Basketball for dummies
Sports reporter
Basketball has emerged during the last half of the century as the second-most popular sport in America.
While football has surpassed baseball as "America's Pastime," the sport of basketball has come a long way since the first leather balls were tossed into peach baskets.
Understanding how scoring works in basketball isn't much of a problem, even for the casual observer.
Every made shot is worth two points, unless both of the shooter's feet are behind the three-point line, thus leading to three points for every made shot.
A free throw, taken from a line 15 feet away from the hoop with no defender present after a foul, is worth one point.
The team with the most points when the clock reads zero is the winner.
No problem right?
But what about all the action that takes place between made shots?
Why did that official just blow the whistle? Is that contact between those two players legal or illegal? What did that official just do with his hands?
A lot happens during basketball games, even away from the ball, and here are a few explanations for those who sit at games and say, "What the heck just happened?"
Rule violations
A referee can blow his or her whistle up to 60 or 70 times per game, indicating a player has done something against the rules.
Anyone can see the foul where one player smacks another in the head while he is shooting.
However, what about the ones you can't always see?
Here is a list to help you out:
block
If a referee blows the whistle and then pounds both fists against her hips, that indicates a blocking foul.
It's not a blocked shot, but the defender impeding the offensive player when he was going up for the shot.
It generally happens when a player is driving to the basket, and the defender does not have his feet set, and makes contact with the shooter.
charge
If the defender does have his feet set, and the offensive player runs into him out of control, a charge will be called, and the referee will signal this by putting one hand behind his head, and the other straight out toward the other goal.
More often than not a block is called (unless a player is out of control or leads with a shoulder or elbow), but when a player crashes into another and a whistle is blown, look for one of these two calls.
Three seconds
Ever heard someone in the crowd yell, "Three seconds!"? That's because it is illegal for an offensive player to stay in the paint for three seconds or more.
The paint is the colored area under each basket that runs from under the goal to the free-throw line, and across the blocks on both sides.
To avoid congestion, and bigger players always huddling under the basket, offensive players must move back and forth inside the paint.
Most referees will count slow, almost leading to a four-second call, but if your player is caught camping out too long, the other team receives the ball.
technical foul
What constitutes a technical foul?
Actually there is no one action, but if a referee feels a player deserves one she will signal her hands like a T for time out, and blow the whistle.
The deserving party could have used foul language, become too physical with another player, been continually arguing, had more than five players on the court during the game, or a number of other actions.
In high school, a technical results in two foul shots (with no one on the line with the shooter), and the ball awarded to the opposing team.
Two technical fouls for one player or coach, and they head to the showers.
flagrant and INTENTIONAL fouls
Flagrant and intentional fouls also are similar to technical fouls.
A flagrant foul is when a player is called for a foul on a shooter, but it is more than just a normal foul.
The defender could have grabbed the player's head or neck, shoved them unnecessarily hard, or even hit the opposing player intentionally.
The foul results in free-throw attempts and the ball for the opposing team.
A type 2 foul calls for immediate ejection, while two type 1 flagrants (decided by the refs) will result in an ejection.
The intentional foul usually occurs when a team is trying to catch up at the end of the game and fouls a player on the other team intentionally.
As long as the defender looks like she is making a play for the ball, it is legal.
If the ref determines she did not (i.e. grabbing the player around the waist or just slapping anywhere other than toward the ball) foul shots and the ball are again awarded to the opposing team.
travel, double-dribble, and carry
All three of these violations occur when a player is dribbling the basketball.
The carry and double-dribble are simple.
A player is called for carrying if, when dribbling the ball, her palm faces upward, instead of down to the floor.
A double-dribble violation is called if a player dribbles the ball after already picking up his dribble.
Once a dribble is picked up, he must pass, shoot, or call a time-out.
Traveling can get tricky because there are many different ways to be whistled for this violation.
The obvious is picking up the ball and running without dribbling.
This rarely happens in a game that involves anyone older than six.
If a player picks up his dribble while he is running, (i.e. going up for a layup) he is allowed two steps without dribbling before he must shoot or pass the ball.
Two steps also are allowed when a player catches a pass on the run, so she can set her feet.
Once stopped she must dribble, shoot, or pass.
Traveling also is called if a player catches the ball, sets his feet, and then make a move to the basket before dribbling.
The violation also can occur when a player falls down while dribbling the ball, and does not keep his dribble on the way down.
Unusual rules
backcourt
Each team has 10 seconds to move the ball across the halfcourt line, or the ball is awarded to the opposing team.
Once the ball has passed halfcourt, the offensive team must stay on its opponent's side of the court.
If any part of a ball goes beyond the halfcourt line, the ball is awarded to the other team.
If the offensive team throws the ball behind the halfcourt line, they cannot be the first team to touch it.
If the defensive teams knocks the ball behind the line, the offensive team then can go behind the line to retrieve the ball.
Tie-up
Sometimes you will see two or more players fight for control of a loose ball.
If possession is not gained after a few seconds, a referee will call a tie-up, and raise both thumbs in the air.
This also is called a jump ball, because when this happens in the National Basketball Association (NBA), there actually is a jump ball on the spot of the tie-up to see who gets possession.
In high school, there is a possession arrow, which points to the team who does not win the opening tip, and alternates every time there is a tie-up.
goal tending
A defensive player may knock away a shot at anytime, as long as it is still on its way up.
Once a referee determines the ball is on its way down, it may not be touched by a player on either side.
If a defensive player touches it, the offense is awarded the basket.
If an offensive player happens to touch the ball and it still goes in, the shot is disallowed.
Also, if the ball is hovering over the cylinder of the basket (this happens when someone misses a shot and it is still above the rim) an offensive player cannot dunk or tip the ball in without goaltending being called.
He must wait until the ball is below the rim to attempt the dunk or tip in.
Much more
There are many more rules in the game of basketball, some that only may happen once per season.
But understanding the above mentioned rules and violations will help you, the casual observer, understand the most common occurrences during a game.
If the whistle blows and you still aren't sure what just happened, just watch what everyone else is doing, and the you can decide whether to cheer or boo.
Editor's note:
Look for "Wrestling for Dummies" in next week's issue.
