that game
shall proceed without changing the player's new service courts.

Faults

The rules of badminton consider the following as faults:

- If the shuttle lands outside the boundaries of the court, passes through or under
the net, fail to pass the net, touches the ceiling or side walls, touches the person
or dress of a player or touches any other object or person.

- If the initial point of contact with the shuttle is not on the striker's side of the net.
(The striker may, however, follow the shuttle over the net with the racket in the
course of a stroke.)

- If a player touches the net or its supports with racket, person or dress, invades
an opponent's court over the net with racket or person except as permitted.

- If a player invades an opponent's court under the net with racket or person such
that an opponent is obstructed or distracted or obstructs an opponent, that is
prevents an opponent from making a legal stroke where the shuttle is followed
over the net.

- If a player deliberately distracts an opponent by any action such as shouting or

making gestures.

- If the shuttle is caught and held on the racket and then slung during the
execution of a stroke.

- If the shuttle is hit twice in succession by the same player with two strokes.

- If the shuttle is hit by a player and the player's partner successively or touches a
player's racket and continues towards the back of that player's court.

- If a player is guilty of flagrant, repeated or persistent offences under Law of

Continuous Play, Misconduct, Penalties.

- If, on service, the shuttle is caught on the net and remains suspended on top,
or, on service, after passing over the net is caught in the net.

Lets

'Let' is called by the umpire, or by a player (if there is no umpire), to halt play.

A 'let' may be given for any unforeseen or accidental occurrence.The rules of

badminton consider the following as 'lets':

- If a shuttle is caught in the net and remains suspended on top or, after passing
over the net, is caught in the net, it shall be a 'let' except on service.

- If, during service, the receiver and server are both faulted at the same time, it
shall be a 'let'.

- If the server serves before the receiver is ready, it shall be a 'let'.

- If, during play, the shuttle disintegrates and the base completely separates from
the rest of the shuttle, is shall be a 'let'.

- If a line judge is unsighted and the umpire is unable to make a decision, it shall
be a 'let'.

- A 'let' may occur following a service court error. When a 'let' occurs, the play
since the last service shall not count and the player who served shall serve
again, except where in situations where the Law of Service Court Errors is
applicable.
Shuttle not in play

A shuttle is not in play when it strikes the net and remains attached there or
suspended on top.

A shuttle is not in play when it strikes the net or post and starts to fall towards the
surface of the court on the striker's side of the net.

A shuttle is not in play when it hits the surface of the court or a 'fault' or 'let' has
occurred.

Continuous play, misconduct, penalties

Play shall be continuous from the first service until the match is concluded,
except as allowed in intervals not exceeding 90 seconds between the first and
second games, and not exceeding 5 minutes between the second and third
games.

Officials and appeals

The referee is in overall charge of the tournament. The umpire, where appointed,
is in charge of the match, the court and its immediate surrounds. The umpire
shall report to the referee. The service judge shall callservice faults made by the
server should they occur. A line judge shall indicate whether a shuttle landed 'in'
or 'out' on the line or lines assigned. An official's decision is final on all points of
fact for which that official is responsible.

An umpire shall:

- Upload and enforce the Rules of Badminton and, especially, call a 'fault' or 'let'
should either occur.

- Give a decision on any appeal regarding a point of dispute, if made before the
next service is delivered.

- Ensure players and spectators are kept informed of the progress of the match.
- Appoint or remove line judges or a service judge in consultation with the
referee.

- Where another court official is not appointed, arrange for that official's duties to
be carried out.

- Where an appointed official is unsighted, carry out the official's duties or play a
'let'.

- Record and report to the referee all matters in relation to continuous play,
misconduct and penalties.

- Take to the referee all unsatisfied appeals on questions of law only. (Such
appeals must be made before the next service is delivered, or, if at the end of the
game, before the side that appeals has left the court.)
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or
"shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules. Basketball is
one of the most popular and widely viewed sports in the world.[1]

A regulation basketball hoop consists of a rim 18 inches (45.7 cm) in diameter and 10 feet (3.05
m) high mounted to a backboard. A team can score a field goal by shooting the ball through the
hoop during regular play. A field goal scores two points for the shooting team if a player is
touching or closer to the hoop than the three-point line, and three points (a "3 pointer") if the
player is "outside" the three-point line. The team with more points at the end of the game wins,
but additional time (overtime) may be issued when the game ends with a tie. The ball can be
advanced on the court by bouncing it while walking or running (dribbling) or passing it to a
teammate. It is a violation (traveling) to walk with the ball, carry it, or to double dribble (to hold the
ball and then resume dribbling).

Various violations are generally called "fouls". Disruptive physical contact (a personal foul) is
penalized, and a free throw is usually awarded to an offensive player if he is fouled while shooting
the ball. A technical foul may also be issued when certain infractions occur, most commonly
for unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of a player or coach. A technical foul gives the opposing
team a free throw.

Basketball has evolved many commonly used techniques of shooting, passing, and dribbling, as
well as specialized player positions and offensive and defensive structures (player positioning)
and techniques. Typically, the tallest members of a team will play "center", "small forward", or
"power forward" positions, while shorter players or those who possess the best ball handling skills
and speed play "point guard" or "shooting guard".

While competitive basketball is carefully regulated, numerous variations of basketball have

developed for casual play. Competitive basketball is primarily an indoor sport played on carefully
marked and maintained basketball courts, but less regulated variations are often played outdoors
in both inner city and rural areas.

Contents
[hide]

• 1 History

o 1.1 The first rules, court, and game

o 1.2 Women's basketball

o 1.3 Surge in popularity

o 1.4 Basketball Hall of Fame founded

o 1.5 Development of equipment and technique

o 1.6 Historical antecedents

o 1.7 Early college basketball development

o 1.8 Early women's basketball development

o 1.9 First Canadian interuniversity game

o 1.10 Early American professional and barnstorming teams

o 1.11 American national college championships

o 1.12 U.S. high school basketball

 1.12.1 National championships

o 1.13 National Basketball Association

o 1.14 Women's National Basketball Association

o 1.15 Philippine Basketball Association

o 1.16 National Basketball League (Australia)

