Most of us are probably familiar with the general idea of basketball. But here’s an explanation of the basics in case your knowledge is a bit rusty or if you are totally new to the sport:

• Basketball is an athletic non-contact sport played by opposing teams who score points by throwing a ball into each other’s basket. Basketball players can move the ball around the court by passing by hand or dribbling by bouncing the ball as they are on the move.
• Basketball skills required include an ability to run quickly in short bursts on a small congested court, excellent hand-eye coordination, catching, dribbling, and shooting. The team who scores the most points is the winner.
• There are five players from each team on the court at any one time, with up to five substitutes sitting on the side line.
• The game begins with the ball being thrown up by the referee and two players, standing in the centre circle, jump for it and try to tap it to one of their team mates.
• No holding, tripping, hitting or pushing is allowed. If a player commits more than five fouls, they are sent off the court for the remainder of the game.
• The ball is round with a circumference of 75 (29.5in) to 78cm (30.7in), and weighs 600 (21oz) to 650g (23oz).
• The modern game was invented by Canadian James Naismith who in 1891, while a teacher at YMCA Training School in Massachusetts, USA, was faced with the problem of finding a sport that was suitable for play inside during the winter. The first game was played with a football and two peach baskets used as goals.
• Basketball was introduced as an Olympic sport in 1936.

The basketball court
An explanation and illustration of the court

• The game is played on a rectangular court of 28m x 15m (84ft x 50ft)
• The baskets are 45cm (18in) wide and raised 3.05m (10ft) from the floor and fixed to back boards.
• The four-sided area around the basket is known as the ‘key’.
• At the narrow end of the key is the free-throws line where shots can be taken after a foul has been awarded.
• The large arc (6.25m or 20.5ft) from each basket) is the three-point line — successful shots from outside this line score an extra point on top of the usual two.

Health and fitness benefits of basketball
Fitness benefits of playing basketball include the following:

• Improves upper body strength with strong arms required for throwing the basketball.
• Develops hand-eye coordination.
• Improves lower body leg strength, with short bursts of sprinting required.
• Increases flexibility with feet and hands needing to adapt to the fast pace of the game.
• Boosts balance and concentration skills.