Olympic history

Basketball made its appearance at the Olympic Games in 1904 in St Louis as a demonstration
sport, as the competition was held between only American teams and counted as an event of the
Amateur Athletic Union (AAU of the USA) Championships.
At the Games in 1936 in Berlin, basketball joined the Olympic programme, where it has
remained to this day. Womens basketball debuted at the 1976 Games in Montreal.
The USA dominates international basketball and won all the titles up to 1972, the year it was
defeated by the Soviet Union at the Munich Games. In the womens event, the Soviets took gold
in 1976, 1980 and 1992, and were later dominated by the Americans between 1984 and 2008,
except in 1992.
In 1992 at the Barcelona Games, famous players from the National Basketball Association
(NBA) were allowed for the first time to represent the USA. This team, known as the Dream
Team in the international media, was undoubtedly the best basketball team ever formed. It
delighted the public and widely dominated the Olympic tournament in 1992.
Basketball History: Origin of the Sport
In contrast to other sports, basketball has a clear origin. It is not the evolution from an ancient game or
another sport and the inventor is well known: Dr. James Naismith.
Naismith was born in 1861 in Ramsay township, Ontario, Canada. He graduated as a physician at McGill
University in Montreal and was primarily interested in sports physiology.
In 1891, while working as a physical education teacher at the YMCA International Training School (today,
Springfield College) in the United States, Naismith was faced with the problem of finding in 14 days an
indoor game to provide "athletic distraction" for the students at the School for Christian Workers (Naismith
was also a Presbyterian minister).
After discarding the idea of adapting outdoor
games like soccer and lacrosse, Naismith
recalled the concept of a game of his school
days known as duck-on-a-rock that involved
accuracy attempting to knock a "duck" off the
top of a large rock by tossing another rock at
it.
Starting from there, Naismith developed a set
of 13 rules that gave origin to the game of
basketball.
Of course it was not exactly as we know it
today. The first game was played with a
soccer ball and two peach baskets nailed 10-
feet high used as goals, on a court just half
the size of a present-day court. The baskets
retained their bottoms so balls scored into the
basket had to be poked out with a long dowel each time and dribbling (bouncing of the ball up and down
while moving) was not part of the original game.
The sport was an instant success and thanks to the initial impulse received by the YMCA movement,
basketball's popularity quickly grew nationwide and was introduced in many nations. Although Naismith
never saw the game develop into the spectacular game we know these days, he had the honor to witness
basketball become an Olympic sport at the 1936 Games held in Berlin.
These are James Naismith original thirteen rules of basketball:
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, but never with the fist.
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 running at good speed.
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, pushing, striking 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 goal is made or, if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the
game. No substitution shall be allowed.
6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violations of Rules 3 and 4 and such as described in Rule
5.
7. If either side make three consecutive fouls it shall count as a goal for the opponents (consecutive
means without the opponents in the meantime making a foul).
8. Goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the ground into the basket and stays
there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the
edge and the opponents move the basket, it shall count as a goal.
9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field 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 them.
10. The umpire shall be judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three
consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have the power to disqualify men according to Rule
5.
11. The referee shall be the judge of the ball and decide when it 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 goals with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.
12. The time shall be two 15-minute halves with five minutes' rest between.
13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winners.
29
th
January 2013This weekend was more than important for global basketball. FIBAs Techical Comission
met in Singapore in order to discuss changes in FIBA rules which will move the sport towards the goal of
global rules unification. Those changes are typically considered proposals that will need the ratification of
FIBAs Central Board, however this seems to be just a formality.
When FIBAs central board approves the changes, then they will be presented officially to the general public,
however as Eurohoops had previously reported those changes are pushing the FIBA game closer to the NBA
rules set.
UPDATE (1): According to the latest informations the new rules that have been proposed are the following:
After an offensive rebound, the shot clock will reset to 14 seconds and not 24.
The penalty for a technical foul will be only one free throw and not two and the possession of the ball.
After two technical fouls the coach or the player will be ejected.
The no charge area under the basket becomes universal.
During the last two minutes of the game every team will have the right to call time out only two times.
Due to technical issues the three points line will remain in 6,75 m. and the court will not become wider. Also
the jump ball will not return in every competition, but it may be adopted by the Euroleague instead of the
arrow which now defines the possession of the ball. The new changes are expected to be implemented by the
1st of October 2014.
The Basketball

