RULES

In 1891 James Naismith published his rules for the game of "Basket Ball" that he invented. The original game played under these rules was quite different than the one played today as there was no dribbling, dunking, three pointers, or shot clock, and goal tending was legal.

1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.
2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands.
3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man who catches the ball when running at a good speed if he tries to stop.
4. The ball must be held in or between the hands, the arms or body must not be used for holding it.
5. No shouldering, holding, striking, pushing, or tripping in any way of an opponent. The first infringement of this rule by any person shall count as a foul,the second shall disqualify him until the next basket is made or, if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game.
6. No substitution shall be allowed.
7. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violation of rules three and four and such described in rule five.
8. If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count a goal for the opponents.
9. A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edges, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.
10. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field of play and played by the first person touching it. In case of dispute the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in is allowed five seconds. If he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on that side.
11. The umpire shall be the judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have power to disqualify people according to Rule 5.
12. The referee shall be judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made and keep account of the baskets, with any other duties that are usually performed by a scorekeeper.
13. The time shall be two fifteen-minute halves, with five minutes rest between.
14. The side making the most points in that time is declared the winner.

PLAYERS, SUBSTITUTES, TEAM AND TEAMMATES

In 1900, five players became standard, and players that were substituted were not allowed to re-enter the game. Players were allowed to re-enter a game once from 1921, and twice from 1934, such restrictions on substitutions were abolished in 1945 when substitutions became unlimited. Coaching was originally prohibited during the game, but from 1949, coaches were allowed to address players during a time-out.

Originally a player was disqualified on his second foul. This limit became four fouls in 1911 and five fouls in 1945, still the case in most forms of basketball where the normal length of the game is 40 minutes. When the normal length is 48 minutes a player is accordingly disqualified on his sixth foul.

SHORT CLOCK AND TIME LIMITS

The first time restriction on possession of the ball was introduced in 1933, where teams were required to advance the ball over the center line within ten seconds of gaining possession. This rule remained until 2000, when FIBA reduced the requirement to eight seconds, the NBA following suit in 2001.

In 1936 the three-second rule was introduced. This rule prohibits offensive players from remaining near their opponents' basket for longer than three seconds. A game central to this rule's introduction was that between the University of Kentucky and New York University. Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp did not take one of his referees with him, despite being warned of discrepancies in officiating between the Midwest and east by Notre Dame Coach George Keogan, and the game became especially rough.

While the rule was originally adopted to reduce roughness in the area between big men, it is now considered to prevent tall offensive players from gaining an advantage by waiting close to the basket. When the NBA started to allow zone defense in 2001, a three-second rule for defensive players was also introduced.

The shot clock was introduced for increase the speed of play. Teams were then required to attempt a shot within 24 seconds of gaining possession, and the shot clock would be reset when the ball touched the basket's rim or the backboard, or the opponents gained possession. FIBA adopted a 30-second shot clock two years later, resetting the clock when a shot was attempted. Women's basketball adopted a 30-second clock in 1971. The NCAA adopted a 45-second shot clock for men while continuing with the 30-second clock for women in 1985. The men's shot clock was then reduced to 35 seconds in 1993. FIBA reduced the shot clock to 24 seconds in 2000, and changed the clock's resetting to when the ball touched the rim of the basket. Originally, a missed shot where the shot clock expired while the ball is in the air constituted a violation. In 2003 the rule was changed so that the ball remains live in this situation, as long as it touched the rim. If the ball touches the rim and slightly bounces over the basketball hoop it will be called as a loose ball.

FOULS, FREE THROWS AND VIOLATIONS

Dribbling was not part of the original game, but was introduced in 1901. At the time, a player could only bounce the ball once, and could not shoot after he had dribbled. The definition of dribbling became the "continuous passage of the ball" in 1909, allowing more than one bounce, and a player who had dribbled was then allowed to shoot.

Running with the ball ceased to be considered a foul in 1922, and became a violation, meaning that the only penalty was loss of possession. Striking the ball with the fist has also become a violation. From 1931, if a closely guarded player withheld the ball from play for five seconds, play was stopped and resumed with a jump ball; such a situation has since become a violation by the ball-carrier. Goaltending became a violation in 1944, and offensive goaltending in 1958.

Free throws were introduced shortly after basketball was invented. In 1895, the free throw line was officially placed fifteen feet (4.6 m) from the backboard, prior to which most gymnasiums placed one twenty feet (6.1 m) from the backboard. From 1924, players that received a foul were required to shoot their own free throws. One free throw shot is awarded to a player who was fouled while making a successful field goal attempt. If the field goal attempt is unsuccessful, two free throw shots are awarded. If an offensive player is fouled while not in the act of shooting, or if a player is fouled in a loose-ball situation, the penalty varies by level of play and the number of fouls accumulated by the opposing team in a given period.

In NCCA and NFHS play

If the teams have 6 or fewer team in the half, the team fouled gets possession of the ball or if the team 7 or 9 team fouls, the player fouled goes to the line of bonus. Player makes the first free throw then they gets the opportunity to attempt a second but if it is missing then the ball will survive. If the team has 10 or more fouls in the half, the player fouled gets two free throws. Overtime periods are considered an extension of the second half for purpose of accumulated fouls. Even though games are played in quarters.

In the NBA

If the player's team has 4 or fewer team fouls in the quarter the team fouled gets possession of the ball. Starting with the team's fifth foul in the quarter, the team two free throws. In the NBA also any overtime is not considered an extension of any quarter. Instead the penalty of two free throws is triggered on the team's fourth foul in that overtime. Four limits are reset in the last two minutes of a quarter. If a team has not reached its limit of accumulated fouls the first team fouls in the last two minutes result in possession by the team fouled and all subsequent fouls result in 2 free throws.

In the FIBA play

If the player's team has 4 or fewer team fouls in the quarter, the team fouled gets control of the ball. Starting with teams fifth foul in the quarter then the player fouled gets two free throws. Throughout an interval of play all team members entitled to play are considered as players. The ball will become dead when an official blows his whistle even as the ball is survive. All overtime periods are considered an extension of the fourth quarter for purpose of accumulated fouls. A player has 10 seconds to attempt a free throw. If the player does not attempt a free throw within 10 seconds of receiving the ball, the free throw attempt is lost, and a free throw violation is called. A free throw violation also occurs if a free throw misses the backboard, rim, and basket. If a free throw violation is assessed in the last free throw awarded to a player in a given situation, possession automatically reverts to the opposing team.

EQUIPMENTS

The goal is placed 10 feet (3.05m) above the court. Originally a basket was used .so the ball had to be retrieved after each made shot. Today a hoop with an open-bottom hanging net is used instead.