Rules of basketball: A complete guide to the game's rules and fundamentals

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Introduction

Basketball is one of the most widely played sports in the world, captivating millions of fans and players alike. Understanding the rules of this sport is essential for anyone wishing to play or fully appreciate its complexity. The rules not only help you to improve your game, but also to avoid common mistakes that can affect the course of a match. It's important to note that there are several sets of rules, such as those of FIBA (Fédération Internationale de Basketball) or the NBA, which can vary from league to league.

Basic basketball rules

How does the game start?

A basketball match begins with a "jump ball" in the center of the court. The referee throws the ball in the air between two players on each team, and they attempt to tap the ball to one of their teammates to gain first possession. The basket to be defended by each team is usually determined before the start of the game. In the NBA, the team that wins the Jump ball starts the 4th quarter with possession. The 2nd and 3rd quarters are for the opposing team.

How many players in basketball?

Each team fields five players on the court at the same time. However, unlimited substitutions are possible when play is stopped. This allows coaches to modify team strategy according to the needs of the game, such as giving certain players a rest or countering an opposing player.

Live and dead balls

The ball is considered "live" as soon as it is in play, i.e. from the moment it is touched by a player after a kick-off or throw-in. It becomes "dead" when play is interrupted by the referee for reasons such as a foul, a violation of the rules, or when a basket is scored.

Points in basketball

Points can be scored in a variety of ways in basketball. A free throw (shot awarded after a foul) is worth 1 point, a shot from inside the three-point line is worth 2 points, and a shot from outside the three-point line is worth 3 points.

Points can be accumulated in certain circumstances. A foul on a player attempting a two-point shot results in two free throws for the shooter if the shot is missed; if the shot is successful, the shooter's team scores 2 points and gets a free throw. Players can score 2+1 points. This logic also applies to 3-point shots.

Basketball positions

In basketball, there are five main positions on the court, each with specific roles and responsibilities. Here's a description of each position:

Point Guard (PG)

The point guard, often referred to as the "brain" of the team, is the player who runs the game. He's responsible for setting up the attacking moves and managing the pace of the game. The leader is generally an excellent dribbler and passer, with exceptional vision to find his team-mates in the best possible conditions. He must also be able to score points, but his priority is to get the team playing.

Main characteristics Speed, vision, dribbling, ability to organize play.

Example of a player Stephen Curry, Chris Paul.

Shooting Guard (SG)

The shooting guard is often the team's best shooter. His main role is to score points, especially from mid-range or from three-point range. In addition to being a good shooter, he must also be able to penetrate the opponent's defense to attack the basket. Some backs are also very good at defense, and can defend against the opposition's top scorers.

Main characteristics Ability to score or defend, speed.

Example of a player Michael Jordan, Evan Fournier.

Small forward (SF)

The winger is often considered the most versatile player on the court. He or she must be able to score in a variety of ways (outside shooting, penetrating the basket), while also being able to defend well. Wingers need to be athletic, agile and able to play both close to the basket and out wide, making them key players in both attack and defense.

Key characteristics Versatility, offensive and defensive skills, athleticism.

Example of a player LeBron James, Kevin Durant.

Power Forward (PF)

The power forward is often one of the most physical players on the court. He plays close to the basket and is responsible for collecting rebounds, defending in the basket, and scoring points from short or medium range. Traditionally, this was a position reserved for powerful players, but more and more modern strong wingers are capable of shooting three-pointers, making their game more diversified.

Main characteristics Physical strength, rebounding, ability to play close to the basket.

Example of a player Giannis Antetokounmpo, Guershon Yabusele

Pivot (Center - C)

The pivot is often the tallest and most imposing player on the team. He plays close to the basket, both offensively and defensively. His role is to protect the basket by blocking shots and contesting opposing penetration. On attack, he must score points close to the basket and take offensive rebounds to give his team second chances. The pivot is also an essential defensive anchor.

Main characteristics Size, strength, ability to grab rebounds and defend the basket.

Example of a player Rudy Gobert, Nikola Jokic.

How to play good basketball

Basic elements of the game

The key elements of the game include dribbling, shooting and passing. When dribbling, a player must bounce the ball on the floor while moving forward; he may not take more than two steps without dribbling, or risk being penalized for "walking". In addition, a player may not dribble, stop dribbling and then start dribbling again (double dribbling).

What's allowed and what isn't

It's essential to know what's allowed and what's not. For example, beginners often commit fouls by engaging in excessive physical contact with an opponent (personal foul) or by not respecting the rules of movement (walking, double dribbling).

