Basketball is a team sport that requires a great deal of ball handling skills. Beginners often find it difficult to get a handle on how to hold the ball and pass it around, but there are a number of simple activities that can help them pick up these essential skills. Bounce the ball between your fingers, dribble and change hands frequently to build up hand-eye coordination. Move your arms around to try different combinations and keep the ball away from your body as you dribble. Practice passing the ball to other players in your team, and then shooting baskets while a defender guards you.
The game of basketball was invented by a Canadian named James Naismith in 1891. He first tested the game in Springfield, Massachusetts and then later introduced it to Geneva College (in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania) and the University of Iowa. The five-on-five format of the game is now the standard for most colleges and professional teams. Each of the players fall into one of five playing positions: the tallest player is the center, the second-tallest and strongest player is the power forward, the shortest and most agile is the small forward, and the fastest and best ball handler is the point guard.
The ball must be carried without stopping for more than two steps or the referee will call a foul called traveling. Players may also not stop dribbling and then restart it; this is known as double-dribbling. After a shot, the team that conceded the basket must inbound the ball by standing out of bounds and passing it to a player on the opposite team within five seconds or else they lose possession.
There are several types of defense in basketball, but the most common is man-to-man, where each player is assigned another player to follow. Other types of defense include zone, where each player is assigned an area to cover regardless of who is in it; and full-court, where the goal is defended by the whole team.
If a player is fouled while shooting, they are awarded one free throw for each foul that was committed. The free throws count for 2 or 3 points, depending on the type of shot made. The game is played with four quarters of eight minutes each, and there are short gaps between each quarter.
One of the most important skills to develop is defensive rebounds. To grab a rebound, a player must jump high to meet the ball as it is falling and stick their arm out in front of them to “box out” the opposing player. They must also be careful not to reach over the back of the opposing player or knock them over the head, which is a reaching foul. If they do, the opposing team will receive a technical foul, which can result in additional free throws or even a loss of the game. In the event of a tie at the end of regulation, overtime periods of various lengths are played until a winner emerges.