History of Basketball
The game was created in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith who worked as an instructor at YMCA Sports School in Springfield, Massachusetts. James Naismith was born on November 6, 1861 in Almont, Canada. In 1891, he was encouraged by the school principle, Dr. Luther Gulick, to design a new game which could be played in a gym when the weather is bad. The result was the game of basketball which has become one of the most popular games in the world over the next century. In 1936, basketball was included in the program of Olympic Games in Berlin and Dr. Naismith was honored by tossing the initial jump ball. Thanks to this, he was awarded the introduction to the Basketball Hall of Fame. James Naismith died on November 28, 1939 in Lawrence, Kansas (Vasilko, 2004). Naismith created this game to make it possible for the students to play some sport both indoor in the winter and in the open air in the summer. The biggest problem was the dimensions of the gym. Fortunately, Naismith came up with the idea to fasten two baskets on the opposite walls of the gym in the height of 10 feet. He determined ball carriers, who were standing on ladders by the baskets, and divided his students into two teams of nine members. The students took to the game immediately and it became very much popular at the school (Vasilko, 2004).
Later, Naismith created five basic principles which he included in 13 basic rules:
- The game is played with a round ball and is played with hands.
- The player cannot run with the ball.
- Any player can take any position in the court at any time.
- There cannot be any physical contact among the players.
- The basket must be placed horizontally above the court ground. (Smith, 1998)
Fig. 4 James Naismith (http://www.kansasheritage.org/people/naismith.html)
At the very beginning, the game was very slow and clumsy; it was nearly a static game. In the course of time, as society developed, rules of the game developed as well and changed the game into a fast, dynamic and technical sport. Later, this game conquered the world. Current rules of basketball make it a very fast, offensive sport which, in respect of skills, is the most demanding of all ball games (Smith, 1998). Over the time, basketball has become popular in the whole world; it is played by more than 300 million people (Vasilko, 2004).
Fig. 5 Basketball team http://www.hexilou.com/basketball-history-articles/
Rules of Basketball and their Changes since 2010
This chapter discusses a few basic rules and their changes since 2010. Basketball is played by two teams of five members on each side. When the game is interrupted, players can arbitrarily change. The aim is to throw the ball into the opponent team’s basket and prevent the opponent to control the ball or hit the basket. During the game, the ball can be controlled only with a hand (or hands) and it can be passed, thrown, tapped, rolled or dribbled with restrictions stated by the rules. The player is allowed to move with the ball only while continuously dribbling. If broken up by catching the ball with both hands, dribbling cannot be resumed nor can the player move with the ball any further: the player must pass or shoot. The duration of a match consists of 4 periods, each lasting 10 minutes of actual time. There are intervals between all periods which last for 2 minutes. There is a 15-minute interval in the half of the match (between the second and third periods). If the match ends in a tie, there is 5-minute overtime. The team which scores more points in the opponent’s basket during the time interval is the winning team of the match (FIBA, 2004).
The Court
Official dimensions of a basketball court are 20 m length and 15 m width. Minimum allowed dimensions of the court are 26 m length and 14 m width. The basket board is either made of a transparent material or of wood in which case it must be painted white. Dimensions of the board are 1.8 m horizontal and 1.05 m vertical. The ball must be inflated with air in such a way that when dropped on the floor from 1.8 m bounces and jumps 1.2-1.4 m high (FIBA, 2004).
Game
No player can block, push, hold, charge or trip the opponent, prevent another player from moving in any way or play rough or violently. If a player commits any of the previous and if it is recognized by the referee as such, it is called a personal foul.
Technical foul is a foul which has not been caused by interfering with the opponent. Any player who commits five personal fouls within a match or manifests unsportsmanlike behavior is disqualified (FIBA, 2004).
Points and their value
The basket is hit when the ball falls through the basket or even when the smallest amount of its volume is inside the ring.
A hit can be equal to a different number of points:
- A free throw is equal to one point.
- A hit from two-point lane counts for two points.
- A hit from three-point lane means three points (cabr.cbf.cz)
Changes in rules since 2010
In order to unite the rules with National Basketball Association (NBA), the dimensions of the court have changed.
Fig. 1 shows original dimensions; new dimensions are illustrated on Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 Court dimensions prior to the change http://www.sportovkatyn.ic.cz/pravidla.html
Fig. 7 Court dimensions after the change of rules (http://www.fanklub-kondori.frantiskovo.cz/pravidla.php)
According to Vyklický (2010), the rules have changed as follows.
Three-point area – the distance of three-point lane is 6.75 m (formerly 6.25 m).
Jump ball within the last two minutes of the match.
Two small lanes are marked outside the court opposite the timekeeper’s and team benches, their outer rim being in the distance 8.325 m from the inner rims of boundary lines, in other words, at the level of the peak of the three-point line.
Within the last two minutes of the match and within the last two minutes of each overtime following a time-out of the team which was entitled to be in possession of the ball in its back part of the court, jump ball is tossed on the tossing lane (at the level of the three-point lane), opposite the timekeeper’s (Vyklický, 2010).
Semi-circle in delineated area
Semi-circles against charging will be marked underneath both baskets on the court. The distance from the inner rim of the semi-circle to the center of the rim (on the floor) shall be 1.25 m. Charging (offensive foul) shall not be recognized if there is a contact between an offensive player and a defensive player who is standing inside the semi-circle against charging (Vyklický, 2010).
