Question

Discuss the functional rules of basketball.

Answer 1

1. Teams and officials
   1. Two teams play, with five players from each team on court during play. A team may have up to 12 players entitled to play.
   2. Substitutions may be made when the game clock is stopped and the ball is dead.
   3. The officials include a referee and one or two umpires, assisted by table officials such as the scorer, timer and shot-clock operator.
2. Playing time and start of play
   1. The game has four periods of 10 minutes. There is a 15-minute half-time interval and 2-minute intervals between the first and second periods, the third and fourth periods, and before each extra period.
   2. If the score is tied at the end of the fourth period, additional 5-minute periods are played until the tie is broken.
   3. The first period begins with a jump ball. The other periods begin with the ball being put into play by a throw-in.
3. Playing the ball and scoring
   1. The ball is played with the hands. It may be passed, thrown, tapped, rolled or dribbled, subject to the rules.
   2. A successful shot from inside the three-point area scores 2 points; a shot from beyond it scores 3 points; and each successful free throw scores 1 point.
4. Time-outs and violations
   1. Each time-out lasts 1 minute. A team may have two in the first half, three in the second half with no more than two in the final 2 minutes and one in each extra period.
   2. The main time violations include 3 seconds in the opponents’ restricted area, 5 seconds holding the ball, 8 seconds to move the ball into the front court and 24 seconds to attempt a shot after gaining possession.
   3. A team in control of the ball in its front court must not illegally return it to its back court. A player or ball touching a boundary line or the area outside the court is out-of-bounds.
5. Fouls and penalties: A foul involves illegal personal contact with an opponent or unsportsmanlike behaviour. Fouls are recorded against the player and may also count as team fouls. After a team commits four fouls in a period, each subsequent foul results in two free throws for the opposing team. A player who commits more than five personal fouls is excluded from the game.