Three-point field goal

A three-point field goal (also called a three-pointer) is a field goal in a basketball game made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc surrounding the basket. A successful attempt is worth three points, in contrast to the two points awarded for field goals made within the three-point line and the one point for each made free throw. In the National Basketball Association (NBA), the 3-point line is 22 ft. (approximately 6.706 m) away from the basket in the corners of the court. This distance naturally increases along a 14 ft. (approx. 4.267 m) straight line that is 3 ft. (approx. 0.914 m) away from the sidelines. At the 14 ft. mark, the 3-point line becomes an arc 23 ft. 9 in. (approx. 7.239 m) away from the basket and remains so until the arc reaches the straight line on the other side of the court 14 ft. from the baseline. In international FIBA & WNBA play, the three-point line is 22 ft. 1.75 in. (6.75 m) away from the basket on the arc and 21 ft. 8 in (6.6 m) at its corners. In both men's and women's National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) basketball, the three-point line is an arc 20 ft. 9 in. (approx. 6.325 m) away from the basket that, unlike professional leagues, does not change as it gets closer to the sidelines.

Goal (sport)

In sports, goal is a physical structure or area where an attacking team must send the ball or puck in order to score points. In several sports, a goal is the sole method of scoring, and thus the final score is expressed in the total number of goals scored by each team. In other sports, a goal may be one of several scoring methods, and thus may be worth a different set number of points than the others.

The structure of a goal varies from sport to sport. Most often, it is a rectangular structure that is placed at each end of the playing field. Each structure usually consists of two vertical posts, called goal posts, supporting a horizontal crossbar. A goal line marked on the playing surface between the goal posts demarcates the goal area. Thus, the objective is to send the ball or puck between the goal posts, under or over the crossbar (depending on the sport), and across the goal line. Less commonly, as in basketball or netball, goals are ring-shaped. The structure is often accompanied with an auxiliary net, which stops or slows down the ball when a goal is scored.