Basketball is a sport where two teams, usually of five players each, play against each other on a flat rectangular court with the goal of shooting the ball towards the basket of the other team while preventing the other team from hitting their basket through the hoop. The sport has evolved into a very complicated game with a wide variety of rules and regulations that govern its implementation and performance. As it evolved over time, basketball became a sport that is played by men, women and children all over the world. Although basketball is generally a boy’s sport, some girls have joined and have been successful in gaining international recognition as basketball players.
The origins of basketball can be traced back torosse, a game that was played between military personnel during the 17th century. During that time, the game was only used for training purposes. The first basketballs were constructed from lead strips of wood that were tied together by using twine or a string. In the early years, the hoop was constructed using cast iron or clay. These earlier versions of basketball courts were not very efficient due to the fact that they were made from small circular shaped stones. With time, improvements were made and the sport began to be played on larger surfaces that are usually used for sports such as football.
Basketball uses a ball that is normally either played by wet shoes or dry. The wet-shoe version of basketball involves the use of a basketball shoe that has special spikes on the bottom of the shoe to assist with gaining vertical jumping abilities, pivoting, and other special skills required to play the sport. In order to dribble a basketball, the ball must be thrown to one side of the court by the initiating player then turned over to the other team by any player who can make a shot. The game also makes use of a coach who has the authority to penalize players for misconduct such as picking the ball up while it is in play.
Basketballs also come in many sizes and styles. The most popular size for basketballs is regulation size which is set at 14 inches around. Custom basketballs are available in all sizes but most players find the regulation size comfortable and allows them to be able to utilize their body to shift from side to side. Sports balls are the balls utilized during pickup basketball games. Most sports balls have holes on the bottom which allows for easy retrieval and ball control by the players.
Basketball courts are constructed with hardwood, carpet, synthetic turf, or concrete. Decades ago, the only basketball court surface that you would see outside of professional sports facilities were concrete. Now, due to technological advances, people are building custom courts that feature all sorts of unique features such as basketball rings, recessed lighting, and even video cameras for fans to watch the games. There are even infrared video boards that use infrared heat to enhance the overall atmosphere of the playing area.
Basketball has changed quite a bit over the years. Some of the pioneers of the sport wanted to develop a low-cost way to get kids involved in the sport so they developed the sport of basketball. Others saw the potential of basketball courts and made big names for themselves in the basketball community. Bill Self, Mike Krzyzewski, Ron Roth, Chuck Daly, Joe Weatherford, and Jerry York have all been associated with significant basketball success either as players or coaches. The sport of basketball will continue to grow and expand as the different players and teams continue to develop their skills and try out new innovations.