Mount Pleasant Middle School Health and Physical Education Basketball Rules, Terminology, & Strategies

 Basketball is an American game designed by James Naismith in 1891. Through its history of more than 100 years, it has evolved into a city game played by individuals of all ages and sizes on asphalt playgrounds and gymnasiums throughout the US. It is also an international game played at the Olympic level by countries from all over the world. It is a game that requires stamina, endurance, strength, and balance.

 Basketball is played by two teams of five players: 2 guards, 2 forwards, and 1 center.  Players attempt to outscore their opponents by passing, bouncing, handing off, or dribbling the basketball into position to then shoot it into their offensive basket. The game is monitored by a scorer, a timer, and two or three floor officials. At the end of the game, the team with the most points wins. Regulation basketball games consist of either 8-minute quarters (high school), 20-minute halves (college), or 12-minute quarters (professional).

 An official puts the ball into play at the beginning of the game with a jump ball where s/he tosses the ball in the air at mid-court while two players from opposing teams attempt to tip the ball to their respective teammates. Play continues until the designated time expires.

 A team scores a field goal, (which is a basket worth 2 or 3 points depending on the distance from which the ball was shot) when one of its players shoots the ball from the field into its offensive basket. A free throw (worth one point) is scored similarly, although play is stopped for the free throw shot.

 After each field goal, the team scored against puts the ball into play from out- of-bounds behind the baseline near its own defensive basket.

 Offensive players get into position to shoot the ball by passing, dribbling, handing off, or bouncing the ball. At the same time, defensive players, block and guard offensive players, attempting to prevent the offensive team from scoring.

 Play continues until either team commits a violation or foul, at which time the fouled player gets a free throw or possession of the ball changes. A change of possession follows a violation, and the opposing team takes the ball out-of-bound. When a foul is committed, the opponents may either be given the opportunity to shoot one or two free throws or get to take the ball in from out-of-bounds. Mount Pleasant Middle School Health and Physical Education Team dynamics

 There are 5 players on one official team that is on the court at one time.  Guards are usually the smaller players who handle the ball.  Forwards are usually the people responsible for scoring and rebounding.  The center is usually the tallest person on the team who does the jump ball.

Ball movement

o A chest pass goes from one person’s chest directly to another without hitting the ground. o A bounce pass, bounces once before it reaches the other person. o The game is started by a jump ball. o Dribbling is pushing the ball down to the floor with your fingertips. o A rebound is when the ball bounces off the backboard or rim of the basket and in the possession of another player.

Fouls and violations

 Traveling is a violation when a player steps or slides without dribbling the ball.  Charging is an offensive foul when an offensive player moves into a defensive player who is standing still.  Blocking is a defensive foul when a defensive player moves into a moving offensive player.

Scoring o 1point is awarded for a foul shot. o 2 points are awarded to any basket made inside the arc line. o 3 points are awarded for a basket made outside the arc line.