They say that practice makes perfect. Would that be the same to clinch free throws in basketball? It is a combination of trick and practice. Professionals have their own strategies or ways on getting that ball through the net. But if you are a beginner or an amateur, then it would be best to start with the basics, before you find your own “rhythm” when shooting from the free throw line.
It is important to be consistent in free-throw shooting. First, it would put your team in advantageous position, specially if the opponents would foul you. Second, developing your free throw would help you develop your other shooting techniques. But making sure that the ball would get into the net is hard since there is a lot of pressure when you are on the line.
Here are some free throw tricks.
Be in a comfortable position. When shooting free throws, the feet and the shoulder should be wide apart and parallel with each other. You should be standing just a bit behind the line, figure the position where you have balance and you could target the shot.
Bend your knees a bit and shift your weight at the balls of your feet.
Handle the ball with your non-shooting hand. Your shooting hand should be at the seams of the ball. The thumb should provide support on the ball but the force should come from the palm of the shooting hand.
Concentrate on the ring and visualize the target.
Make sure that the foot, on the same side of your shooting hand, shooting elbow and the shooting forefinger is aligned with the center of the rim.
You elbows should create a 90 degree angle. Release the ball from the fingertips. You would have a good follow through if your fingers are still pointing to the target.
Get some arc when shooting the ball. The concept the higher the trajectory or the flight of the ball, then there is higher possibility of hitting the wide area of the hoop.
Taking your time on the foul line is important.
The pre-shot ritual is something of rhythm for some players. This would allow them to relax and focus. You could establish you own free throw ritual by dribbling and spinning the ball.
Remember that you are making or shooting free throws in a middle of a game which is completely a high-pressure environment. To ensure that you will practice your focus and concentration, try recreating the distraction and noisiness when doing free throws.
Your pre-shot routine is something you should be comfortable with. Your routine is more that just bouncing or spinning the ball. Whenever you are on the free throw line and performing the routine, you are shooting using “muscle memory.” Others agree that being consistent with one routine on the foul line could ease tension which makes bagging the net easier. You are teaching your muscles to react in the same way, every time you are on the foul line.
Always practice your free throw shot. Basketball is not only about natural skill and talent, everything is honed with practice, concentration and focus.
Success as a basketball player does not only rely on training and skill. Nutrition and diet plays a major role on developing and improving the body’s physical condition. Eating proper food would ensure that the body is supplemented with the much needed energy needed while playing the sport.
It is important for athletes to be conscious with what they eat and drink. Their energy and stamina, as well as muscle development would depend on what kinds of food they consume.
Carbohydrates - Athletes, in this case, basketball players, need to consume carbohydrates since this is a source of their energy. It is also very important in brain function. Just like in any diet, this is essential but should not be overly consumed. Great sources of carbohydrates are wheat breads and pasta.
Protein – Another source of energy and aids the body’s building blocks for strength and muscle mass. Rich sources of protein are lean turkey, fish with least amount of fat, like Halibut, tuna and cod, eggs, meat, dairy products, some vegetables like peanuts, soya and asparagus.
Fat- it is still needed, but all you need to consume would be low-fat foods like fish and nuts.
The amount of carbohydrates and protein that nutritionists recommend may differ, but generally these two are what basketball players need more. Nutritionists recommend that a balanced diet should contain about 60-65% of carbohydrates, 15-20% of fat and 10-15% of protein. Make sure to eat vegetables, fruits and whole grain food. Aside from fat, also limit sugar and sodium in your food.
Players are often recommended to eat lots of carbohydrates, at least an hour before the game. This would keep energy stored in the body. Sometimes, players would eat a banana to replenish their energy in the middle of the game. After the game, the body needs to repair itself, eating protein is important at this stage.
It is important to hydrate the body, especially during trainings and practices. The best way to keep the body hydrated is to drink water. Athletes are recommended to drink more than a gallon a day, since they would be sweating out more than that. Water could also provide the needed energy and could refresh the body. Energy drinks are best avoided, since they can be laced with sugar and caffeine which may give the body a quick energy fix but not the necessary nutrients.
