BASKETBALL

SOME HISTORICAL FACTS:

Basketball, like volleyball, speedball, and ultimate Frisbee, was developed
in the United States. It was invented by Dr. James Naismith, a Presbyterian
minister, in Springfield, MA., in 1891. He was asked by the Springfield YMCA
to develop an indoor sport for the wintertime that could “fill in” the season
between football and baseball. The new sport was dubbed “basketball” because
of the bottomed out peach baskets he attached to poles as goals. Footballs
were initially used to shoot for points but were replaced by round soccer
balls when dribbling was incorporated into the game. Team size originally
ranged from 9 to 50 players but was eventually trimmed to 5 in 1895 as the
game progressed and skill levels improved.

Basketball quickly gained national and international popularity with the
first intercollegiate game being played in 1895. It became an official
Olympic sport, for MEN only, in 1935, with the United States capturing the
first gold medal.

In the beginning, basketball was considered a defensive struggle and scores
were very low. The U.S. won their first Olympic gold medal by defeating
Canada 18-9. In 1937, two events contributed to the development of
basketball into the fast paced game we know today: eliminating the center
jump after each field goal and the introduction of the one handed shot as
opposed to a two handed set shot.

At one time girls were considered “too weak and frail” to compete in such
a “vigorous activity” so a different set of rules was developed. Girls’
teams had 6 instead of 5 players … 3 offensive players and 3 defensive
players. Neither group of players was allowed to cross half court. Girls
were allowed no more than 3 consecutive dribbles. During the 1960’s 2
players, called “ROVERS,” were allowed to cross half court and unlimited
dribbles were finally permitted. In the early 1970’s, girls adopted the same
rules as boys. Girls also changed to a slightly smaller, lighter basketball.

In 1898 the first professional basketball league was formed, the National
Basketball League. The 6-team league lasted only 2 years and professional
basketball did not regain national prominence until 1946 when the Basketball
Association of America was created. In 1949, the BAA adopted its new, and
current name, the National Basketball Association. Its popularity has grown
to rival that of the NFL, MLB, and NHL. Until recently, the only option for
girls who wanted to play professional basketball was to travel to Europe
where spectators do not seem to mind the slower pace of the women’s game,
preferring to concentrate on their level of skill and execution. Now girls
are able to pursue their dream of being professional basketball player here
in the US in the WNBA.

PLAYERS

There are 5 players on a regulation team. Though teams may vary their set
ups, players are generally positioned as follows:

CENTER (1) – Generally the tallest player on the team, good at rebounding,
inside shots, blocking shots, and distributing the ball.

FORWARDS (2) - Generally the second tallest players on the team, good at
rebounding, inside shots, lay up shots, and blocking shots.

GUARDS (2) – Generally the shortest players on the team, good ball handlers,
good at outside shots, good at distributing the ball, quick hands.
(POINT GUARD – the best ball handler on the team, handles the ball most of
the time coming down the court, directs the offense, considered
the “quarterback” of the offense.)

SKILLS

Dribbling - moving the ball down the court by bouncing the ball with one
hand

1. Use the pads of you fingertips to contact the ball.
2. Ball should not bounce above the waist.
3. Bounce the ball slightly to the side and in front … BUT … not so far
that you lose control.
4. Learn to dribble with either hand.
5. Always use the OUTSIDE hand to dribble … the one FARTHEST away from
your opponent.
6. Watch where you’re going … DON’T WATCH THE BALL.
7. Keep your free arm up to protect the ball.
8. Only dribble as fast as you can WITHOUT losing control.

Passing – having the ball go from one teammate to another. A pass is only
good if it is caught by your teammate.

1. Hold the ball with the pads of your fingertips.
2. Step into the pass to give it more power and direction.
3. Follow through to give your pass more power and direction. Leave
arms extended until the ball reaches your teammate.
4. Be SYMPATHETIC. Only pass the ball hard enough to get it TO your
teammate, not THROUGH your teammate.
5. Try not to let the other team know where you’re going to pass the
ball. That’s called TELEGRAPHING your pass.
6. Pass the ball to where your teammate is GOING, not WHERE THEY’VE
BEEN. That’s called LEADING your teammate or a LEAD PASS.
7. Passing is the fastest way to get the ball down the court. If
someone on your team is free (unguarded) closer to the basket than you, pass
him/her the ball.
8. Learn to use a variety of passes. Three common passes are:
a. CHEST – short, quick, straight pass – easily controlled
b. BOUNCE – hits floor 2 to 3 feet in front of receiver, one or two
handed – slower pass
c. BASEBALL/SHOULDER – used for long distances, one handed, should be
STRAIGHT not LOOPED – slower pass, less easily controlled
*** The only thing that limits the types and number of passes is your
imagination … as long as you are accurate and consistent.

