What Is Basketball?

WHAT IS BASKETBALL?
Team Sports Played by two teams, Five players on a rectangular court.
The objective is to shoot a ball through hoop 18 inches (46 cm) in diameter
and mounted at a height of 10 feet (3.048 m) to backboards at each end of
the court.
In 1891 Dr. James Naismith “First basketball coach of the Kansas

Jayhawks”
Dr. James Naismith (November 6, 1861 – November 28, 1939, was a

Canadian-American, Physical Educator,Physician, Chaplain, Sports Coach,
Innovator
13 Original Rules
1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.
2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands (never
with the fist.)
3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the
spot on which he catches it, with allowance to be made for a man
who catches the ball when running at a good speed if he tries to stop.
4. The ball must be held in or between the hands; the arms or body
must not be used for holding.
5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking in any way the

person of the opponent shall be allowed; the first infringement of this
rule by any player shall count as a foul, and the second shall
disqualify him until the next goal is made, or, if there was evident
intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game, no substitute
allowed.
6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, a violation of Rules 3, 4, and
such as described in Rule.
7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count as a goal

for the opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the
meantime making a foul.
8. A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the
ground into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the
goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edges,
and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.
9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field of
play by the person first touching it. In case of a dispute, the umpire
shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in is allowed five
seconds; if he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side
persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on that side.
10. The umpire shall be the judge of the men and shall note the fouls
and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made.
He shall have the power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.
11. The referee shall be the judge of the ball and shall decide when
the ball is in play, in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep
the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made, and keep
account of the goals with any other duties that are usually performed
by a referee.
12. The time shall be two 15-minute halves, with five minutes of rest
between. Comment: Game formats including length and the number
of periods played along with halftime periods vary according to level.
13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the
winner. In case of a draw, the game may, by agreement with the
captains, be continued until another goal is made.
THE FIRST BALL
The very first ball that was used was a soccer ball until 1840 when an
actual “basketball” was invented. The basketball was slightly smaller, about
thirty inches in diameter.
THE BASKET
The first baskets that were used were two peach baskets that were hung
from the balcony of the gym By 1906, the peach baskets were replaced by
metal baskets with holes in the bottom. In 1913, a hoop with a net was
invented so the basketball could fall freely to the ground.
BACKBOARD
In 1893, due to the overzealous spectators interfering with the basketball,

the backboard was invented. The first backboard was constructed out of
wire mesh, and then wood and now it is made out of glass so the
backboard does not interfere with the viewing of the game.
THE FIRST BASKETBALL GAME
On December 21, 1891, James Naismith published rules for a new game
using five basic ideas and thirteen rules. That day, he asked his class to
play a match in the Armory Street court: 9 versus 9, using a soccer ball and
two peach baskets. Frank Mahan, one of his students, wasn’t so happy. He
just said: "Harrumph. Another new game". However, Naismith was the
inventor of the new game. Someone proposed to call it the "Naismith
Game", but he suggested "We have a ball and a basket: why don’t we call it
basketball?“ The eighteen players were John G. Thompson, Eugene S.
Libby, Edwin P. Ruggles, William R. Chase, T. Duncan Patton, Frank
Mahan, Finlay G. MacDonald, William H. Davis and Lyman Archibald, who
defeated George Weller, Wilbert Carey, Ernest Hildner, Raymond Kaighn,
Genzabaro Ishikawa, Benjamin S. French, Franklin Barnes, George Day
and Henry Gelan 1– 0. The goal was scored by Chase. There were other
differences between Naismith’s first idea and the game played today. The
peach baskets were closed, and balls had to be retrieved manually until a
small hole was put in the bottom of the peach basket to poke the ball out
using a stick. Only in 1906 were metal hoops, nets, and backboards
introduced. Moreover, earlier the soccer ball was replaced by a Spalding
ball, similar to the one used today.
Terminologies of Basketball
Airball - A shot attempt that was off the mark and didn't touch the basket or
the backboard
Alley-oop - A play where a teammate throws the ball high towards the
basket and their teammate jumps up, catches the ball, and then slams it
into the hoop.
Assist - When a player passes the ball to their teammate, which leads to a
made basket.
Backboard - The rectangular piece of wood or fiberglass attached to the

back of the basket.
Box Out - Position yourself between the basket and your opponent as a
way to obtain a rebound.
Brick - A shot that bounces off the rim or backboard without going in.
Double-Double - A phrase meaning a player recorded two statistical

figures in double digits (i.e. 10 points and 12 assists).
Double Dribble -When a player either dribbles the ball with two hands or
stops dribbling all together and then begins again, this results in a loss of
possession.
Fast Break - A play that starts with a defensive rebound that is quickly
passed up toward mid-court to an awaiting teammate. These plays often
end with an easy basket as the opposing team isn't able to catch up to the
scoring player.
Field Goal - A basket made during the game.
Free-Throw Line - The line that players shoot from after being fouled.
They cannot be guarded while shooting from there, and each basket made
is worth one point.
Jump Ball - Two opposing players jump for a basketball that was tossed
into the air by a ref. Also away to award possession after two opposing
players simultaneously gain possession of a ball.
The Paint - This is the area on a court that extends from the baseline
under the basketball to the free-throw line. Referred to as the paint
because it is often a different color from the rest of the court.
Screen - When an offensive player stands in the way of a defender to try

and give his teammate an open shot.
Slam Dunk - Also known as a dunk, this is when a player close to the
basket jumps up and throws the ball down into the hoop.
Swish - A shot that goes straight through the net without touching the rim
or backboard, also known as nothing-but-net.
Three-Point Line – Also known as the 3-point arc. This is the strip along
the outside of the offensive zone and any shot made from behind it is worth
three points.
Traveling - When a player moves their feet without dribbling the basketball.
This results in a loss of possession for their team.
Triple-Double - A phrase meaning a player recorded three statistical

figures in double digits, often thought of as a great accomplishment (i.e. 10
points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds).

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WHAT IS BASKETBALL?

Team Sports Played by two teams, Five players on a rectangular court.

In 1891 Dr. James Naismith “First basketball coach of the Kansas

Dr. James Naismith (November 6, 1861 – November 28, 1939, was a

5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking in any way the

7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count as a goal

THE FIRST BALL

In 1893, due to the overzealous spectators interfering with the basketball,

THE FIRST BASKETBALL GAME

Backboard - The rectangular piece of wood or fiberglass attached to the

Double-Double - A phrase meaning a player recorded two statistical

Field Goal - A basket made during the game.

Screen - When an offensive player stands in the way of a defender to try

Triple-Double - A phrase meaning a player recorded three statistical

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