The foul system in basketball is very demanding, but the most important thing to remember is that the defending player is not allowed to touch a player attempting to score with his hands. If the defender wants to stop the attack, he must touch the ball and not the player with his hands.

Important situations in the game

Alternating possession rule

In the event of a contested ball situation (ball held simultaneously by two opposing players), the referee calls for a restart.

Possession of the ball at the start of each quarter alternates between the two teams according to the alternating possession rule. This rule stipulates that the team that wins the jump ball has the throw-in for the fourth quarter, while the other team has the throw-in for the second and third quarters.

Rules for attack and defense

In attack, the main objective is to score points by throwing the ball into the opponent's basket. The attacking team has 24 seconds to attempt a basket; if the time is exceeded, the attacking team returns the ball to the opponent.
Note that if the attacking team attempts a shot and recovers the rebound after the shot has been missed, it again has 24 seconds to attempt a shot. (14 seconds in the NBA).
On defense, the aim is to prevent the opponent from scoring by intercepting the ball or blocking shots. However, it is forbidden to block a shot when the ball is going downhill towards the basket (goaltending).

It is forbidden to defend the ball with the feet.

Fouls and infringements

Types of fouls

Fouls include personal fouls (unauthorized physical contact), which occur frequently during a match and are a fact of play like any other; unsportsmanlike fouls (violent or intentional actions) frequently lead to exclusion; technical fouls (failure to respect the rules of ethics or attitude towards the referee or opponent); after receiving a second technical foul, the player is obligatorily excluded from the match. Depending on the seriousness of the foul, the opposing team may be awarded free throws or possession of the ball.

Steps and double dribbling

Walking is a violation in which a player takes more than two steps without dribbling (in the NBA, the authorized number of steps is 3), while double dribbling occurs when a player stops his dribble and resumes it. Both violations result in a loss of possession.

Specific rules

A team must always have 5 players on the court to continue the match. If, for any reason (fouls or injuries), a team finds itself with fewer than 5 players, it is declared a loser by forfeit.

In the NBA, there are a maximum of 7 time-outs per team, and a maximum of two per team during the last three minutes. Time-outs are used to break up game dynamics and reorganize game plans.

In the NBA, every team has a challenge, which allows the team to contact a referee during the game. However, a team can only use its challenge a maximum of twice per game.

Basketball is such a fast-moving sport that referees sometimes fail to see the details of certain plays. Referees can make mistakes in basketball, and challenges help to balance out these potential errors.

Recent changes and trends in basketball rules

FIBA and the NBA have quite different rules. This is because the federations do not supervise the same competitions.
FIBA oversees the world's major competitions, such as the Euros and the World Cup. The game is more focused on strategy, defense and collective effort. Like the Euroleague, World Cup and Olympic basketball matches are slow-paced, with smaller fields and tighter games.
The NBA is a lucrative institution, driven by its stars. The court is bigger, the game much faster. Defenses are more complicated to set up because of the rules. The game and the rules are all about spectacle and the success of the world's best players.

The main rules that differ are:
On the court, in FIBA the player must first dribble before starting to move, in the NBA this is not necessary. In FIBA, the player can only take two steps after stopping the dribble, in the NBA it's three steps.
This difference opens up a whole host of possibilities for NBA forwards to create space with their opponents, and therefore score!
Possessions after the offensive rebound (Cf: Rules for attack and defense)
Match duration: a FIBA match lasts 40 minutes (4x10 minutes), while an NBA match lasts 4x12 minutes.

Tips for basketball beginners

For beginners, it's crucial to memorize the basic rules, such as dribbling, walking and fouls.

Although basketball is a highly technical sport, it also requires a high level of physical fitness. It's advisable to concentrate on improving your physique first, as coaches expect players to give their all on defense and rebounding. It also helps to be mobile on the court, making scoring opportunities easier.

Of course, dribbling and shooting techniques are not to be overlooked. These come with time, 3 vs 3 or 1 vs 1 matches and training alone. Every player will tell you, but to avoid common mistakes, such as not dribbling or making contact errors. The coach won't hesitate to put you on the bench.

Here's our catalog of basketball training aids:

Conclusion

Basketball, as both a technical and physical sport, requires a solid understanding of the rules to play effectively and avoid mistakes. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, mastering the fundamentals of the game, from positions and rules to offensive and defensive tactics, is crucial to progressing on the court. In addition to knowing the rules, developing physical and technical skills such as dribbling, shooting and defense is essential to becoming a complete player.

Finally, beyond individual skills, basketball is above all a team sport where each player has a specific role to play. By applying these tips and continuing to train, you'll be able to improve your performance, while at the same time enjoying the sport. So pick up a ball, follow the rules, and keep working to excel on the field!