o 1.17 International basketball

o 1.18 Pros in the Olympics

o 1.19 International stars in the NBA

o 1.20 Globalization of basketball

• 2 Rules and regulations

o 2.1 Playing regulations

o 2.2 Equipment

o 2.3 Violations

o 2.4 Fouls

• 3 Common techniques and practices

o 3.1 Positions
 o 3.2 Strategy

o 3.3 Shooting

o 3.4 Rebounding

o 3.5 Passing

o 3.6 Dribbling

o 3.7 Blocking

• 4 Height

• 5 Variations and similar games

o 5.1 Wheelchair Basketball

o 5.2 Water Basketball

o 5.3 Beach Basketball

o 5.4 Dunk Hoops

o 5.5 Slamball

o 5.6 Streetball

o 5.7 Unicycle Basketball

o 5.8 More distantly related basketball games

• 6 Social forms of basketball

• 7 Fantasy basketball

• 8 See also

• 9 References

• 10 External links

o 10.1 Historical

o 10.2 Organizations

o 10.3 Other

History
Main article: History of basketball
The first basketball court: Springfield College
The first rules, court, and game
In early December 1891, Dr. James Naismith,[2] a Canadian-born physical
education professor and instructor at the International Young Men's Christian Association
Training School[3] (YMCA) (today, Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, was
trying to keep his gym class active on a rainy day. He sought a vigorous indoor game to keep his
students occupied and at proper levels of fitness during the longNew England winters. After
rejecting other ideas as either too rough or poorly suited to walled-in gymnasiums, he wrote the
basic rules and nailed a peach basket onto a 10-foot (3.05 m) elevated track. In contrast with
modern basketball nets, this peach basket retained its bottom, and balls had to be retrieved
manually after each "basket" or point scored; this proved inefficient, however, so the bottom of
the basket was removed,[4] allowing the balls to be poked out with a long dowel each time. The
peach baskets were used until 1906 when they were finally replaced by metal hoops with
backboards. A further change was soon made, so the ball merely passed through, paving the way
for the game we know today. An association football was used to shoot baskets. Whenever a
person got the ball in the basket, his team would gain a point. Whichever team got the most
points won the game.[5] The baskets were originally nailed to the mezzanine balcony of the
playing court, but this proved impractical when spectators on the balcony began to interfere with
shots. The backboard was introduced to prevent this interference; it had the additional effect of
allowing rebound shots.[6]

Naismith's handwritten diaries, discovered by his granddaughter in early 2006, indicate that he
was nervous about the new game he had invented, which incorporated rules from a children's
game called "Duck on a Rock", as many had failed before it. Naismith called the new game
"Basket Ball".[7]

The first official game was played in a YMCA gymnasium on January 20, 1892 with nine players.
The game ended at 1–0; the shot was made from 25 feet (7.6 m), on a court just half the size of a
present-day Streetball or National Basketball Association (NBA) court. By 1897–1898 teams of
five became standard.

Women's basketball
Women's basketball began in 1892 at Smith College when Senda Berenson, a physical education
teacher, modified Naismith's rules for women. Shortly after she was hired at Smith, she went to
Naismith to learn more about the game.[8] Fascinated by the new sport and the values it could
teach, she organized the first women’s collegiate basketball game on March 21, 1893, when her
Smith freshmen and sophomores played against one another.[9] Her rules were first published in
1899 and two years later Berenson became the editor of A.G. Spalding’s first Women's
Basketball Guide.[9]

Surge in popularity
Basketball's early adherents were dispatched to YMCAs throughout the United States, and it
quickly spread through the USA and Canada. By 1895, it was well established at several
women's high schools. While the YMCA was responsible for initially developing and spreading
the game, within a decade it discouraged the new sport, as rough play and rowdy crowds began
to detract from the YMCA's primary mission. However, other amateur sports clubs, colleges, and
professional clubs quickly filled the void. In the years before World War I, theAmateur Athletic
Union and the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (forerunner of the NCAA)
vied for control over the rules for the game. The first pro league, the National Basketball League,
was formed in 1898 to protect players from exploitation and to promote a less rough game. This
league only lasted five years.

Basketball Hall of Fame founded

By the 1950s, basketball had become a major college sport, thus paving the way for a growth of
interest in professional basketball. In 1959, a basketball hall of fame was founded inSpringfield,
Massachusetts, site of the first game. Its rosters include the names of great players, coaches,
referees and people who have contributed significantly to the development of the game. The hall
of fame has people who have accomplished many goals in their career in basketball.

Development of equipment and technique

Basketball was originally played with an association football. The first balls made specifically for
basketball were brown, and it was only in the late 1950s that Tony Hinkle, searching for a ball that
would be more visible to players and spectators alike, introduced the orange ball that is now in
common use. Dribbling was not part of the original game except for the "bounce pass" to
teammates. Passing the ball was the primary means of ball movement. Dribbling was eventually
introduced but limited by the asymmetric shape of early balls. Dribbling only became a major part
of the game around the 1950s, as manufacturing improved the ball shape.

Historical antecedents
Basketball, netball, dodgeball, volleyball, and lacrosse are the only ball games which have been
identified as being invented by North Americans[citation needed]. Other ball games, such
asbaseball and Canadian football, have Commonwealth of
Nations, European, Asian or African connections. Although there is no direct evidence as yet that
the idea of basketball came from the ancient Mesoamerican ballgame, knowledge of that game
had been available for at least 50 years prior to Naismith's creation, in the writings of John Lloyd
Stephens andAlexander von Humboldt. Stephens' works especially, which included drawings
by Frederick Catherwood, were available at most educational institutions in the 19th century and
also had wide popular circulations.

Early college basketball development

Dr. James Naismith was instrumental in establishing college basketball. His colleague C.O.
Beamis fielded the first college basketball team just a year after the Springfield YMCA game at
the suburban Pittsburgh Geneva College.[10] Naismith himself later coached at the University of
Kansas for six years, before handing the reins to renowned coach Forrest "Phog" Allen.
Naismith's disciple Amos Alonzo Stagg brought basketball to the University of Chicago,
while Adolph Rupp, a student of Naismith's at Kansas, enjoyed great success as coach at
theUniversity of Kentucky.

On February 9, 1895, the first intercollegiate 5-on-5 game was played at Hamline
University between Hamline and the School of Agriculture, which was affiliated with University of
Minnesota.[11][12] The School of Agriculture won in a 9–3 game.

In 1901, colleges, including the University of Chicago, Columbia University, Dartmouth College,
the University of Minnesota, the U.S. Naval Academy, the University of Utah and Yale
University began sponsoring men's games. In 1905, frequent injuries on the football field
prompted President Theodore Roosevelt to suggest that colleges form a governing body,
resulting in the creation of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS). In
1910, that body would change its name to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Early women's basketball development
In 1891, the University of California and Miss Head's School played the first women's
interinstitutional game. Berenson's freshmen played the sophomore class in the first women's
intercollegiate basketball game at Smith College, March 21, 1893.[13] The same year, Mount
Holyoke and Sophie Newcomb College (coached by Clara Gregory Baer) women began playing
basketball. By 1895, the game had spread to colleges across the country,
including Wellesley, Vassar, and Bryn Mawr. The first intercollegiate women's game was on April
4, 1896. Stanford women played Berkeley, 9-on-9, ending in a 2–1 Stanford victory.