Receiving – catching and controlling a pass

1. Keep fingers spread. If the ball is above the waist, hands are in
a “W” (fingers up). If the ball is below the waist, hands are in an “M”
(fingers down).
2. Come to meet the pass. Don’t wait for the ball to get to you.
3. Arms are held away from the body, elbows slightly bent.
4. Stand in a stride position … feet about shoulder width apart, one
foot slightly in front of the other.
5. Contact the ball with the pads of your fingertips.
6. “Give” with the ball when you catch it to ease some of the force of
the ball.
7. Keep your elbows out to protect the ball.
8. Turn to face the basket as soon as you catch the ball.
9. Make yourself available to receive a pass. Don’t hide behind your
opponent.

Shooting – trying to put the ball through the hoop, trying to score points

1. Rest the ball on the pads of your fingertips, shooting hand on the
middle of the ball, opposite hand on the side of the ball.
2. Elbow stays in an “L” position. Elbow is underneath the ball and in
a straight line with the foot, knee, hip, and shooting hand.
3. Weight is evenly distributed with shooting foot slightly in front.
4. Knees are slightly bent.
5. Keep head up and still.
6. Keep your eyes on the basket and not on the ball.
7. Elbow works like a hinge. Don’t push from the shoulder.
8. Ball should roll off the fingers, flipping the wrist (waving good-bye
to the ball) for smooth, even backspin.
9. Keep arms extended with wrist loose and flexed after the shot (follow
through).
10. Ball should fly in an ARC (rainbow) to the basket, not STRAIGHT.
11. Use your legs for more power.
12. Know your range and don’t force shots beyond it.

13. Types of shots:
1. LAY UP –
* aim slightly above and to the side of the basket
* take off on 1 foot for more height (opposite of shooting hand)
* lay the ball gently against the backboard
* release the ball at the height of your jump
2. SET SHOT – shot is taken while standing on the court
3. JUMP SHOT – player takes a 2-foot jump and releases the shot at the
height of the jump
4. BANK SHOT – shooter angles the ball into the basket off the backboard

Guarding – trying to prevent your opponent from successfully dribbling,
passing, receiving, cutting to an open space, or shooting the ball

1. Maintain good ready position – knees slightly bent, weight on the
balls of the feet, arms away from the body for balance and a chance to steal
the ball or block a shot
2. Take short, quick, sliding step. Don’t cross your feet.
3. Watch your opponent’s waist … not eyes, feet, or the basketball
4. Stay about an arm’s length away from your opponent.
5. Keep your feet moving when you reach with your hands.
6. If the person you’re guarding HAS the ball, stand between them and
the basket.
7. If the person you’re guarding DOESN’T have the ball, stand between
them and the ball.

Rebounding – jumping for and catching a missed shot as it bounces off the
backboard or rim

1. Jump for the rebound.
2. Reach for the ball with extended arms.
3. Catch the ball at the height of your jump.
4. Pull the ball down. Keep your elbows out.
5. Defensive rebound – turn to the outside and look for someone for a
pass.
6. Offensive rebound – take the ball right back up for a shot whenever
possible or look for someone who is free for a pass.

Faking – fooling your opponent
In order to work the movement must be BIG and Q U I C K.

A fake is used to:
1. get free for a pass.
2. make an uncontested pass.
3. lose your guard when dribbling.
4. get a better shot.
5. try a draw a foul.

