Why Basketball?
When you can dribble in public and not get lectured by grown-ups, it's got to be a good thing. Basketball is as flexible as sports come. You can play by yourself or with friends, at your home, playground or gym, inside or outside, just for fun or competitively. It's a game for anyone. Forget television. Ignore your parents' pleas to watch the news. If they try to stop you from playing b-ball, use an excuse like "It's helping me learn about fair play, self-confidence and teamwork. And you want me to stay in shape, don't you?" Works every time.
About the Sport
BASKETBALL
If you want to play like the pros, you'll need two teams with five players on each side. One team defends their basket while the other goes on the offensive, trying to move the ball into the basket. Offensive players dribble, fake, pass, rebound and lay up in an attempt to sink the ball in the defending team's basket. The forwards (usually the taller players) stand close to the net and try to get open for the guards to pass them the ball. Once they get the ball, their job is to somehow 'sink' the ball through the 18-inch diameter basket. Each 'basket' is worth 2 points, unless you shoot from beyond the three-point line (23 feet 9 inch radius around the basket) - those are obviously worth three each. If you take a foul shot, a single point is scored with each successful basket. Basketball is only about 100 years old. But it has caught on with such excitement here in North America that it's one of our most popular sports.
"Fun Fact: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who played 20 seasons in the NBA, holds the record for most points scored in a career with 38,387."
Types Of Basketball
It's not always easy getting nine of your friends together to play a game of basketball. Here are a few other ways to enjoy the sport:
3-on-3
Call up five friends and pit three against three.
1-on-1
Using only a half court, test each other's faking skills and dribbling moves to score. Continue until you reach a predetermined number of points.
Pirates
Played with two or more friends, this dribbling game involves one person being the 'pirate', trying to steal the ball from the others. The game continues until only one player is left.
Golf
Designate nine shooting spots of the court. Complete shots from every location in the fewest attempts to win. Can't find a hoop? Try it with a garbage can.
“Fun Fact: The National Basketball Association was created on June 6, 1946.”
Positions on a Basketball Team
Point Guard
Sets up the offence. Excellent ball handler and a keen eye are key for this position.
Shooting Guard
Has a good jump shot and assists the point guard in passing the ball up the court.
Small Forward
Also assists other forwards. Usually fast and able to manoeuver well in the offensive zone.
Power Forward
Assists the centre with rebounds and takes shots. Usually found on the side of the court.
Centre
Usually the tallest player on the team who hovers near the opposing team's basket on offence. Waits to receive the ball passed from a teammate.
“Fun Fact: Basketball is the #1 team participation sport in Canada among 12-17 year-olds.”
The Basics
Master these and you'll hear your name being chanted at the Air Canada Centre sooner than you think.
Dribbling
Repeatedly bounce the ball on the floor using one hand at a time while walking or running. The ball will bounce back up (when properly pumped with air).
Shooting
Keep your knees slightly bent shoulder-width apart, with both hands cradling the ball above your head. Hold ball with fingertips - non-shooting hand is used as a guide. Line up your shot and keep your body square with the basket. Follow through with arm extended, and shooting hand should end like a fish hook.
Dunking
(a.k.a. slam dunk) When you have control of the ball, jump up and force the ball through the basket. Your opponents will be shaking in their hightops.
Faking
Fooling the defending player into thinking whether you're going to dribble or pass the ball. This can be done by body movements, e.g., eye contact or head fake.
Passing
Throwing the ball to a teammate. You can throw directly or have the ball bounce on the court to confuse the defenders. Be sure they're not being blocked or it may be intercepted by the other team. There are several passing techniques: bounce, chest, overhead or baseball pass.
Rebounding
When a shot at the basket is missed, a teammate may attempt to grab the ball to gain or retain possession.
Lay Up
Dribbling to the net and using one hand to either gently drop the ball into the basket or sink it by gently bouncing it off the backboard.
Pivoting
Once you stop dribbling, you must keep a foot planted in one place on the court until you pass the ball.
“Fun Fact: Basketball's first appearance at the Olympics was in Berlin, Germany, 1936.”
TERMS
Here's just a sample of hoops lingo to get you going:
Assist
The pass that's made before a player scores.
Basket
A metal rim 18 inches in diameter attached to a backboard, 10 feet above the court floor.
Blocked Shot
Preventing an opposing team from scoring a basket by stopping the upward arc of the ball after an opponent has shot it (usually followed by cheers from the crowd and pats on the back from teammates).
Court
A regulation-sized basketball playing surface is 94 feet x 50 feet, with a basket at each end.
Defence
The players trying to stop the opposing team from scoring.
Foul Line
The victim of a roughing infraction stands at this line, 19 feet from the basket and takes one or two 'free' shots.
Offence
The team with possession of the ball, trying to score.
Being Open
An unguarded player on the offensive team.
“Fun Fact: Basketball breaks barriers! Almost 500 basketball players competed at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games.”
HISTORY
BASKETBALL ORIGIN
How many sports can you name that began with a peach basket? Probably not too many. The first basketball game was played using a peach basket as the 'hoop' after the game's invention in 1891. Dr. James Naismith, born right here in Ontario, was given the task to invent a new indoor game. A game that is fair for all players and free of rough play. He came up with basketball - and look at it now: one of Ontario's most popular sports.
“Fun Fact: The first basketball game was played on December 21, 1891.”
Contact Info
Find Out More About Basketball
Basketball Ontario
1185 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 409Toronto, ON
M3C 3C6
416-426-7200
http://www.basketball.on.ca
