Basketball

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This article is about the sport. For the ball used in the sport, see Basketball (ball). For other uses, see Basketball (disambiguation).
Basketball
Michael Jordan goes for a slam dunk at the old Boston Garden
Highest governing body
FIBA
First played
1891, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
Characteristics
Contact
Contact
Team members
13 to 15 (5 at a time)
Mixed gender
Single
Categorization
Indoor or Outdoor
Equipment
Basketball
Olympic
1936
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of 5 players try to score points against one another by placing a ball through a 10 foot (3.048 m) high hoop (the goal) under organized rules. A regulation NBA basketball court is 94' long by 50' wide. Basketball is one of the most popular and widely viewed sports in the world.[1]
Points are scored by throwing (shooting) the ball through the basket from above. The team with more points at the end of the game wins, but additional time (overtime) may be issued when the scores of both teams are the same. The ball can be advanced on the court by bouncing it (dribbling) or passing it between teammates. Disruptive physical contact (foul) is penalized, and free throws will be issued if an offensive player is fouled while shooting the ball. (violations).
Through time, basketball has developed to involve many common techniques of shooting, passing and dribbling, as well as players' positions, and offensive and defensive structures. Typically, the tallest members of a team will play center or one of two forward positions, while shorter players or those who possess the best ball handling skills and speed, play the guard positions. While competitive basketball is carefully regulated, numerous variations of basketball have developed for casual play. In some countries, basketball is also a popular spectator sport.
While competitive basketball is primarily an indoor sport, played on a basketball court, less regulated variations played in the outdoors have become increasingly popular among both inner city and rural groups.
Contents[hide]
1 History
1.1 The first rules, court, and game
1.2 Women's basketball
1.3 Surge in popularity
1.4 Basketball Hall of Fame founded
1.5 Development of equipment and technique
1.6 Historical antecedents
1.7 Early college basketball development
1.8 Early women's basketball development
1.9 First Canadian interuniversity game
1.10 Early American professional and barnstorming teams
1.11 American national college championships
1.12 U.S. high school basketball
1.12.1 National championships
1.13 National Basketball Association
1.14 Women's National Basketball Association
1.15 Philippine Basketball Association
1.16 International basketball
1.17 Pros in the Olympics
1.18 International stars in the NBA
1.19 Globalization of basketball
2 Rules and regulations
2.1 Playing regulations
2.2 Equipment
2.3 Violations
2.4 Fouls
3 Common techniques and practices
3.1 Positions and structures
3.2 Shooting
3.3 Rebounding
3.4 Passing
3.5 Dribbling
3.6 Blocking
4 Height
5 Variations and similar games
5.1 Wheelchair Basketball
5.2 Water Basketball
5.3 Beach Basketball
5.4 Dunk Hoops
5.5 Slamball
5.6 Streetball
5.7 Unicycle Basketball
5.8 More distantly related basketball games
6 Social forms of basketball
7 Fantasy basketball
8 See also
9 References
10 External links
10.1 Historical
10.2 Organizations
10.3 Other
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