Women's basketball development was more structured than that for men in the early years. In
1905, the Executive Committee on Basket Ball Rules (National Women's Basketball Committee)
was created by the American Physical Education Association.[14] These rules called for six to nine
players per team and 11 officials. The International Women's Sports Federation (1924) included a
women's basketball competition. 37 women's high school varsity basketball or state tournaments
were held by 1925. And in 1926, the Amateur Athletic Union backed the first national women's
basketball championship, complete with men's rules.[14]

The Edmonton Grads, a touring Canadian women's team based in Edmonton, Alberta, operated
between 1915 and 1940. The Grads toured all over North America, and were exceptionally
successful. They posted a record of 522 wins and only 20 losses over that span, as they met any
team which wanted to challenge them, funding their tours from gate receipts.[15] The Grads also
shone on several exhibition trips to Europe, and won four consecutive
exhibition Olympics tournaments, in 1924, 1928, 1932, and 1936; however, women's basketball
was not an official Olympic sport until 1976. The Grads' players were unpaid, and had to remain
single. The Grads' style focused on team play, without overly emphasizing skills of individual
players.

The first women's AAU All-America team was chosen in 1929.[14] Women's industrial leagues
sprang up throughout the United States, producing famous athletes, including Babe Didrikson of
the Golden Cyclones, and the All American Red Heads Team, which competed against men's
teams, using men's rules. By 1938, the women's national championship changed from a three-
court game to two-court game with six players per team.[14]

First Canadian interuniversity game

The first Canadian interuniversity basketball game was played at the YMCA in Kingston,
Ontario on February 6, 1904, when McGill University visited Queen's University. McGill won 9–7
in overtime; the score was 7–7 at the end of regulation play, and a ten-minute overtime period
settled the outcome. A good turnout of spectators watched the game.[16]
Ad from The Liberator magazine promoting an exhibition in Harlem, March 1922. Drawing by Hugo Gellert.
Early American professional and barnstorming teams
Teams abounded throughout the 1920s. There were hundreds of men's professional
basketball teams in towns and cities all over the United States, and little organization of the
professional game. Players jumped from team to team and teams played in armories and smoky
dance halls. Leagues came and went. Barnstorming squads such as the Original Celtics and two
all-African American teams, the New York Renaissance Five ("Rens") and (still in existence as of
2010) the Harlem Globetrotters played up to two hundred games a year on their national tours.

American national college championships

The first men's national championship tournament, the National Association of Intercollegiate
Basketball tournament, which still exists as theNational Association of Intercollegiate
Athletics (NAIA) tournament, was organized in 1937. The first national championship for NCAA
teams, the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in New York, was organized in 1938; the NCAA
national tournament would begin one year later.

College basketball was rocked by gambling scandals from 1948 to 1951, when dozens of players
from top teams were implicated in match fixing and point shaving. Partially spurred by an
association with cheating, the NIT lost support to the NCAA tournament.

U.S. high school basketball

Before widespread school district consolidation, most United States high schools were far smaller
than their present day counterparts. During the first decades of the 20th century, basketball
quickly became the ideal interscholastic sport due to its modest equipment and personnel
requirements. In the days before widespread television coverage of professional and college
sports, the popularity of high school basketball was unrivaled in many parts of America. Perhaps
the most legendary of high school teams was Indiana's Franklin Wonder Five, which took the
nation by storm during the 1920s, dominating Indiana basketball and earning national recognition.

Today virtually every high school in the United States fields a basketball team
in varsity competition[17] Basketball's popularity remains high, both in rural areas where they carry
the identification of the entire community, as well as at some larger schools known for their
basketball teams where many players go on to participate at higher levels of competition after
graduation. In the 2003–04 season, 1,002,797 boys and girls represented their schools in
interscholastic basketball competition, according to the National Federation of State High School
Associations. The states of Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky are particularly well known for their
residents' devotion to high school basketball, commonly called Hoosier Hysteria in Indiana; the
critically acclaimed film Hoosiers shows high school basketball's depth of meaning to these
communities.
National championships

There is currently no national tournament to determine a national high school champion.

The most serious effort was the National Interscholastic Basketball Tournament at the University
of Chicago from 1917 to 1930. The event organized by Amos Alonzo Stagg and sent invitations to
state champion teams. The tournament started out as a mostly Midwest affair but grew. In 1929 it
had 29 state champions. Faced with opposition from the National Federation of State High School
Associations and North Central Association of Colleges and Schools that bore a threat of the
schools losing their accreditation the last tournament was in 1930. The organizations said they
were concerned that the tournament was being used to recruit professional players from the prep
ranks.[18]

The tournament did not invite minority schools or private/parochial schools.

The National Catholic Interscholastic Basketball Tournament ran from 1924 to 1941 at Loyola
University.[19] The National Catholic Invitational Basketball Tournament from 1954 to 1978 playing
at a series of venues at Catholic University, Georgetown and George Mason.[20]

The National Interscholastic Basketball Tournament for Black High Schools was held from 1929
to 1942 at Hampton Institute.[21] The National Invitational Interscholastic Basketball Tournament
was held from 1941 to 1967 starting out at Tuskegee Institute. Following a pause during World
War II it resumed at Tennessee State College in Nashville. The basis for the champion dwindled
after 1954 when Brown v. Board of Education began an integration of schools. The last
tournaments were held at Alabama State College from 1964 to 1967.[22]

National Basketball Association

Main article: National Basketball Association

In 1946, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) was formed. The first game was played
in Toronto, Ontario, Canada between the Toronto Huskies and New York Knickerbockers on
November 1, 1946. Three seasons later, in 1949, the BAA merged with the National Basketball
League to form the National Basketball Association (NBA). An upstart organization, theAmerican
Basketball Association, emerged in 1967 and briefly threatened the NBA's dominance until
the ABA-NBA merger in 1976. Today the NBA is the top professional basketball league in the
world in terms of popularity, salaries, talent, and level of competition.

