Basketball Rules 101: Everything You Need to Know

The rules of basketball have evolved substantially since James Naismith invented the game in 1891. The first contest included 9 players on each team, a basket counted as 1 point, and there was no dribbling. Over time, dribbling was introduced, the number of players on a team dropped to 5, and a basket changed to either 2 or 3 points. Today, basketball is a worldwide sport with rules that are generally the same with some small differences between individual leagues.

Below is an explanation of the basic rules and structure of basketball.

Team Composition & Scoring System

In basketball, there are 5 players competing for each team during a game. Generally, there are 10 or 11 players on a team. The 5 positions are point guard, shooting guard, power forward, small forward, and center. Players score by making a basket. A shot made from beyond the 3-point arc in the NBA, which is 23’9” from the basket, is worth 3 points. All baskets inside of 23’9” are worth 2 points. A 2-point basket is called a field goal. Below is a description of the roles of each player.

Point Guard: Point guards are known as the ball handlers. They bring the ball up the court and start the offense. They typically are good passers. Their job is to set up other players to score. Point guards are sometimes better at dribbling to the basket and scoring than other players.
Shooting Guard: The shooting guard, which is also known as the off-guard position, is typically responsible for scoring from the outside. They usually take more 3-point shots than their teammates.
Power Forward: A power forward plays mostly around the basket. They’re generally bigger and stronger than any of the other positions except for center. Their job is to get rebounds and score close to the basket. A rebound is when a player grabs a missed shot.
Small Forward: A small forward is usually versatile. They’re typically not as big as a power forward. They often can make shots inside and outside, they can handle the ball well, and they can also be good rebounders.
Center: A center is usually the tallest player on the team. They typically score close to the basket and are often the team’s best shot blockers. Blocking a shot means deflecting an opponent’s shot on the way to the basket.

Teams don’t necessarily play with 2 guards, 2 forwards, and a center. It can be a combination of forwards and guards. Often, teams don’t have a true center. Instead, they might use an extra guard or forward in place of the center. Coaches try to get their best players on the floor, regardless of position.

Basketball Violations

Basketball violations are called by officials. There are generally 3 referees for every game. Their job is to make sure that the rules are enforced. Below is a list of 7 common violations.

3-Second Rule: An offensive player can’t “camp” inside the lane for longer than 3 seconds. Vertically, the lane runs from the end line or where the court starts under the basket to the free throw line. It’s 4 feet wide. The 3-second rule was created to make sure taller players couldn’t stay close to the basket indefinitely on offense. Getting the ball near the basket is an advantage for a taller player. To avoid a 3-second violation, offensive players must step out of the lane before the count of 3. A 3-second violation results in a change of possession. A change of possession is when the team that made the violation must give the ball to their opponents.
Traveling: In basketball, a player is allowed 2 steps with the ball. If they take more than 2 steps without dribbling the basketball, it’s called a travel. Traveling results in a change of possession.
Carrying: Carrying the basketball is when a player uses the palm of their hand to turn the basketball over while dribbling. It’s considered an unfair advantage for offensive players. A carry results in a change of possession.
Free Throw: This is when a player gets a free shot or shots after a rule's violation. The shot is attempted 15 feet from the basket behind the free throw line, and with the clock stopped.
Personal Foul: A personal foul is when there’s illegal contact from a player. It could be grabbing or holding an offensive player or when an offensive player runs into a defensive player who has established their position on the floor. The penalty for a foul is either a change of possession or a trip to the free-throw line.
Technical Foul: A technical foul is an act of unsportsmanlike conduct against a player or coach. The team that didn’t commit the technical gets 2 free throws and possession of the ball. A player is ejected if they get 2 technicals.
Flagrant Foul: A flagrant foul is egregious and excessive contact committed against an opponent. It results in 2 free throws and possession of the ball for the team that didn’t commit the foul. Two flagrant fouls result in an ejection.

Basic Basketball Rules

Basketball rules and court sizes vary between different levels. High school games are shorter than the NBA and college games and their courts are smaller. Below is a summary of some of the basic rules.

Duration: A basketball game lasts between 32 and 48 minutes, and it’s split into either quarters or halves. The National Basketball Association has 4 quarters that last 12 minutes while men’s college basketball has 2 halves that are 20 minutes. Most high school games are 4 quarters that are 8 minutes long. The game stops for any violation, or if the ball travels out of bounds.
Size: NBA and college basketball courts are 94 feet long and 50 feet wide. They have lines that run around the court that mark the court. High school courts are normally 84 by 50.
Jump Ball: The game starts with a jump ball. A jump ball is when 2 players, 1 from each team, try to give their team possession of the ball after an official throws it up in the air. The players who jump for the basketball must use their hands to try to swat the ball to a teammate.
Alternate Possession: That means that after the jump ball , the teams switch possession on held balls or after quarters and halves. Held balls are when 1 player from each team has equal possession of a loose ball. A loose ball is a ball that’s not controlled by either team.
Shot Clock: In the NBA and college basketball, teams have a limited amount of time to play offense or take a shot at the basket. It’s 24 seconds in the NBA and 30 seconds in college. If a team fails to take a shot in that time, they lose possession of the ball. If they take a shot and miss, the shot clock starts again. After a made shot, the opposing team gets the ball.
Inbounds: Inbounds is the area where the game action occurs.
Out of bounds: The area where the ball is out of play or “dead” is out of bounds. Anytime a player with the ball or the ball touches the lines that mark the court or goes beyond those lines, the ball is considered out of bounds.
Inbounding: When an offensive team throws the ball from out of bounds to the area of play, it’s called inbounding the basketball. Teams must inbound the basketball after each change of possession.
Overtime: If the game is tied at the end of regulation play, an extra period is added. In college and NBA basketball, overtime lasts 5 minutes.
Substitutions: Coaches can make unlimited substitutions. However, a player can only report to the game during a stop in the action.
Timeouts: College coaches have 1 full timeout, which lasts 60 seconds, and 3 timeouts that last 30 seconds. NBA teams have 7 timeouts but no more than 4 can be used in the 4^th quarter. Only the team with possession of the basketball can call a timeout.
1-and-1: In college basketball, a team is awarded 1 free throw and a bonus free throw if they make the first free throw and if the foul doesn’t occur in the act of shooting. If the foul occurs in the act of shooting, the player is awarded 2 free throws. A 1-and-1 is awarded after the 7^th team foul. After the 10^th foul in the half, all free throw opportunities are 2 shots.

It’s important for fans and players to understand the rules that govern basketball. With 2.2 billion fans, basketball is the third most popular sport globally. Knowing how the game is played and what the rules are will deepen your understanding of the sport and increase your enjoyment.