Summary of the court changes
All courts with dimensions smaller than 28 x 15 must maintain the distance of the three-point line 0.6 m from the boundary line up to the joint with the circle sector of three-point throw 6.75 m (i.e. the distance of 60 cm from the boundary line is kept). Two 15-centimeter lines must be marked on the side line in the direction from the court towards the timekeepers and team benches in all halls in the distance of 8.325 m from the inner end line. Semi-circle in the given area must be in the distance of 1.25 m from the center of the basket on all courts disregarding their dimensions. Scoreboards must be adjusted in such a way so that it is possible to set even 14 seconds at the timekeepers’. This provision must hold also in all halls which host championships. According to the current rules of International Basketball Federation (FIBA), all lines must be white. For National Basketball League (NBL) and for Women Basketball League (WBL), this rule has been binding since October 1, 2010. For any other competitions, all lines must be of the same color, preferably white (Vyklický, 2010).
24 seconds
If the inbound from outside the court is to take place in the rear part of the court and it is requested by the respective section in the rules, another 24 seconds shall be set at the 24-second clock. If the tossing should take place in the front part of the court and it is requested by the respective section in the rules, the 24-second clock must be set as follows:
1) If the 24-second clock displays 14 or more seconds at the time of stopping the game clock, the second-clock will not be erased and it will not be changed.
2) If the 24-second clock displays 13 or fewer seconds at the time of stopping the game clock, the 24-second device shall be erased and 14 seconds will be set (Vyklický, 2010)..
Game Activities of an Individual Player in Basketball
Activities of an individual player during the game can be described as specifically aimed movements or movement units through which the player performs his/her game tasks in the match. Game activities of an individual build up a framework for multiple-player activities (game combinations) as well as for whole-team activities (game systems). Both combinations and systems cannot be replaced with anything else and their effectiveness depends on the quality and the level of mastering game activities by an individual (Velenský, 1999).
Offensive Game Activities of an Individual Player
Game activities can be divided into offensive and defensive. Such a division results from the basic descriptions of individual activities and fulfilling game tasks which are the basis of basketball (attack-defense). Among offensive activities, there are: clearing with the ball, clearing without the ball, passing, shooting, rebounding and screening (Janík a kol. 2005)
Clearing with the Ball
It is a game activity of an individual the aim of which is to get a convenient position for further activities with the ball (passing, shooting).
Clearing without the Ball
It is an activity of an individual the aim of which is to get a convenient position for receiving a pass from a team-mate. The aim to get the opponent’s attention and make space for activities of other team-mates is also part of clearing.
Passing
It is an activity of an individual the aim of which is to throw, hand, roll or strike the ball in such a way to make it possible for a team-mate to catch it. Among the basics of the technique, there is holding the ball and positions and movements connected to holding the ball and the pass itself (Janík et al., 2005).
Shooting
It is an activity of an individual in the game the aim of which is to hit the basket. Shooting is one of the most difficult movement structures among game activities. From the point of view of coordination, it is a very complex movement which must be very precise. Even minor inaccuracies in technique affect the success. An unquestionable duty of every coach is to see that all the rules are stuck to with a high level of precision. Should a single mistake be forgiven during basic training, it will be very difficult to correct it in the future (Pětivlas a kol., 2008).
Rebounding
It is an activity of an individual in the game the aim of which is to tap the ball into the basket, holding it in both hands or tapping it in order to pass it to a play-mate. A successful offensive rebounding creates a new possibility of shooting for the team. The presuppositions for successful rebounding include the ability to win position for rebounding and timing the jump (Pětivlas a kol., 2008).
Screening
It is an activity of an individual in the game the aim of which is to stop the movement or anticipated movement of the defense player without violating the rules. The rules of basketball define this activity precisely (Velenský, 1999).
Defensive Activities of an Individual
It means training activities which do not require the skill to handle the ball or related offensive activities. The main feature is to maintain correct positions, develop motor abilities, voluntary effort and the players’ motivation for defense. Among the defensive game activities of an individual, there are: guarding a player without the ball, with the ball, guarding a player after shooting and defensive rebounding (Janík et al., 2005).
Guarding a Player without the Ball
It is a defensive activity in the game with the aim to prevent the opponent from clearing to get the ball. The most important aspects are the distance from the forward, position of legs, shoulders and arms of the defense player and peripheral view of the player and the ball.
Guarding a Player with the Ball
It is a defensive activity with the aim to prevent the opponent from hitting the basket or passing the ball towards the basket. The defense player attempts to control the ball in a convenient direction for the defense. The most important aspects are low posture, maintain the correct position against the attacking player and the ball and arm work.
Guarding a Player after Shooting and Defensive Rebounding
It is a defensive activity with the aim to prevent the opponent from rebounding and at the same time get hold of the bounced ball and keep it safely in the hands of the defense player. The most important aspects are body work during contact with the attacking player, visual contact with the ball, arm work and jump timing.
Keywords:
Basketball, James Naismith, Springfield, 13 basic rules, points and their value, court, game activities of an individual, clearing with/without the ball, shooting, passing, rebounding, screening, defensive activities of an individual, guarding a player without/with the ball, guarding a player after shooting and defensive rebounding
References:
GIACINTOVA, Gabriela. Úspěšnost tříbodových pokusů po změně pravidel ve slovenské basketbalové lize. MU Brno, 2012. Bakalářská práce. FSpS. Vedoucí práce Zdeněk Janík.
WIEDNER, Jan. Hra jako prostředek pro zdokonalení nácviku herních činností v basketbalu. MU Brno, 2009. Diplomová práce. FSpS. Vedoucí práce Tomáš Pětivlas.