The NBA has featured many famous players, including George Mikan, the first dominating "big
man"; ball-handling wizard Bob Cousy and defensive genius Bill Russell of the Boston
Celtics; Wilt Chamberlain, who originally played for the barnstorming Harlem Globetrotters; all-
around stars Oscar Robertson and Jerry West; more recent big men Kareem Abdul-
Jabbar,Shaquille O'Neal and Karl Malone; playmaker John Stockton; crowd-pleasing
forward Julius Erving; European stars Dirk Nowitzki and Dražen Petrović and the three players
who many credit with ushering the professional game to its highest level of popularity: Larry
Bird, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, and Michael Jordan.

In 2001, the NBA formed a developmental league, the NBDL. As of 2008, the league has sixteen
teams.

Women's National Basketball Association

Main article: Women's National Basketball Association

The NBA-backed Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) began in 1997. Though it
had shaky attendance figures, several marquee players (Lisa Leslie, Diana Taurasi, andCandace
Parker among others) have helped the league's popularity and level of competition.
Other professional women's basketball leagues in the United States, such as the American
Basketball League (1996-1998), have folded in part because of the popularity of the WNBA.

The WNBA has been looked at by many as a niche league. However, the league has recently
taken steps forward.

In June 2007, the WNBA signed a contract extension with ESPN. The new television deal runs
from 2009 to 2016. Along with this deal, came the first ever rights fees to be paid to a women's
professional sports league. Over the eight years of the contract, "millions and millions of dollars"
will be "dispersed to the league's teams."

The WNBA gets more viewers on national television broadcasts (413,000) than both Major
League Soccer (253,000)[23] and the NHL (310,732).[24]

In a March 12, 2009 article, NBA commissioner David Stern said that in the bad economy, "the
NBA is far less profitable than the WNBA. We're losing a lot of money amongst a large number of
teams. We're budgeting the WNBA to break even this year."[25]

Philippine Basketball Association

Main article: Philippine Basketball Association

The Philippine Basketball Association's first game was played on April 9, 1975 at the Araneta
Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City. Philippines. It was founded as a "rebellion" of several teams
from the now-defunct Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association which was tightly
controlled by the Basketball Association of the Philippines (now defunct), the then-FIBA
recognized national association. Nine teams from the MICAA participated in the league's first
season that opened on April 9, 1975.

National Basketball League (Australia)

Main article: National Basketball League Australia

The NBL is Australia's pre-eminent men's professional basketball league. The league
commenced in 1979, playing a winter season (April–September) and did so until the completion
of the 20th season in 1998. The 1998/99 season, which commenced only months later, was the
first season after the shift to the current summer season format (October–April). This shift was an
attempt to avoid competing directly against Australia's various football codes. It features 8 teams
from around Australia and one in New Zealand. A few players including Luc Longley, Andrew
Gaze, Shane Heal, Chris Anstey and Andrew Bogut made it big internationally, becoming poster
figures for the sport in Australia. The Women's National Basketball League began in 1981.

International basketball
XX. Olympic games Munich 1972 Krešimir Ćosić of Yugoslavia (blue shirt) vs. Petr Novicky of Czechoslovakia

The International Basketball Federation was formed in 1932 by eight founding

nations: Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal,Romania and Switzerland. At
this time, the organization only oversaw amateur players. Its acronym, derived from the
French Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur, was thus "FIBA".

Men's Basketball was first included at the Berlin 1936 Summer Olympics, although a
demonstration tournament was held in 1904. The United States defeated Canada in the first final,
played outdoors. This competition has usually been dominated by the United States, whose team
has won all but three titles, the first loss in a controversial final game in Munich in 1972 against
the Soviet Union. 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. Women's
basketball was added to the Olympics in 1976, which were held in Montreal, Canada with teams
such as the Soviet Union, Brazil and Australia rivaling the American squads.

Pros in the Olympics

FIBA dropped the distinction between amateur and professional players in 1989, and in 1992,
professional players played for the first time in the Olympic Games. The United States'
dominance continued with the introduction of their Dream Team. However, with developing
programs elsewhere, other national teams started to beat the United States. A team made
entirely of NBA players finished sixth in the 2002 World Championships inIndianapolis,
behind Yugoslavia, Argentina, Germany, New Zealand and Spain. In the 2004 Athens Olympics,
the United States suffered its first Olympic loss while using professional players, falling to Puerto
Rico (in a 19-point loss) and Lithuania in group games, and being eliminated in the semifinals
by Argentina. It eventually won the bronze medal defeating Lithuania, finishing behind Argentina
and Italy. In 2006, in the World Championship of Japan, the United States advanced to the
semifinals but were defeated by Greece by 101–95. In the bronze medal game it beat
team Argentina and finished 3rd behind Greece and Spain.

After the disappointments of 2002 through 2006, the U.S. regrouped, reestablishing themselves
as the dominant international team behind the "Redeem Team", which won gold at the2008
Olympics, and the so-called "B-Team", which won gold at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in
Turkey despite featuring no players from the 2008 squad.

International stars in the NBA

Worldwide, basketball tournaments are held for boys and girls of all age levels. The global
popularity of the sport is reflected in the nationalities represented in the NBA. Players from all six
inhabited continents currently play in the NBA. Top international players began coming into the
NBA in the mid 1990's, including Croatians Dražen Petrović and Toni Kukoč, SerbianVlade Divac,
Lithuanians Arvydas Sabonis and Šarūnas Marčiulionis and German Detlef Schrempf.

John Hollinger of ESPN has analyzed foreign players' performance in the NBA and his research
suggests that players moving from the Euroleague to the NBA experience, on average, a 25 per
cent drop in scoring rate, an increase of 18% in their rebound rate, a 31% increase in their assist
rate, a drop of 12 per cent in shooting percentage and a 30 per cent drop inPlayer Efficiency
Rating.[26]

Globalization of basketball
The all-tournament teams at the 2002 and 2006 FIBA World Championships, respectively held in
Indianapolis and Japan, demonstrate the globalization of the game equally dramatically. Only one
member of either team was American, namely Carmelo Anthony in 2006. The 2002 team featured
Nowitzki, Ginobili, Yao, Peja Stojakovic of Yugoslavia (now of Serbia), andPero Cameron of New
Zealand. Ginobili also made the 2006 team; the other members were Anthony, Gasol,
his Spanish teammate Jorge Garbajosa and Theodoros Papaloukas ofGreece. The only players
on either team to never have joined the NBA are Cameron and Papaloukas.

The all-tournament team from the 2010 edition in Turkey featured four NBA players—MVP Kevin
Durant of Team USA and the Oklahoma City Thunder, Linas Kleiza of Lithuania and theToronto
Raptors, Luis Scola of Argentina and the Houston Rockets, and Hedo Türkoğlu of Turkey and
the Phoenix Suns. The only non-NBA player was Serbia's Miloš Teodosić.

