Basketball: Rules and Regulations

1. Officials:

2 Referees Score keepers

2. Coaches:
making

Responsible for discipline, calling time-outs and

substitutions.

3. Playing the game:

Each team begins with 5 players on the

court.

Each game consists of four, 8-minute

quarters. 1 minute between each
quarter and up to a 10 minute half
time.

A jump ball starts the game, after

which possession situations are
decided by an alternating direction
arrow.

The ball may be passed, thrown, tapped, rolled or dribbled but not
kicked or carried.

Once you stop dribbling you must pass or shoot. Another player
must possess the ball before you may dribble again.

A player is in possession of the ball when s/he is holding or dribbling

a live ball.

A team is in possession of the ball when a team member is in

possession or when the ball is being passed between two
teammates.
4. Scoring

Shots from the field = 2 points (inside the 3 point line)

Shots from outside the 3 point line = 3 points

Foul shots = 1 point

5. Live Ball

Ball becomes live when: tapped at a jump ball, is touched by a

player on the court or when it is handed to the player on the foul
line.
6. Dead Ball

A ball is dead when: a point is scored, a foul occurs, the ball

touches the basket supports, at the first of two free throws or
touches the boundary line.
7. Throw-Ins

When a ball is out of bounds, possession is awarded to the team

that did not touch the ball last.

During a throw in, only the in-bounder may be out of bounds. The
in-bounder may roll, throw or bounce the ball into play. The ball
must be passed directly into the court within 5 seconds.

8. Foul Shots

A point awarded on an unhindered shot scored from within the free

throw circle and behind the free throw line.

Taken after a technical foul, a personal foul in the act of shooting or

after a team has committed 7 fouls in the half (a bonus situation)
9. Violations

A minor infraction of the rules, penalized by a loss of the ball

Violation = automatic dead ball

3 types of violations ~ 1) Free throw violation 2) Goal tending and

basket interference 3) Floor violations =traveling, double dribble,
back court, 3 seconds in key, carrying the ball

10 second violation = ball must be over the center line within 10

seconds

5 second violation = by a dribbler that is closely guarded, by an

offensive player with the ball that is closely guarded and the ball
must be in-bounded from the sideline within 5 seconds
10.

Fouls
Infraction involving personal contact with an opponent
If a player is not shooting when fouled, her/his team is awarded the
ball until the 7th foul, then free throws are awarded
If shooting, the fouled player is awarded free throws ~ 1 if the
fouled shot went in or 2 if it was missed, 3 if fouled while
attempting a 3-point shot and missed

The Basketball Court

Centre Line /
Half Court

3-point
Line
Baseline

Foul Line

Key
Foul Throw
Circle
Centre
Circle

Sideline

BASKETBALL TERMINOLOGY
Dribble: ball movement caused by the player in control who bounces the
ball in a one-handed pushing action towards the floor
Blocking: is an illegal personal contact with an opponent, which impedes or
stops her/his progress
Holding: is an illegal personal contact with an opponent, which interferes
with her/his freedom to move
Pivot: occurs when a player in possession of the ball steps in any direction
with the same foot while keeping the other foot anchored to the floor
A try: an attempt to shoot the ball into the basket, for a possible score of 2
or 3 points
The act of shooting: begins simultaneously with the start of the try and
ends after the ball is clearly in flight
Infraction/Foul: is the breaking of the game rules

BASIC BASKETBALL SKILLS

Ball Handling / Dribbling

Ready position

Maintain body control and balance

Ball controlled beside and slightly ahead of the body

Ball is pushed towards the floor (pads of fingers)

Dribble slightly above waist height

Ball awareness = eyes up

Two Handed Chest Pass

Fingers spread, thumbs behind ball

Elbows bent, in line with shoulders

Ball held at chest and passed to chest of receiver

Step into pass

Arms extend, palms face out, thumbs point down

Two Handed Bounce Pass

Same as above

Ball is bounced slightly before the feet of the receiver (3/4 of the
distance to the receiver)

Two Handed Overhead Pass

Ball is raised over the head with tow hands

Fingers spread, thumbs rest under the ball

Elbows flexed, wrists cocked

Step into pass

Arms extend, wrists flick, thumbs point up

Received above chest level

Set Shot

Ready position
Shoulders and hips square to the basket
Ball is in front of and slightly above forehead, supported by
shooting arm
Ball held on the pads of the hand, fingers spread comfortably
Elbow is below the ball and is in line with shooting knee and
shoulder
Wrist is fully bent so that the hand and forearm are at right angles
Shot begins as body extends from the legs through the arm
elbow extension and finishes with a flick of the wrist.

**** REMEMBER BEEF (Balance, Eyes, Elbow, Follow-through)

BALANCE: Feet should be shoulder width apart, with dominant foot forward.
Ball starts in shooting pocket and power is generated by the legs.
EYES: Eyes focused on the rim.
ELBOW: Student forms L with shooting arm. Index finger over right eye for
right handed shot. Elbow is under the ball and the wrist is bent so that the
wrinkles are visible on the shooting hand. The off hand is used for support
only.
FOLLOW-THROUGH: Together with the power generated by the legs, wave
good-bye to the ball (put your fingers in the cookie jar)

Basketball Referee Signals