Who invented basketball? 10 basic rules of basketball | Basketball facts you should know | NBA rules you should know

From NBA basketball to the Olympic championship games to pick-up games at the local gym, basketball is a popular sport able to be played at multiple skill levels. However, like all sports, basketball has a unique set of rules establishing personnel, penalties, and gameplay guidelines.

In this article, we will discuss the great history of basketball and the classic rules implemented at that time. 

History of Basketball

Dr. James Naismith published the first rules for a new game called “basketball” in 1892. Back then, the game was a little different. For example, the baskets were authentic wooden peach baskets nailed to a gym wall. In addition to nine players per side, the original rules called for a jump ball after each score.

The school’s Superintendent of Physical Education, Dr. Luther. H. Gulick asked Naismith in December 1891 to create an indoor game to keep the young men active during the cold winter months because the weather kept the class indoors. 

As laid out by Naismith, the original basketball rules are pretty familiar so that those who enjoy the game today, over a hundred years later, will recognize it as the same game that was invented in the 1800s. While some newer rules exist, the original 13 remains the game’s foundation.

Rules of Basketball NBA

• The ball can be tossed in any direction with one or two hands.
• The basketball may be batted in any direction with both hands, but never with the fist.
• Running with the ball is prohibited and considered illegal. The player must toss it from where he catches it, allowing for a man running at a respectable speed.
• The ball must be held in  hands. It must not be held with the arms or the body, as it is a foul. 
• There is no shouldering, gripping, pushing, striking, or tripping an opponent in any way. The first violation of this regulation counts as a foul; the second disqualifies the player until the next goal in the game is scored or, if there was clear intent to hurt the player, for the remainder of the game. No substitutions are permitted.
• A foul is when a player strikes the ball with his fist, violates Rules 3 and 4, or does anything else as outlined in Rule 5.
• If any team commits three consecutive fouls, the opponents will score a goal (consecutive means without the opponents while making a foul).
• When a goal is scored when the ball is thrown or hit from the ground into the basket and stays there, as long as the goal is not touched or disturbed by the goal defenders. If the ball is on the edges and the opponent moves the basket, it counts as a goal.
• When the ball falls out of bounds, the first person to touch it must be tossed back into play. In a disagreement, the umpire will toss it into the field. A five-second time limit applies to the thrower-in. If he keeps it for too long, it will be given to the opponent. If a team continues to delay the game, the umpire will foul them.
• When three consecutive fouls are committed, the umpire shall judge the men, note the fouls, and tell the referee. He has the authority to disqualify men following Rule 5.

First Game of Basketball ever played

On December 21, 1891, at YMCA training school in Springfield, Massachusetts, the first basketball game was played.

That day, Naismith arrived early. He had absolutely no idea that he was about to make basketball history. He nailed a peach basket to the lower rail of the balcony on both ends of the gym after posting the ’13 Rules of Basketball’ on the gym’s bulletin board. 

When the players arrived, Naismith divided his eighteen students into two groups of nine players and attempted to teach them the 13 basketball rules. We will tell you all the rules in the following article. 

Rules of offense in a Basketball game

• The player must bounce the ball with one hand while moving both feet, known as dribbling. If both hands touch the ball at any point or the player stops dribbling, the player can only move one foot. The pivot foot is the stationary foot.
• The ball must not leave the game field. If the offensive team loses the ball, the basketball is turned over to the opposing team.
• When dribbling, the player’s hand must be on top of the ball. Carrying the ball is when a player touches the bottom of the basketball while dribbling and dribbling, and the player loses the ball to the opposing team.
• The offensive team may not return to the backcourt once crossed half court. A backcourt violation is what it’s called. If the defensive team knocks the ball into the backcourt, the offensive team has the legal right to recover the ball.

Conclusion

We have discussed all the rules and regulations of basketball. We also discussed the rules of offense in basketball games. For more updates, make sure to sign-up for our newsletter.