SIMPLIFIED RULES

1. There are 5 players on a regulation basketball team.
2. A game is started with a JUMP BALL in the center jump circle between
any two opposing players. Each jumper faces his/her own basket.
3. A game is divided into 4 quarters, the length of which is determined
by the level of play.
4. Scoring (points awarded)
a. FIELD GOAL (basket/bucket) – 2 or 3 points depending upon the spot on the
floor where the shot was taken.
b. FREE THROW (foul shot) – 1 point
5. After each score, the opposite team gets the ball out of bounds at
the baseline.
6. Violations – breaking a rule
a. Traveling/walking – taking more than 2 steps with the ball
b. Double-dribble- dribbling the ball again after the player has stopped
or dribbling with 2 hands
c. Line violations – stepping on or over the boundary lines when the
player has the ball
d. Out of bounds – the ball is thrown outside the boundaries of the court
e. 3 seconds (lane violation) – staying in your offensive key/lane more
than 3 seconds without a shot being taken (NOT used in class)
*** The other team is awarded the ball out of bounds.
7. Jump ball – 2 opposing players have their hands on the ball at the
same time. The ball is awarded to a team out of bounds on a rotating basis.
8. Fouls – making physical contact that interferes with your opponent’s
ability to cut, pass, dribble, shoot, rebound, or sometimes even play
defense.
*** Depending upon the situation the fouled player is awarded 1, 2, or 3
free throws or
the fouled team is awarded the ball out of bounds.

SIMPLE STRATEGIES FOR PLAYING BASKETBALL IN CLASS

1. As soon as you receive the ball, turn and face your basket.
2. Look for a pass before you dribble. Passing is the fastest way to
get the ball down the court. Dribbling is your first choice when you’re
trying to slow the game down.
3. Make yourself available to receive a pass (supporting the player with
the ball).
4. Use a variety of passes.
5. Make good, sympathetic passes to where your teammate is going … not
where they’ve been.
6. Stay spread out. Move to open spaces.
7. Dribble towards the basket, not the corners of the court.
8. Make a quick transition from offense to defense … and vice versa.
9. Play disciplined defense. Stick with your player.
10. Always dribble with the hand away from your opponent. That means you
need to learn to dribble with both hands.
11. Maintain good body control and balance both with and without the ball.
12. Know your shooting range. Don’t force shots beyond it.

SOME COMMON BASKETBALL VOCABULARY

Air Ball - shot that doesn’t even come close to the basket
Assist - pass that leads directly to a basket being scored by teammate
Backboard - opaque or transparent board that the rim attaches to (board
or glass)
Backdoor - area of the court under the basket, next to the baseline
Ball control - ability to dribble, pass, and maintain possession of the ball
Bank shot - shot that bounces off the backboard and into the basket
Baseline - boundary line at end of court (end line)
Basket - goal
Block - deflect an opponent’s shot with your hands – OR – make
physical contact by stepping into the path of an opponent
Bonus Situation – a team has committed a specific number of team fouls,
fouled player gets an extra shot if the first free throw is made
Box Out - position yourself between opponent and basket to prevent them
from rebounding
Carry - to “catch” the ball between dribbles
Charging - player with the ball commits the foul
Cold - having difficulty making shots
Double Dribble – resume dribbling after stopping or dribbling with both hands
on the ball
Drive - make a determined move with the ball towards the basket or
baseline
Dunk - a score made by jumping up and pushing the ball through the
basket or from above (JAM, STUFF, SLAM)
Fast Break - team makes a transition from defense to offense so quickly
that they have a numbers advantage over their opponents
Feed - pass the ball to a teammate for a shot
Foul - physical contact that interferes with opponent’s play
Free Throw - awarded to a fouled player, uncontested shot taken behind
free throw line
Give and Go - passing the ball to a teammate then cutting ahead to receive
a return pass
Goal Tending - interfering with the downward flight of the ball
Gunner - player who constantly shoots the ball, even when teammates
might have a better shot
Jump Ball - players from opposite teams have their hands on the ball at
the same time; how each half is started
Lane - free throw area
Man-to-Man - each player guards a specific person on the other team
Defense
Pick - standing in the way of a teammate’s defender
Pivot - changing directions while one foot remains in contact with
the floor
Post - player that positions close to the basket (low post) or near
the foul line (high post) to receive and/or relay passes, to set screens, set
picks, and/or shoot
Press - defense applies pressure to force mistakes and/or steal the
ball
Referee - individual that enforces the rules of the game
Screen - standing between a teammate and their guard so they have a
better shot
Steal - taking the ball away from the opponent without fouling
Technical Foul - given for unsportsman-like conduct, can be called on a
player, a coach, or a fan
Transition - changing from defense to offense and vice versa
Traveling - taking more than 2 steps with the ball (walking)
Turnover - loss of possession of the ball either by mistake, a steal, or
a violation
Violation - infraction of the rules
Zone Defense - each person is responsible for guarding anyone who comes
into a certain area