History
The game of basketball as it is known today was created by Dr. James Naismith in December 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts, to condition young athletes during cold months. Naismith was a physical education instructor at YMCA International Training School (now known as Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts. Upon the request of his boss, Naismith was tasked to create an indoor sports game to help athletes keep in shape in cold weather. It consisted of peach baskets and a soccer style ball. He published 13 rules for the new game. He divided his class of eighteen into two teams of nine players each and set about to teach them the basics of his new game. The objective of the game was to throw the basketball into the fruit baskets nailed to the lower railing of the gym balcony. Every time a point was scored, the game was halted so the janitor could bring out a ladder and retrieve the ball. After a while, the bottoms of the fruit baskets were removed. The first public basketball game was played in Springfield, Massachusetts, on March 11, 1892.
Rules
Basketball, a game played between two teams of five players each on a rectangular court, usually indoors. Each team tries to score by tossing the ball through the opponent’s goal, an elevated horizontal hoop and net called a basket.
Blocking
Any illegal personal contact that impedes the progress of an opponent who does not have the ball.
Dribble
Ball movement by bouncing the ball. A dribble ends when a player touches the ball with both hands simultaneously or does not continue his dribble.
Held ball
Called when two opponents have one or two hands so firmly upon the ball that neither can gain possession without undue roughness. It also is called when a player in the frontcourt is so closely guarded that he cannot pass or try for a goal or is obviously withholding the ball from play.
Jump ball
A method of putting the ball into play. The referee tosses the ball up between two opponents who try to tap it to a teammate. The jump ball is used to begin games and, in the professional game, when the ball is possessed by two opposing players at the same time.
Pass
Throwing, batting, or rolling the ball to another player. The main types are (1) the chest pass, in which the ball is released from a position in front of the chest, (2) the bounce pass, in which the ball is bounced on the floor to get it past a defensive opponent, (3) the roll pass on the floor, (4) the hook pass (side or overhead), and (5) the baseball pass, in which the ball is thrown a longer distance with one hand in a manner similar to a baseball throw.
Pivot
A movement in which a player with the ball steps once or more in any direction with the same foot while the other foot (pivot foot) is kept at its point of contact with the floor.
Pivot player
Another term for centre; also called a post player. He may begin the offensive set from a position just above the free throw line.
Rebounding
Both teams attempting to gain possession of the ball after any try for a basket that is unsuccessful, but the ball does not go out-of-bounds and remains in play.
Screen, or pick
Legal action of a player who, without causing more than incidental contact, delays or prevents an opponent from reaching his desired position.
Shots from the field
One of the main field shots is the layup, in which the shooter, while close to the basket, jumps and lays the ball against the backboard so it will rebound into the basket or just lays it over the rim. Away from the basket, players use a one-hand push shot from a stride, jump, or standing position and a hook shot, which is overhead. Some players can dunk or slam-dunk the ball, jamming the ball down into the basket.
Traveling (walking with the ball)
Progressing in any direction in excess of the prescribed limits, normally two steps, while holding the ball.
Turnover
Loss of possession of the ball by a team through error or a rule violation.
Positions
The center is the tallest player on each team, playing near the basket. On offense, the center tries to score on close shots and rebound. But on defence, the center tries to block opponents’ shots and rebound their misses.
The power forward does many of the things a center does, playing near the basket while rebounding and defending taller players. But power forwards also take longer shots than centers.
The small forward plays against small and large players. They roam all over on the court. Small forwards can score from long shots and close ones.
The point guard runs the offense and usually is the team’s best dribbler and passer. The point guard defends the opponent’s point guard and tries to steal the ball.
The shooting guard is usually the team’s best shooter. The shooting guard can make shots from long distance and also is a good dribbler.
Products
As for basketball, there are a few products available in different categories. You can search on the following categories: bags, balls, coach, hoops, mouthguards, protective gear and training. Within these categories, there are different products available such as a game ball, ball bag, shoe weight, court marker, coach board, clipboard, team cones, mini hoop, light-strike basketball, target trainer, training disc, mouthguard, basketball net and fun foam ball.
Brands
