basketball

Ball game between two teams of five players on an indoor enclosed court. The object is, via a series of passing moves, to throw the large inflated ball through a circular hoop and net positioned at each end of the court, 3.05 m/10 ft above the in ground. The first world championship for men was held in 1950, and 1953 for women. They are now held every four years.

The court
In the USA the standard court is 28.7 m/94 ft long and 15.2 m/50 ft wide, with a backboard at the centre of each end of the court, to which a circular metal hoop is attached.

Rules
The object of the game is to score the most points by throwing the ball through the hoop, also called a basket, with two points scored for each field goal, or basket, shot from the field. Under certain rules, three points are awarded for field goals made beyond a specified distance from the basket.

One point is scored for each foul shot (awarded after certain types of rules infractions by the opposing teams). Foul shots, also called free throws, are taken from a line 4.6 m/15 ft from the backboard. The court has lines from the foul line to the court's base line. The lane between the lines cannot be entered by players until the foul shot has been released by the shooter. During regular play, offensive players may remain in the lane for only three consecutive seconds. Under professional rules a player must leave the game after committing six fouls.

The court dimensions and markings vary slightly among US amateur, US professional, and international rules. If a regulation game ends in a tie, overtime periods are played until one team wins. Under professional rules a game is made up of 4 quarters each lasting 12 minutes. Under some rules the team with possession of the ball must shoot within a certain time period: 24 seconds in professional games.