It is important for athletes and basketball players to have a meal plan. This would ensure that the athletes are eating properly and what they are consuming is what their body needs. Meal plans would not only include main meals but also snacks like cereal bars, fruits and yogurts.
Following the meal plan would be easy, especially if you would be eating at home. When eating out, you should consider the serving sizes to avoid eating too much. It is okay to eat about 5 to 7 meals throughout the day, but the portion would depend on what would be the goal. For example, there are some basketball players who would like add more bulk, while others would like to reduce weight.
Basketball is one of the most popular sports around the world. Different races, age groups and gender have played basketball. Even though it is a non-contact sport, injuries incurred while playing basketball is common. Jumping, proper landing, players colliding, fouls and falling can cause damage. A lot of players would wear knee and elbow pads as protection from injury.
In the data compiled by the U.S. Consumer Product Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), about 529,837 basketball related injuries happened in 2006. These injuries range from cuts, sprain, broken legs, eye and forehead injuries.
To prevent or lessen risks of having an accident, it is important to perform warm-up and stretching exercises before playing. It may also be necessary to protect yourself from the risk by using knee, elbow and ankle support. But this is still not a guarantee that you will be safe from injuries. Here are some of the common basketball-related injuries and their treatment.
Ankle sprain.
This is one of the most common basketball injury. This commonly happens when the player did not land properly or landed on the foot of another player, or quickly rolling the ankle to change of position. Upon landing, the ligaments would be stretched or even break.
Sprain treatment would include complete foot rest, cold compress to remove the swelling, making sure that the foot is elevated, and taking medications to keep the swelling down. To prevent from getting sprained again, it is best to practice ankle strengthening exercises.
Knee injury.
This could be one of the worst injuries since it could be torn meniscus or in worst cases torn ligament which could be a result of twisting and jumping. The same initial treatment for sprain could be used for knee injury, however, torn meniscus or ligament would require surgery. Having a torn ligament would certainly have a big impact since it would mean that the person maybe unable to return to playing basketball.
Tendonitis. Tendonitis is a result of continuous bending, jumping, shooting and running. The tendons could get inflamed and become very painful. It could affect the knees, ankles and shoulders. To treat the injury, anti-inflammatory medicine is recommended. The player could also undergo therapy to strengthen the muscles on the area which experience repetitive pain.
Jumper’s Knee.
This is another common problem even if the player lands on the floor easily and lightly. The knees can swell, which is why players tend to wrap their knees with ACE bandages, as much as possible, to serve as braces or support.
Eye injuries.
The area around the eyes could also have cuts, scrapes and bruises. Players could wear eye protection or goggles to avoid dangerous eye injuries. Basketball can also be considered as one of the sports that causes eye injury among kids.
These are just some of the injuries that a player could have during or even after the game. There are ways on how basketball injuries could be avoided, aside from wearing protective and safety pads.
Before the season starts, go to a doctor for physical examination and check if he or she has personal recommendations on the conditions of your bones and ligaments.
Prepare yourself physically. If you have not played for a while, then gradually start practicing and conditioning your body. Slowly incorporate agility training, strength and flexibility exercises.
Listen to your body. If you feel you are pushing your body too hard, then consider resting for a while. Your body needs to recuperate and overusing it is just making your body more at risk. Experts would often recommend basketball players to take one season off to avoid overusing their bodies.
For rigorous sports such as basketball, shoes are a very important consideration. This is because it would ensure that the player would be safe while he or she enjoys the sport. Since the foot is the main consideration for basketball, it is a must that people would be able to find the ideal shoes that would best for the feet while playing.
The pair of shoes used in playing basketball is very important because this can give you and your feet the comfort it needs. Since basketball involves physical pain due to rigorous training, the quality of the shoes is a must to be successful.
