Indoor Basketball Rules

Indoor basketball is an athletic game played between two teams. Each team has a basket where players try to shoot the basketball to score points. The opposing team's players try to steal the ball or prevent the shot from going in. There are specified rules designed to keep the game friendly, although competitive, without anyone being allowed to intentionally harm other players. Whichever team has the most points at the end of the game is declared the winner.

History

Indoor basketball was created in December 1891 when Canadian physical education instructor Dr. James Naismith decided to create an indoor game for his students to play during the cold winter months. Due to the small confines of the interior space they had available, he knew that soccer or football would not work.

Nailing a peach basket to the wall 10 feet above the ground, he created the goal. He gave the men a soccer ball to throw into the goal and assigned 13 rules to the game. Many of these rules are still in force today in general form. Basketball caught on and developed a life of its own after that first game at the YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts on December 21, 1891. The fast paced game spread through other schools and YMCAs, becoming a favorite.

The very first high school basketball game was played in 1897, and colleges followed soon after that. By the 1930s, several tournaments were being held including the NCAA tournament now known as March Madness. These tournaments were held between the best college teams.

Basketball in now played on all continents. Most countries have their own professional basketball organizations, with the American NBA being the most popular.

The Court

An indoor basketball court measures up to 94 feet long and 50 feet wide. Smaller courts are used for different levels of play. The court is split in the middle, which is called mid-court. This separates the offensive and defensive sides of the game.
There is a line, commonly called an arc, at up to 23 feet and 9 inches from the basket which is where a three-point shot can be made. The distance is 22 feet from the goal at the sidelines and closer in lower levels of play.

The basket is a metal rim measuring 18 inches in diameter with an open-ended net hanging from the rim. It is set at 10 feet off the floor, utilizing a backboard, typically made of fiberglass or wood. An official ball is 30 inches in circumference, made of rubber or leather and filled with compressed air. A smaller ball is used for women's play.

Offense

Each team has five players on the court at a time. Coaches and substitute players watch the game from the sidelines. Play is set in motion with a "jump ball," which is when the referee of the game tosses the ball into the air and one player from each team jumps to hit the ball towards a player on his team.

Players must dribble the ball as they move around, shoot or pass it to a teammate. Walking or running while holding the ball is known as "traveling" and not allowed. Once the ball is picked up, or being held by a player, he may not dribble again until it is shot or handled by someone else.

There is a time limit to advance the ball to the offensive side. Each team has its own basket, which is its offensive end. Someone on the offensive team must shoot the ball within a specified amount of time once on their end of the court. In the NBA it is 24 seconds.

The winner of the game is the team that has the most points at the end of the allotted time period of game play. Typically, this time is separated in halves or quarters with short breaks between periods.

Scoring points can be done three different ways. Making a basket from beyond the three-point line gives you three points. Scoring anywhere else during play awards two points. Free throws, which are uncontested shots from 15 feet away, are awarded when a player is fouled and given one point if made.

Defense

Defending the goal is a priority. Contesting shots and trying to steal the ball from the other team creates challenges for those on offense. It is against the rules to use physical contact to stop the other team. Players may not run into, hit, bump, push, tackle or kick their opponents. If contact is made, it is called a foul. If a foul is committed while the opposing player is attempting a shot, free throws are awarded.
Once a certain number of fouls is committed by a particular player, that player is ejected from the game. Depending on the level of play, it is usually five or six fouls before the player is fouled out.

Stealing the ball from an opponent can be done by taking it while she is dribbling, blocking it while she is shooting, intercepting her passes, or getting the rebound if she misses a shot.

Benefits

Indoor basketball offers many benefits, including tremendous physical exercise. While size and strength can help, there is no rule stating you must be a certain size, or have a certain amount of strength to play. Anyone of any size, background, race, weight or height may play the game.

Playing indoor basketball is enjoyable when you have friends and family on your team, however it is extremely competitive as well. The whole idea is to have the most points at the end of the game and have your team declared the winner.

Basketball also promotes good hand-eye coordination. Dribbling the ball well is accomplished when players can run and dribble (or bounce) the ball without having to look down at the ball. It is easier to see your teammates and thus easier to pass it to the open player or shoot the ball if you have an open shot. Judging how far you are from the basket and adjusting the amount of strength you use when you shoot is another example of how good hand-eye coordination helps when playing the game.

Indoor basketball is played as friendly pick up games between family, friends and whomever else may be available to play. Structured games and tournaments are set up for schools, community teams and professional teams. Either way, basketball provides a competitive and energetic sport to watch or play.