The strength of international Basketball is evident in the fact that Team USA won none of the
three world championships held between 1998 and 2006, with Serbia (then known as Yugoslavia)
winning in 1998 and 2002 and Spain in 2006.

Rules and regulations

Main article: Rules of basketball

Measurements and time limits discussed in this section often vary among tournaments and
organizations; international and NBA rules are used in this section.

The object of the game is to outscore one's opponents by throwing the ball through the
opponents' basket from above while preventing the opponents from doing so on their own. An
attempt to score in this way is called a shot. A successful shot is worth two points, or three
points if it is taken from beyond the three-point arc which is 6.25 metres (20 ft 6 in) from the
basket in international games and 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) in NBA games. A one-point shot can
be earned when shooting from the foul line after a foul is made.

Playing regulations
Games are played in four quarters of 10 (FIBA)[27] or 12 minutes (NBA).[28] College games use two
20-minute halves,[29] while high school varsity games use 8 minute quarters.[30]Fifteen minutes are
allowed for a half-time break under FIBA, NBA, and NCAA rules[29][31][32] and 10 minutes in high
school.[30] Overtime periods are five minutes in length[29][33][34]except for high school which is four
minutes in length.[30] Teams exchange baskets for the second half. The time allowed is actual
playing time; the clock is stopped while the play is not active. Therefore, games generally take
much longer to complete than the allotted game time, typically about two hours.

Five players from each team may be on the court at one time.[35][36][37][38] Substitutions are unlimited
but can only be done when play is stopped. 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. Typically, team names, players'
names and, outside of North America, sponsors are printed on the uniforms.

A limited number of time-outs, clock stoppages requested by a coach (or sometimes mandated in
the NBA) for a short meeting with the players, are allowed. They generally last no longer than one
minute (100 seconds in the NBA) unless, for televised games, a commercial break is needed.

The game is controlled by the officials consisting of the referee (referred to as crew chief in the
NBA), one or two umpires (referred to as referees in the NBA) and the table officials. For college,
the NBA, and many high schools, there are a total of three referees on the court. The table
officials are responsible for keeping track of each teams scoring, timekeeping, individual and
team fouls, player substitutions, team possession arrow, and the shot clock.
Equipment
Main articles: Basketball (ball), Basketball court, and Backboard (basketball)

Traditional eight-panelbasketball

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, scoresheets, scoreboard(s), alternating possession arrows, and
whistle-operated stop-clock systems.

An outdoor basketball net.

A regulation basketball court in international games is 28 metres (91.9 ft) long and 15 metres
(49.2 ft) wide. In the NBA and NCAA the court is 94 feet (28.7 m) by 50 feet (15.2 m). Most courts
have wood flooring, usually constructed from maple planks running in the same direction as the
longer court dimension.[39] The name and logo of the home team is usually painted on or around
the center circle.

The basket is a steel rim 18 inches (45.7 cm) in diameter with an attached net affixed to a
backboard that measures 6 feet (182.9 cm) by 3.5 feet (106.7 cm), and one basket is at each end
of the court. The white outlined box on the backboard is 18 inches (45.7 cm) high and 2 feet (61.0
cm) wide. At almost all levels of competition, the top of the rim is exactly 10 feet (305 cm) above
the court and 4 feet (121.9 cm) inside the baseline. While variation is possible in the dimensions
of the court and backboard, it is considered important for the basket to be of the correct height - a
rim that is off by just a few inches can have an adverse effect on shooting.

The size of the basketball is also regulated. For men, the official ball is 29.5 inches (74.9 cm) in
circumference (size 7, or a "295 ball") and weighs 22 ounces (624 g). If women are playing, the
official basketball size is 28.5 inches (72.4 cm) in circumference (size 6, or a "285 ball") with a
weight of 20 ounces (567 g).

Violations
The ball may be advanced toward the basket by being shot, passed between players, thrown,
tapped, rolled or dribbled (bouncing the ball while running).

The ball must stay within the court; the last team to touch the ball before it travels out of bounds
forfeits possession. The ball is out of bounds if touches or crosses over a boundary line, or
touches a player who is out of bounds. This is in contrast to other sports such
as football,volleyball, and tennis (but not rugby or American football) where the ball (or player) is
still considered in if any part of it is touching a boundary line.

The ball-handler may not move both feet without dribbling, an infraction known as traveling, nor
may he dribble with both hands or catch the ball in between dribbles, a violation called double
dribbling. A player's hand cannot be under the ball while dribbling; doing so is known as carrying
the ball. A team, once having established ball control in the front half of the court, may not return
the ball to the backcourt and be the first to touch it. The ball may not be kicked, nor be struck with
the fist. A violation of these rules results in loss of possession, or, if committed by the defense, a
reset of the shot clock (with some exceptions in the NBA).

There are limits imposed on the time taken before progressing the ball past halfway (8 seconds in
international and NBA; 10 seconds in NCAA men's play and high school for both sexes, but no
limit in NCAA women's play), before attempting a shot (24 seconds in the NBA, 30 seconds in
NCAA women's and Canadian Interuniversity Sport play for both sexes, and 35 seconds in NCAA
men's play), holding the ball while closely guarded (5 seconds), and remaining in the restricted
area below the foul line (the lane, or "key") (3 seconds). These rules are designed to promote
more offense.

No player may touch the ball on its downward flight to the basket, unless the ball has no chance
of entering the basket (goaltending). In addition, no player may touch the ball while it is on or in
the basket; when any part of the ball is in the cylinder above the basket (the area extended
upwards from the basket); or when the ball is outside the cylinder, if the player reaches through
the basket and touches it. This violation is known as "basket interference". If a defensive player
goaltends or commits basket interference, the basket is awarded and the offending team gets the
ball. If a teammate of the shooter goaltends or commits interference, the basket is cancelled and
play continues with the defensive team being given possession.

Fouls

The referee signals that a foul has been committed.

Main articles: Personal foul (basketball) and Technical foul

An attempt to unfairly disadvantage an opponent through physical contact is illegal and is called a
foul. These are most commonly committed by defensive players; however, they can be committed
by offensive players as well. Players who are fouled either receive the ball to pass inbounds
again, or receive one or more free throws if they are fouled in the act of shooting, depending on
whether the shot was successful. One point is awarded for making a free throw, which is
attempted from a line 15 feet (4.6 m) from the basket.

