Basketball Rules

Summary

General rules of professional Basketball. They are meant more to be succinct and practical, at the expence of precision and completeness.

Time periods

Question	Answer
game divisions	4 quarters (12 minutes each)
halftime lasts...	15 minutes
other breaks last...	2 minutes
overtime periods last...	5 minutes
the clock is stopped when...	the ball is not in play
games typically last...	2 hours
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Players and points

Question	Answer
players on court	5 for each team
points for shots	- 2 pts for normal shots - 3 pts if behind the 3 pt line - 1 pt for free throws
the 3 pt line is...	23 ft 9 in away (from the basket)
the free-throw line is...	15 ft away (from the basket)
substitutes teams can have	7 substitutes
circumference of men's ball	about 30 inches
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Fouls

Question	Answer
player is booted after...	6 fouls
foul for unsportsmanlike non-contact behavior	technical foul
foul for illegal personal contact	personal foul
fouls with excessive physical contact	flagrant foul
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Positions

Question	Answer
point guard	- controls ball - makes sure it gets to right player
shooting guard	- offense: high volume of shots - defense: guards the opponent's best perimeter player
small forward	- offense: scores by cutting to the basket and dribble penetration - defense: rebounds and steals
power forward	- offense: often has back to the basket - defense: stays under the basket (in a zone defense)
center	uses size to score or protect the basket closely
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Strategies

Question	Answer
two guard offense	- most common offense - 2 guards, 1 center, 2 forwards
three guard offense	3 guards and 2 forwards (or 1 center and 1 forward)
man-to-man defense	players each stick with one opposing player
zone defense	players stay in specific areas
offensive player stays still, to serve as an obstacle	pick (or screen)
player or court that usually indicates a play	point guard
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See also