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Basketball is a fast-paced team sport where two teams compete to score points by throwing the ball into the opponent’s basket. Here’s a beginner-friendly breakdown of the key rules:
1. Basic Game Structure
- Teams: 2 teams, each with 5 players on the court.
- Objective: Score more points than the opposing team by shooting the ball into the basket.
- Game Duration:
- NBA: 4 quarters of 12 minutes
- FIBA & College: 4 quarters of 10 minutes
- High School: 4 quarters of 8 minutes
2. Scoring System
- Field Goal (Inside 3-Point Line): 2 points
- Three-Point Shot (Beyond Arc): 3 points
- Free Throw (Penalty Shot): 1 point per successful attempt
3. How to Play
Dribbling: Players must bounce the ball while moving.
Traveling: Moving without dribbling = turnover. Passing: Players pass the ball to teammates to move it up the court. Double Dribble: Stopping dribbling and starting again = violation. Shooting: Aim to shoot the ball into the opponent’s basket. Defense: Try to block or steal the ball from opponents.
4. Common Violations & Fouls
- Shot Clock Violation: Must take a shot within 24 seconds (NBA/FIBA) or 30 seconds (College).
- 3-Second Rule: Offensive players can’t stay in the key (paint) for more than 3 seconds.
- Fouls:
- Personal Foul: Illegal contact (e.g., pushing, hitting).
- Charging: Offensive player runs into a defender.
- Blocking: Defensive player illegally stops an opponent’s movement.
- Technical Foul: Unsportsmanlike behavior.
5. Winning the Game
- The team with the most points at the end wins.
- If the game is tied, there’s an overtime period (usually 5 minutes).