The referee may use discretion in calling fouls (for example, by considering whether an unfair
advantage was gained), sometimes making fouls controversial calls or no-calls. The calling of
fouls can vary between games, leagues and even among referees.

A player or coach who shows poor sportsmanship, such as by arguing with a referee or by
fighting with another player, can be charged with a more serious foul called a technical foul. The
penalty involves free throws (where, unlike a personal foul, the other team can choose any player
to shoot) and varies among leagues. Repeated incidents can result in disqualification. Blatant
fouls with excessive contact or that are not an attempt to play the ball are called intentional fouls
(or flagrant fouls in the NBA). In FIBA, a foul resulting in ejection is called a disqualifying foul,
while in leagues other than the NBA, such a foul is referred to as flagrant.

If a team exceeds a certain limit of team fouls in a given period (quarter or half) – four for NBA
and international games – the opposing team is awarded one or two free throws on all
subsequent non-shooting fouls for that period, the number depending on the league. In the US
college and high school games, if a team reaches 7 fouls in a half, the opposing team is awarded
one free throw, along with a second shot if the first is made. This is called shooting "one-and-
one". If a team exceeds 10 fouls in the half, the opposing team is awarded two free throws on all
subsequent fouls for the half.

When a team shoots foul shots, the opponents may not interfere with the shooter, nor may they
try to regain possession until the last or potentially last free throw is in the air.

After a team has committed a specified number of fouls, it is said to be "in the penalty". On
scoreboards, this is usually signified with an indicator light reading "Bonus" or "Penalty" with an
illuminated directional arrow indicating that team is to receive free throws when fouled by the
opposing team. (Some scoreboards also indicate the number of fouls committed.)

If a team misses the first shot of a two-shot situation, the opposing team must wait for the
completion of the second shot before attempting to reclaim possession of the ball and continuing
play.

If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is unsuccessful, the player is awarded a
number of free throws equal to the value of the attempted shot. A player fouled while attempting a
regular two-point shot, then, receives two shots. A player fouled while attempting a three-point
shot, on the other hand, receives three shots.

If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is successful, typically the player will be
awarded one additional free throw for one point. In combination with a regular shot, this is called
a "three-point play" or "four-point play" (or more colloquially, an "and one") because of the basket
made at the time of the foul (2 or 3 points) and the additional free throw (1 point).

Common techniques and practices

Positions
Main article: Basketball position
Basketball positions in the offensive zone

Although the rules do not specify any positions whatsoever, they have evolved as part of
basketball. During the first five decades of basketball's evolution, one guard, two forwards, and
two centers or two guards, two forwards, and one center were used. Since the 1980s, more
specific positions have evolved, namely:

1. point guard: usually the fastest player on the team, organizes the team's offense
by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right player at the right time
2. shooting guard: creates a high volume of shots on offense; guards the
opponent's best perimeter player on defense
3. small forward: often primarily responsible for scoring points via cuts to the basket
and dribble penetration; on defense seeks rebounds and steals, but sometimes plays
more actively
4. power forward: plays offensively often with their back to the basket; on defense,
plays under the basket (in a zone defense) or against the opposing power forward (in
man-to-man defense)
5. center: uses height and size to score (on offense), to protect the basket closely
(on defense), or to rebound.

The above descriptions are flexible. On some occasions, teams will choose to use a three guard
offense, replacing one of the forwards or the center with a third guard. The most commonly
interchanged positions are point guard and shooting guard, especially if both players have good
leadership and ball handling skills.

Strategy
Main article: Basketball playbook

The strategies also evolve with the game. In the 1990s and early 2000s, teams played with more
"isolation". Teams that had one superstar would let one player, usually the point guard or
shooting guard, run most of the offense while the other four offensive players get out of his/her
way. Nowadays, teams tend to play with more teamwork. The "Center" position has evolved to
become more of a taller "Small Forward" position. Since teams play more teamwork, ball
movement has evolved with the game, and more jump shots have been taken as a result.

There are two main defensive strategies: zone defense and man-to-man defense. In a zone
defense, each player is assigned to guard a specific area of the court. In a man-to-man defense,
each defensive player guards a specific opponent. Man-to-man defense is generally preferred at
higher levels of competition, as it is intuitively easier to understand and avoids mismatches
between players who play different positions. However, zone defenses are sometimes used in
particular situations or simply to confuse the offense with an unexpected look.

Offensive plays are more varied, normally involving planned passes and movement by players
without the ball. A quick movement by an offensive player without the ball to gain an
advantageous position is a cut. A legal attempt by an offensive player to stop an opponent from
guarding a teammate, by standing in the defender's way such that the teammate cuts next to him,
is a screen or pick. The two plays are combined in the pick and roll, in which a player sets a pick
and then "rolls" away from the pick towards the basket. Screens and cuts are very important in
offensive plays; these allow the quick passes and teamwork which can lead to a successful
basket. Teams almost always have several offensive plays planned to ensure their movement is
not predictable. On court, the point guard is usually responsible for indicating which play will
occur.

Defensive and offensive structures, and positions, are more emphasized in higher levels in
basketball; it is these that a coach normally requests a time-out to discuss.

Shooting
Player releases a short jump shot, while her defender is either knocked down, or trying to "take a charge."

Shooting is the act of attempting to score points by throwing the ball through the basket. Methods
can vary with players and situations.

Typically a player faces the basket with both feet facing the basket. A player will then allow the
ball to rest on the fingertips of the dominant hand (the shooting arm) slightly above the head, with
the other hand supporting the side of the ball. The ball is typically shot by jumping (though not
always) and straightening the shooting arm. The shooting arm, fully extended with the wrist fully
bent is held stationary for a moment following the release of the ball, known as a follow-through.
Players often try to put a steady backspin on the ball to deaden its impact with the rim. The ideal
trajectory of the shot is somewhat arguable, but generally coaches recommend a proper arch.
Players may shoot directly into the basket or may use the backboard to redirect the ball into the
basket.

The two most common shots that use the above described setup are the set shot and the jump
shot. The set shot is taken from a standing position, with neither foot leaving the floor, typically
used for free throws. The jump shot is taken while in mid-air, when the ball is released near the
top of the jump. This provides much greater power and range, and it also allows the player to
elevate over the defender. Failure to release the ball before the feet return to the ground is
considered a traveling violation.

Another common shot is called the layup. This shot requires the player to be in motion toward the
basket, and to "lay" the ball "up" and into the basket, typically off the backboard (the backboard-
free, underhand version is called a finger roll). The most crowd-pleasing and typically highest-
percentage accuracy shot is the slam dunk, in which the player jumps very high and throws the
ball downward, straight through the hoop.
Another shot that is becoming common is the "circus shot." The circus shot is a low-percentage
shot that is flipped, heaved, scooped, or flung toward the hoop while the shooter is off-balance,
airborne, falling down, and/or facing away from the basket.