To be able to find the basketball shoes, the first major consideration would be the type of materials used and the sole. If you are planning to engage into basketball soon, here are some of the things that you should consider when buying shoes:
1. Type of shoes. In basketball, shoes options can be determine between a “power player,” and “all-around player” or a “fast player.” For “power players,” he or she needs basketball shoes which have great stability and cushioning. An all-around player, on the other hand, needs shoes that have good cushioning and moderate ankle support. While “fast players” need shoes that are lightweight shoes that are flexibility along with moderate support and good cushioning.
2. Size of shoes. This is also a very important consideration because it will ensure one's comfort while playing basketball. Experts say that a good pair of basketball shoes should enable the player to slide in his or her foot effortlessly but should be snug enough to ensure that the shoe won’t come off while playing. Fit is equally important in finding the right basketball shoes because this will ensure your comfort while doing the exercises. Since the feet expand when worn out, tight shoes are not advisable because it will only cause feet discomfort. Oversized shoes, on the other hand, are also not advisable because you can slip when you are playing. Just like in choosing the usual shoes, shop your pair of basketball shoes after your practice. When you fit the shoes while your feet are swollen, you can get the right size for you.
3. The style of the shoes. Although this is not really a major consideration in terms of appearance, the overall design or style of the basketball shoes you will be buying should fit your needs. If you a player who needs ankle support, opt for high-tops. For those who need comfort and less movement restriction compared to high-tops, mid-tops are the best option. To those who don’t need ankle support and prefer light shoes, low-tops are the best.
When buying basketball shoes, make sure that you try it on. And, while trying on, step into both pairs of the shoes and walk. This will make you determine if the shoes are comfortable or not.
Also, try to tighten the drawstrings while fitting the shoes. This will determine the right size for you. Make sure that you buy a pair of basketball shoes where you have enough room to wiggle your toes.
It would also best to shop for basketball shoes alone. By doing this, you can rely on your own instinct and not of the one you are with.
There are 293 coaches, players, referees, contributors, and teams who are enshrined Hall of Famer by Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame since 1959.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is the highest honor one can get in basketball. Entering the Hall of Fame means one has outstandingly contributed to the sport.
In 2009, the institution enshrined five into the lists of, not only prominent but also, exceptional actors in basketball in the recent years. Let’s look at the five very closely.
Michael Jordan’s fame will likely indicate, if not prove, his superiority on court, thus surprises no one of his listing in the Hall of Fame. But it doesn’t mean it wasn’t celebrated—of course yes for this immortalized his greatness. Jordan, who won Finals MVP each basketball season, demonstrated excellence in playing.
During Jordan’s freshman season at UNC, he ended the game with a winning shot in the 1982 NCAA national title. That marked his happy days in basketball. Jordan entered the NBA Draft following his junior year. He was selected third overall by the Chicago Bulls. In 1991, the Jordan-led Bulls won three straight world championships. He won Olympic gold in the next year before he retired. When he returned to NBA, the team won three consecutive titles.
Also enshrined in 2009 is David Robinson—born August 6, 1965. He was known as “The Admiral” at the US Naval Academy. For twenty years, he was a great rebounder, shot blocker, and all-around talent. All of which he carried to the NBA games.
In 1989, Robinson became part of the San Antonio Spurs, which by his power won NBA championships first in 1999 and second in 2003. He was a ten-time All-Star who torched the nets for 71 points in the final game of the season in 1994. He was also a three-time Olympian winning two gold medals in 1992 and 1996 and one bronze medal in 1988.
Among the two, he got more immortalized testimony to his astonishing career in basketball. John Stockton, a point guard of Utah Jazz, has a statue of him erected outside the arena where he played his NBA career and has a street in Salt Lake City is named for him.
Born in 26 March 1962, Stockton is “old school” in every aspect. In his 19 seasons, he was a ten-time All Star. He led Jazz in assists a record of nine consecutive seasons and won gold medals at 1992 and 1996 Olympics. Stockton also holds the single-season record for assists.
Another 2009 Hall of Famer is Jerry Sloan, who authored the book on loyalty in coaching. He took over Utah Jazz in 1988 and became the coach for twenty years. As such, he holds the longest coaching tenure with the same team in professional sports.
