BASKETBALL HISTORY The rules of basketball are designed to produce a very fast-paced, offensive game, making it one of the most technically demanding ball sports. Invented in 1891 by a Canadian, James A. Naismith, at what is now Springfield College in Massachusetts, the game was exported to Europe in 1893 where it has been played ever since. In 1936, one year after the first European championship was organized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the sport made its Olympic debut at the Berlin Games. However, basketball became truly popular in Europe only after the Second World War, due to the presence of American troops. The first official National Basketball Association (NBA) match pitted Minneapolis against Syracuse, in 1950. The rise of women's basketball had been thwarted by more restrictive rules until the early 1970's, and it became an Olympic sport only in 1976. At the Barcelona Games, the overwhelming dominance of the American men's team--nicknamed "The Dream Team"--made NBA basketball popular around the world. RULES Two teams of 5 players each try to score points by tossing the ball into the opposing team's basket. They may use only their hands to control the ball, and are not allowed to run while holding it. A field goal counts for 2 pts, or 3 pts if it is thrown from outside the 3 pt. line. A free throw is worth 1 pt. The team with possession of the ball must launch an attack within the following time limits: --After taking possession of the ball, they have 10 seconds to move the ball forward across the mid-court line, and 30 seconds to take a shot at the basket. --A player who is hemmed in by an opponent must move the ball by dribbling, throwing, or passing it within 5 seconds. TERMS 1.) AIRBALL--a shot attempt that does not make contact with the basket or the backboard. 2.) BANK SHOT--a shot in which the backboard is used for a target so that the ball strikes the backboard before continuing its flight to the basket.
3.) BASEBALL PASS--a pass that is thrown using an overhand throwing motion similar to that used in throwing a baseball or softball. 4.) BLOCKED SHOT--a deflection of a shot by an opponent as the ball is on an upward trajectory. Contact of the ball on its downward trajectory is illegal (see "GOALTENDING"). 5.) BOUNCE PASS--a pass that strikes the floor before it reaches the receiver. 6.) BOX AND ONE--a combination defense in which four players play a zone defense in a "box" formation, and one player plays man-to-man, usually on the opponent's top player. 7.) CENTER--also called the "pivot player," an offensive position typically played by a tall player on a team who will play primarily in key areas (at the post). Players in this position need to be strong and able to jump well, as well as possessing sound skills in rebounding, inside shooting, and receiving the ball. 8.) CHARGING--a personal foul committed when an offensive player illegally contacts a defensive player who has established position or is stationary. 9.) CHEST PASS--a two-handed pass thrown from the passer's chest in a straight line to the chest area of the receiver. 10.) DOUBLE DRIBBLE--a dribbling violation that occurs when a player dribbles the ball with two hands simultaneously or stops a dribble and then dribbles again. 11.) DOUBLE TEAM--a defensive tactic in which two defenders temporarily guard the player with the ball. 12.) DRIBBLE--process by which a player bounces the ball off the floor so that it returns to his/her possession. It is the only legal means by which a player in possession of the ball may progress across any distance of the playing court. 13.) FASTBREAK--an offensive situation or strategy in which a team attempts to move the ball up court and into scoring position as quickly as possible so that the defense is outnumbered and does not have time to set up. 14.) FIELD GOAL--a basket scored on any shot other than a free-throw, worth two or three points, depending on the distance of the attempt from the basket.
15.) FORWARD--an offensive position played to the sides of the basket near the key area and out toward the sideline along the baseline. Players at this position play both on the perimeter (like a guard) and inside (like a center) and therefore need to have sound ball handling, shooting, and rebounding skills. 16.) FOUL--a violation resulting from illegal contact with an opposing player. 17.) FREE THROW--an unguarded shot taken from behind the free throw line which is awarded following a foul committed by an opponent and, is successful, counts for one point. 18.) FULL-COURT PRESS--a defensive tactic in which a team guards the opponents closely over the full length of the court. It may utilize both player-to-player and zone principles. 19.) GUARD--an offensive position played primarily at the perimeter, or away from the basket. Players at this position need to possess sound dribbling, passing, shooting, and play-making skills. Guards typically are the primary ball handlers on a team. 20.) JUMP BALL--the procedure for starting play at the beginning of a game or an overtime period. The official tosses the ball into the air between the two opponents positioned at the center-court circle; the two players attempt to jump up and tap the ball to a teammate. 21.) JUMP SHOT--a shot that is released after the shooter has jumped into the air. 22.) LAY-UP SHOT--a shot that is released after the shooter has jumped into the air. 23.) ONE-AND-ONE--the "bonus" free throw situation which is awarded for nonshooting fouls after the opposing team exceeds a certain number of team fouls in a half. The shooter is awarded one free throw, and if it is successful a second is awarded. 24.) OVER-AND-BACK VIOLATION--a violation that occurs when the offensive team returns the ball into the backcourt once its position has been established in the front court. 25.) OVERHEAD PASS--a two-handed pass thrown from above the forehead. 26.) OVERTIME--an extra period that is played in order to break a tie score at the end of a regulation game. 27.) PIVOT--footwork technique where a player keeps one foot in contact with a "spot" on the floor while moving the other foot in order to adjust the position of the body or to evade a defensive player.
28.) PLAYER-TO-PLAYER DEFENSE--also, "man-to-man" defense, a team defense in which each player is assigned to guard a particular opponent. 29.) POINT GUARD--an offensive position played by a guard whose responsibility it is to initiate the offense and usually bring the ball up the court, the "quarterback" of the team. 30.) POSSESSION ARROW--a device located at the scorer's table that is used to indicate the direction of a team's basket for the alternating possession rule. 31.) PRESS--an aggressive defense which attempts to force the opponents to make errors by guarding the opponents closely from either half-court, three-quarter court, or full-court. The "press" use player-to-player and/or zone defensive tactics. 32.) REBOUND--the act of gaining possession of the ball following a missed shot. 33.) SET SHOT--a shot taken from a stationary position with both feet maintaining contact with the floor. 34.) TECHNICAL FOUL--a foul that does not involve contact with an opponent; involves unsportsmanlike conduct by a player, coach, or non-player; or a contact foul committed by a player while the ball is dead. 35.) TEN-SECOND VIOLATION--a violation that occurs when the offensive team must advance the ball from the backcourt within ten seconds to avoid a violation. 36.) THREE-POINT FIELD GOAL--a made basket from a distance greater than 19 ft. 9 in. during a high school or college game. 37.) THREE SECONDS--a violation in which an offensive player remains within the key (free throw lane) for more than three seconds at a time. 38.) TRAVELING--a violation occurring when a player with the ball takes a step without dribbling (moving the established pivot foot). 39.) TURNOVER--a loss of possession of the ball by means of an error or violation. 40.) ZONE OFFENSE--an offensive pattern of play designed to attack (score against) a particular zone defense.