A shot that misses both the rim and the backboard completely is referred to as an air ball. A
particularly bad shot, or one that only hits the backboard, is jocularly called a brick.

Rebounding
Main article: Rebound (basketball)

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. This plays a major role in the
game, as most possessions end when a team misses a shot. There are two categories of
rebounds: offensive rebounds, in which the ball is recovered by the offensive side and does not
change possession, and defensive rebounds, in which the defending team gains possession of
the loose ball. The majority of rebounds are defensive, as the team on defense tends to be in
better position to recover missed shots.

Passing
See also: Assist (basketball)

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.

A staple pass is the chest pass. The ball is passed directly from the passer's chest to the
receiver's chest. A proper chest pass involves an outward snap of the thumbs to add velocity and
leaves the defence little time to react.

Another type of pass is the bounce pass. Here, the passer bounces the ball crisply about two-
thirds of the way from his own chest to the receiver. The ball strikes the court and bounces up
toward the receiver. The bounce pass takes longer to complete than the chest pass, but it is also
harder for the opposing team to intercept (kicking the ball deliberately is a violation). Thus,
players often use the bounce pass in crowded moments, or to pass around a defender.

The overhead pass is used to pass the ball over a defender. The ball is released while over the
passer's head.

The outlet pass occurs after a team gets a defensive rebound. The next pass after the rebound is
the outlet pass.

The crucial aspect of any good pass is it being difficult to intercept. Good passers can pass the
ball with great accuracy and they know exactly where each of their other teammates prefers to
receive the ball. A special way of doing this is passing the ball without looking at the receiving
teammate. This is called a no-look pass.

Another advanced style of passing is the behind-the-back pass which, as the description implies,
involves throwing the ball behind the passer's back to a teammate. Although some players can
perform such a pass effectively, many coaches discourage no-look or behind-the-back passes,
believing them to be difficult to control and more likely to result in turnovers or violations.

Dribbling

A U.S. Naval Academy ("Navy") player, left, posts up a U.S. Military Academy ("Army") defender.
Main article: Dribble

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.

When dribbling past an opponent, the dribbler should dribble with the hand farthest from the
opponent, making it more difficult for the defensive player to get to the ball. It is therefore
important for a player to be able to dribble competently with both hands.

Good dribblers (or "ball handlers") tend to bounce the ball low to the ground, reducing the
distance of travel of the ball from the floor to the hand, making it more difficult for the defender to
"steal" the ball. Good ball handlers frequently dribble behind their backs, between their legs, and
switch directions suddenly, making a less predictable dribbling pattern that is more difficult to
defend against. This is called a crossover, which is the most effective way to move past
defenders while dribbling.

A skilled player can dribble without watching the ball, using the dribbling motion or peripheral
vision to keep track of the ball's location. By not having to focus on the ball, a player can look for
teammates or scoring opportunities, as well as avoid the danger of having someone steal the ball
away from him/her.

Blocking
Main article: Block (basketball)

A block is performed when, after a shot is attempted, a defender succeeds in altering the shot by
touching the ball. In almost all variants of play, it is illegal to touch the ball after it is in the
downward path of its arc; this is known as goaltending. It is also illegal under NBA and Men's
NCAA basketball to block a shot after it has touched the backboard, or when any part of the ball
is directly above the rim.

To block a shot, a player has to be able to reach a point higher than where the shot is released.
Thus, height can be an advantage in blocking. Players who are taller and playing the power
forward or center positions generally record more blocks than players who are shorter and
playing the guard positions. However, with good timing and a sufficiently high vertical leap, even
shorter players can be effective shot blockers.

Height
At the professional level, most male players are above 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and most women
above 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m). Guards, for whom physical coordination and ball-handling skills
are crucial, tend to be the smallest players. Almost all forwards in the men's pro leagues are
6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) or taller. Most centers are over 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) tall. According
to a survey given to all NBA teams, the average height of all NBA players is just under 6 feet
7 inches (2.01 m), with the average weight being close to 222 pounds (101 kg). The tallest
players ever in the NBA were Manute Bol and Gheorghe Mureşan, who were both 7 feet 7 inches
(2.31 m) tall. The tallest current NBA player is Yao Ming, who stands at 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m).

The shortest player ever to play in the NBA is Muggsy Bogues at 5 feet 3 inches (1.60 m).
[40]
Other short players have thrived at the pro level. Anthony "Spud" Webb was just 5 feet
7 inches (1.70 m) tall, but had a 42-inch (1.07 m) vertical leap, giving him significant height when
jumping. The shortest player in the NBA (and second shortest ever in the NBA) as of the 2009–10
season is Earl Boykins at 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m).[41] While shorter players are often not very
good at defending against shooting, their ability to navigate quickly through crowded areas of the
court and steal the ball by reaching low are strengths.

Variations and similar games

Main article: Variations of basketball
Variations of basketball are activities based on the game of basketball, using common
basketball skills and equipment (primarily the ball and basket). Some variations are only
superficial rules changes, while others are distinct games with varying degrees of basketball
influences. Other variations include children's games, contests or activities meant to help players
reinforce skills.

There are principal basketball sports with variations on basketball including Wheelchair
basketball, Water basketball, Beach basketball, Slamball, Streetball and Unicycle
basketball. An earlier version of basketball was Six-on-six basketball played until the end of the
1950s. Horseball is a game played on horseback where a ball is handled and points are scored
by shooting it through a high net (approximately 1.5m×1.5m). The sport is like a combination
of polo, rugby, and basketball. There is even a form played on donkeys known asDonkey
basketball, but that version has come under attack from animal rights groups.

Games using basketball skills and equipment include popular versions of the half-court game
played in informal settings without referees or strict rules. Perhaps the single most common
variation is the half court game. Only one basket is used, and the ball must be "cleared" – passed
or dribbled outside the half-court or three-point line -each time possession of the ball changes
from one team to the other. Half-court games require less cardiovascular stamina, since players
need not run back and forth a full court. Half-court games also raise the number of players that
can use a court, an important benefit when many players want to play. Half court games are also
played when there is an insufficient number of players to form full 5-on-5 teams.

