Five Basketball rules every fan should know

• Basketball has massive supporters all over the world. It is one of the most followed sports in the world. 
• There are several professional basketball leagues in the world. NBA is the most extensive professional basketball league in the world. 
• Basketball has some rules which every player must follow during a match.

Basketball is one of the most exciting sports in the world. It is a sport where two teams with five players compete against one another on a rectangular box. The players’ primary objective is to shoot the ball to a backboard mounted 10 feet high at each end of the court.

NBA Court. Photo/ The New Yorker

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is the world’s highest governing body of basketball. The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the world’s most significant professional basketball league. The National Basketball Association currently has stars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and James Harden.

Basketball has a unique set of rules and guidelines for gameplay, personnel, and penalties. This article will look at top five major rules every basketball fan should know.

1. Score more than your opponent to win

Well, the team with the highest number of goals at the end of a basketball match is the winner. Each team must struggle to score more field goals than the opposition. A field goal means any basket a player scores during the game.

A field goal can either be a layup, slam dunk, tip-in or a jump shot. A field goal can be worth two or three points. Field goals shot from inside the arc are two points, whereas field goals from outside the arc are worth three good points.

2. Dribble to advance the ball

LeBron James dribbling during a match. Photo/ Encyclopedia Britannica

For a basketball player to advance the ball, they have to bounce it on the floor or pass it to one of his teammates. If a basketball player stops dribbling, they are not allowed to continue possessing the ball. The player has to shoot from their standing position or pass the ball to one of his teammates.

If the player decides to continue dribbling, the referee calls for a “double dribble”. The opposing team gets the ball, and play resumes. The player with the ball should also not run while holding the ball. The referee calls for a travelling call, and the possession goes to the opposing team.

3. The basketball and its handler must remain in bounds during a gameplay

It is a rule that the ball and the handler must stay in bounds. The player in possession of the ball must always be within the marked inbound lines of the court. The referee gives custody to the opposing team if a player with the ball steps out of the line.

If a player shoots and scores while their foot is stepping on the line, the goal will not count. The referee will give possession to the opposing team.

4. Defenders must leave the paint after three seconds

The paint is the area which is directly in front of the basket. The paint is also referred to as “inside the key”. Defenders have a maximum of three seconds to leave the paint. If the referee notices a player hoovering in the paint for more than three seconds, the team receives a three-second violation.

Offensive players may not also stay in the paint for more than three seconds. The referee gives the offensive team a three-second violation if their player breaks the rule.

However, a player can step back into the paint once they step out.

5. Defenders can get the ball, but they are not allowed to interfere with a shot

The defending team plays the role of preventing the offensive team from scoring. The defending team can use defensive tactics to stop the opposition from scoring. They can steal the ball from the offensive team or legally block it from entering the basket.

However, the defending team cannot interfere with a shot on a downward trajectory. It is illegal for a defending player to interfere with the ball; once it starts it starts to descend towards the rim. The offensive team automatically wins a field goal if a defensive player interferes with the ball.