PEh
Name: Saicy Angel M. Arado Section: ABM 11 – St. Agatha
1. What IS Basketball?
- Basketball, game played between two teams of five players each on a rectangular court, usually
indoors. Each team tries to score by tossing the ball through the opponent’s goal, an elevated
horizontal hoop and net called a basket.
2. Origin of basketball
- It was the winter of 1891-1892. Inside a gymnasium at Springfield College (then known as the
International YMCA Training School), located in Springfield, Mass., was a group of restless college
students. The young men had to be there; they were required to participate in indoor activities to burn
off the energy that had been building up since their football season ended. The gymnasium class offered
them activities such as marching, calisthenics, and apparatus work, but these were pale substitutes
for the more exciting games of football and lacrosse they played in warmer seasons. The instructor
of this class was James Naismith, a 31-year-old graduate student. After graduating from Presbyterian
College in Montreal with a theology degree, Naismith embraced his love of athletics and headed to
Springfield to study physical education—at that time, a relatively new and unknown academic
discipline—under Luther Halsey Gulick, superintendent of physical education at the College and today
renowned as the father of physical education and recreation in the United States.
3. Basic skills of basketball
- Dribbling
Dribbling is an important skill for all basketball players. This skill will allow you to move up and
down the court, maneuver past defenders and execute plays. Proper dribbling requires ball-handling
skills and knowledge of how to spread your fingers for ball control. It is also best if you know how to
dribble equally well with both hands.
- Shooting
In order to score points in basketball, you need to shoot the ball into the hoop. This requires the ability
to properly hold and throw the ball into the air toward the basket while avoiding defenders. A proper
shot requires precise aiming, arm extension and lift from the legs. There are different types of shots
you need to learn, including jump shots, layups and free throws.
- Running
Running is a big part of basketball. In a full-court game, you will find yourself running back and forth
as the game quickly transitions between offense and defense. When you have the ball, running will help
you to avoid defenders and get to the basket quicker. On defense, you often will find yourself needing
to run after the opponent, especially during fast breaks.
- Passing
Passing is another skill that when mastered can help you become a complete basketball player.
Basketball is a team sport that involves finding a teammate who is open for a shot. The ability to pass
the ball to this player can make the difference between scoring and not scoring. Really great passers
are an important part of a basketball team and usually the ones who set up scoring plays.
- Jumping
Jumping is another skill that can define how good a basketball player is. Jumping is involved in
offense during the jump ball in the beginning, while taking shots and sometimes while trying to catch a
pass. On defensive you will need the ability to jump when trying to block a shot or a pass. Being able to
out jump your opponent for a rebound also is important.
4. Facilities and equipment in basketball
- Court Size
The size of the basketball court depends on the playing level. The size of the court for NBA and
College games is 94 feet long and 50 feet wide. It is smaller for High School and Junior High competitions.
- The Backboard and Rim
The regulation height above the ground for the rim (hoop) is 10 feet, and the rim is 18 inches in
diameter. Backboards are 6 feet wide (72 inches) by 42 inches tall, with the inner square being 24 inches
wide by 18 inches tall.
- The Foul Line
For all size courts the 'foul line' is 15 feet in front of the backboard.
- The Key
The key is 12 feet wide, and is the same for all basketball courts. The backboard extends 4 feet out
over the baseline into the key. A half circle of diameter 6 feet extends from the foul line away from
the basket to complete the key.
- The 3 Point Line (Arc)
For NBA Basketball Courts the 3 point arc is 22 feet to the center of the rim on the sides with a
straight line extending out 16 feet 9 inches from the baseline. Past those points, the line extends out
23 feet 9 inches from the center of the rim.
- Line Markings
All line markings on the floor are 2 inches wide and can vary in color.