There are also other basketball sports like

 21 (also known as American, cutthroat and roughhouse)[42]

 42
 Around the world
 Bounce
 Firing Squad
 Fives
 H-O-R-S-E
 Hotshot
 Knockout
 One-shot conquer
 Steal The Bacon
 Tip-it
  Tips
 "The One"
 Basketball War.
 One-on-One, a variation in which two players will use only a small section of the court
(often no more than a half of a court) and compete to play the ball into a single hoop. Such
games tend to emphasize individual dribbling and ball stealing skills over shooting and team
play.

Wheelchair Basketball
Main article: Wheelchair basketball

Wheelchair basketball, created by disabled World War II veterans,[43] is played on specially

designed wheelchairs for the physically impaired. The world governing body of wheelchair
basketball is the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation[44] (IWBF).

Water Basketball
Main article: Water basketball

Water basketball, played in a swimming pool, merges basketball and water polo rules.

Beach Basketball
Main article: Beach basketball

A modified version of basketball, played on beaches, was invented by Philip Bryant.[45] Beach
basketball is played in a circular court with no backboard on the goal, no out-of-bounds rule with
the ball movement to be done via passes or 2½ steps, as dribbling is next to impossible on a soft
surface.[46] Beach basketball has grown to a very popular, widespread competitive sport. Fifteen
Annual World Championships have been organized.

Dunk Hoops
Dunk Hoops (aka Dunk Ball) is a variation of the game of basketball, played on basketball hoops
with lowered (under basketball regulation 10 feet) rims. It originated when the popularity of the
slam dunk grew and was developed to create better chances for dunks with lowered rims and
using altered goaltending rules.

Slamball
Main article: Slamball

Slamball is full-contact basketball, with trampolines. Points are scored by playing the ball through
the net, as in basketball, though the point-scoring rules are modified. The main differences from
the parent sport is the court; below the padded basketball rim and backboard are four trampolines
set into the floor which serve to propel players to great heights for slam dunks. The rules also
permit some physical contact between the members of the four-player teams.

Streetball
Main article: Streetball

Streetball is a less formal variant of basketball, played on playgrounds and in gymnasiums across
the world. Often only one half of the court is used, but otherwise the rules of the game are very
similar to those of basketball. The number of participants in a game, or a run, may range from
one defender and one person on offense (known as one on one) to two full teams of five each.

Streetball is a very popular game worldwide, and some cities in the United States have organized
streetball programs, such as midnight basketball. Many cities also host their own weekend-long
streetball tournaments.

Unicycle Basketball
Unicycle basketball is played using a regulation basketball on a regular basketball court with the
same rules, e.g., one must dribble the ball whilst riding. There are a number of rules that are
particular to unicycle basketball as well, e.g., a player must have at least one foot on a pedal
when in-bounding the ball. Unicycle basketball is usually played using 24" or smaller unicycles,
and using plastic pedals, both to preserve the court and the players' shins. In North America,
popular unicycle basketball games are organized.[47]

More distantly related basketball games

Main article: Variations of basketball#More distantly related games

Spin-offs from basketball that are now separate sports include:

 Korfball (Dutch: Korfbal, korf meaning 'basket') started in the Netherlands and is now
played worldwide as a mixed gender team ball game, similar to mixed netball and basketball
 Netball (formerly known as Women basketball but now played by both males and
females), a limited-contact team sport in which two teams of seven try to score points against
one another by placing a ball through a high hoop.

Social forms of basketball

A monument to basketball inVilnius

Basketball has been adopted by various social groups, which have established their own
environments and sometimes their own rules. Such socialized forms of basketball include the
following.

 Recreational basketball, where fun, entertainment and camaraderie rule rather than
winning a game;
 Basketball Schools and Academies, where students are trained in developing
basketball fundamentals, undergo fitness and endurance exercises and learn various
basketball skills. Basketball students learn proper ways of passing, ball handling, dribbling,
shooting from various distances, rebounding, offensive moves, defense, layups, screens,
basketball rules and basketball ethics. Also popular are the basketball camps organized for
various occasions, often to get prepared for basketball events, and basketball clinics for
improving skills.
 College and University basketball played in educational institutions of higher learning.
 This includes National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) intercollegiate
basketball.
 Disabled basketball played by various disabled groups, such as
 Bankshot basketball,[48]
 Deaf basketball,
 Wheelchair basketball, a sport based on basketball but designed
for disabled people in wheelchairs and considered one of the major disabled
sports practiced.
  Ethnic and Religion-based basketball: Examples of ethnic basketball include Indo-Pak
or Russian or Armenian leagues in the United States or Canada, for example, or Filipino
expatriate basketball leagues in the Gulf or the United States. Religion-based basketball
includes, most notably, church-related Christian basketball leagues, Jewish, Muslim and
Hindu basketball leagues, etc. or denominational leagues like Coptic, Syriac/Assyrian
basketball leagues in the United States or Canada.
 Gay basketball played in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in gay
basketball leagues. The sport of basketball is a major part of events during the Gay
Games,World Outgames and EuroGames.
 Midnight basketball, a basketball initiative to curb inner-city crime in the United States
and elsewhere by keeping urban youth off the streets and engaging them with sports
alternatives to drugs and crime.
 Mini basketball played by underage children.
 Maxi Basketball played by more elderly individuals.
 Prison basketball, practiced in prisons and penitentiary institutions. Active religious
basketball missionary groups also play basketball with prisoners. Some prisons have
developed their own prison basketball leagues. At times, non-prisoners may play in such
leagues, provided all home and away games are played within prison courts. Film
director Jason Moriarty has released a documentary relating to the sport, entitled Prison Ball.
 Rezball, short for reservation ball, is the term used to describe the avid Native
American following of basketball and, in some areas, the style of play of Native American
teams.
 School or High school basketball, the sport of basketball being one of the most
frequently exercised and popular sports in all school systems.
 Show basketball as performed by entertainment basketball show teams, the prime
example being the Harlem Globetrotters. There are even specialized entertainment teams,
including
 Celebrity basketball teams made of celebrities (actors, singers, etc.) playing in
their own leagues or in public, often for entertainment and charity events;
 Midget basketball teams made up of athletes of short stature offering shows
using basketball;
 Slamball offered as entertainment events.

Fantasy basketball
Main article: Fantasy basketball
Fantasy basketball was inspired by fantasy baseball. Originally played by keeping track of stats
by hand, it was popularized during the 1990s after the advent of the Internet. Those who play this
game are sometimes referred to as General Managers, who draft actual NBA players and
compute their basketball statistics. The game was popularized by ESPN Fantasy
Sports, NBA.com, and Yahoo! Fantasy Sports. Other sports websites provided the same format
keeping the game interesting with participants actually owning specific players.