A basketball is definitely the most important equipment required to play the sport of basketball. You
can have every other equipment but without a ball, it would account for nothing. Basketballs come in
different sizes, that vary according to the age group of the players. As far as professional basketball
competitions are concerned, most leagues use size 7 for men's competitions, and size 6 for women's
competitions. Size 7 corresponds to 29.5 to 30 inches of circumference, whereas size 6 corresponds to
28.5 inches of circumference. Besides the size, basketballs also come in varying materials, of which
there are two major types.

Rubber Basketballs
Basketballs made out of rubber are primarily used on outdoor playing surfaces, though they can be
used on indoor courts too. These balls are heavier, more durable, and cost less than other types of
basketballs.

Leather Basketballs
Basketballs made out of leather are primarily used on indoor playing surfaces, and are referred to as
indoor basketballs. They can be used outdoors as well, but are not made for outdoor courts, and
hence get damaged or worn out quicker when used outdoors. They are lighter in weight as compared
to rubber basketballs, and more expensive.

Basketball Court

A basketball court is a rectangular surface consisting of two posts on either side, to which the
backboards are attached. The size of the court differs with every league. In the National Basketball
Association (NBA), which is the highest professional league for basketball in America, the official size
of the court is 94 feet by 50 feet. In the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the court is
around 91 feet by 49 feet, which is slightly smaller than the NBA court. Schools and institutions have
even smaller courts, some as small as 74 feet by 42 feet.

The surface of the court is usually made out of wood or cement. Indoor courts that are used for
competitive matches are usually made out of maple wood which is polished, whereas outdoor courts
meant for casual play are usually made out of cement.

The Basket and Backboard

The Basket
The basket, also referred to as a hoop or a ring, is a horizontal metallic rim, circular in shape. This rim
is attached to a net, which is usually made out of nylon or steel. The rim is mounted 10 feet above the
court. Some leagues, that cater to younger children, may have baskets that are lower than 10 feet.

The Backboard
The backboard is a vertical board made out of Plexiglas or wood, to which the basket is attached. This
is the surface used by players to rebound their shots into the basket. In professional basketball , this
board is made out of Plexiglas and not wood, not only because the former is more durable, but also
because the opaqueness of wood proves to be a hindrance for the spectators whose view of the game
can be blocked if they are sitting in line with the backboard.

The Apparel
The clothing or the uniform used in basketball is the next most important thing, as having the right
attire can make you feel comfortable during the game or practice. Comfort is important since a lot of
actions and movements in basketball require your joints to have full range of motion. Wrong attire can
hinder the flexibility of the player. Here is a list of important apparel that are a must in basketball:


Jersey and Shorts

Basketball is typically played in a jersey and shorts. The jersey should preferably be sleeveless, so
that it does not hinder the shooting action at all. If you are playing in competitive matches, it is
advisable that a team should wear the same colored jersey and shorts as it makes it easier to spot
your teammates. In professional leagues, this a mandatory requirement anyway.

Shoes

Wearing basketball shoes is very significant as opposed to donning usual sneakers, as these shoes are
designed specifically for the game of basketball. They are ankle length shoes designed to give
protection to the ankle, as basketball is a sport that involves a lot of jumping, twists, and turns. These
shoes provide a lot of traction too.
Additional Equipment
In addition to the equipment mentioned above, other things are required when the game is played
professionally. The most important of these are as listed:



Scoreboard

A scoreboard is required to keep count of the score when a match is being played. A basic scoreboard
consists of a digital clock that keeps track of the time of the match, as well as a digital screen that
keeps the track of the score of both teams. A scoreboard is usually placed on the sidelines in semi-
professional leagues, and at the top in professional competitions.