Basketball is a team sport that involves passing, dribbling, shooting, and rebounding. Players compete in teams of five on a court up to 94 feet (29.7 metres) long and 50 feet/15 metres wide with a metal hoop 10 feet (3.0 m) above the ground at each end of the court. The goal is to score points by throwing the ball through a basket. The game is regulated by rules enforced by a referee, who blows a whistle to signal infractions of the rules. Players are awarded free throws if fouled on a shot that is successful.
The game can be played indoors or outdoors, and may be played on a full court or half-court. A game is played for a specified amount of time, and the team with the most points wins. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, overtime periods are used to determine a winner.
It’s important to have a basic understanding of the rules of basketball before you start playing. You can brush up on the rules by reading them, watching old NBA games, and listening to knowledgeable people speak about the game. The more you know, the easier it will be to play smart and avoid mistakes that could cost your team a point.
As you learn the basics of basketball, practice passing with your teammates regularly. You will pass the ball often during a game, so it’s essential to have good passing skills. For example, you should learn how to bounce the ball with both hands so that you can switch the ball back and forth between them as needed. You should also practice setting clean picks, or screens. A screen is when you stand between a defensive player and a teammate to open up an offensive lane. To set a clean pick, you should position your feet wider than shoulder-width apart to provide stability and keep your arms up, ready to block a player who comes over your screen.
Shooting in basketball requires the right technique, including proper form and timing. When you shoot, you should rest the ball on the fingertips of your dominant hand (the shooting hand). Your other hand will support the ball at waist-level in front of your body. Then, as you shoot, you should extend your wrist and follow through, which helps to put backspin on the ball and increases the likelihood that it will go in when it hits the rim or backboard.
A successful shot is usually followed by a fast break, when a teammate moves past an opposing player and receives the ball. It’s also possible to create an “and one” if a player makes a basket while being fouled and is awarded an additional free throw. Fouls in basketball can include reaching, knocking the opponent’s forearm, and jumping over the player in front of you. Players can also be penalized for technical fouls, which are serious infractions such as excessive aggression or insulting the referee.