Two of his greatest feats include the only NBA coach to record 1,000 wins with the same franchise and be among the three coaches in NBA history to win at least 50 games in 10 or more seasons.
The last but not the least that are enshrined in 2009 into the Hall of Fame is Vivian Stringer. She won more than 800 victories. Her coaching career started at Cheyney State where she coached alongside John Chaney.
One of her achievements includes leading a historically black college into the first NCAA women’s Final Four in 1982. An annual event, the C. Vivian Stringer Coaching Award is given to a woman who has experienced excellent success as a coach.
Indeed, playing basketball is fun because it gives you the freedom in doing the things that you love. Aside from that, it also gives a person a self-fulfillment in knowing that he or she can learn a new sport and have a chance to be great at it.
But, no matter how exciting and mind-boggling basketball is to people who engage in it, they must never fail to consider their safety while playing. Knowing that you are safe will not only give you peace of mind. It can also spare the people who love you from worrying about your safety and your life as well.
Bearing safety measures in mind
Above all else, your personal safety should always be the major consideration before you decide to engage in a team sports such as basketball. The best thing that you can do to stay safe is to research about the basketball first so you will have an idea how it is played.
Knowing things about the sport can help you asses if you are fit for it or not. It can also give you a brief background on the sport and what you can do once an emergency situation arises while playing the game.
Aside from these, here are some safety measures you can do before and during playing basketball:
• Visit your doctor or health care provider. This is quite ideal if a person has a history of illness or has been diagnosed with special conditions. Since some team sports—specifically basketball—can be extreme, a general assessment and approval of your doctor will ensure that you won't be experiencing any further complications once you play the sport.
• Prepare everything that you might need. When playing basketball, the basic requirements include a Jersey or a basketball shirt, shorts, socks, and shoes. You might also be needing extra shirts and towels as well as wristbands to wipe off your sweat. You might also want to bring lots of water to keep you hydrated while playing.
• Check your equipment. This is also a major thing to do before playing basketball. Check your shoes carefully before playing. Also, is best to inspect the court and the basketball ring to avoid using faulty pieces in the equipment that may cause accident.
• Be mindful about your movements. While playing the game, don’t be too careless on your movements especially if you are just a beginner. Watching out for your movements will help you develop balance and discipline that you will need later on once you decide to make the basketball a regular activity for yourself.
• Check the overall condition of the location. If you have time to do an ocular about the place where you will play basketball, then do so. This will give you an overall picture of the place and will also help you avoid areas that are not safe.
• Always ask somebody to look out for you while playing the sport. Cases of emergency should always be taken consideration while playing basketball. To ensure that you’re life will not be at stake, ask somebody to look out for you so he or she can help you once an accident happens.
Playing team sports such basketball is one of the best ways for people—especially those who have big families or those who have groups of friends—to enjoy spending time with another.
It is also one of the best ways to maintain a healthy body since it can serve as a daily exercise. In fact, many people play basketball because they want to maintain an ideal weight and they want to be active.
PLAYING BASKETBALL IMPROVES SKILLS
Aside from gathering people together, many don’t realize it but sports that are played by team such as basketball can bring about many advantages compared to those that are played by individuals.
Primarily, the biggest advantage would be playing team sports such as basketball is that it is more fun since it involves so many people with different personalities.
One of the major advantages of playing team sports such as basketball include is that it helps people develop their social skills. Since most of the team sports encourage people to interact and get along with other members while playing the game, playing basketball helps each individual to develop good social skills to win the respective game. It is also one way of learning how to properly mingle with other people and respecting their individual personalities.
Aside from improving the social interaction of people, playing basketball also helps instill the value of unity and cooperation. One of the major advantages of team sports such is that is teaches each member the value of being one while playing the sport. Since everybody wants to win, all members will be forced to cooperate with one another to achieve a common goal of winning.
Playing basketball also helps improve the person’s overall skill levels. As a team, the members are expected to rely on one another's performances. When playing basketball, there is a possibility that the overall performance of the group will improve once they see each other's desire to win.
BASKETBALL HELPS KEEP A HEALTHY BODY
These days, people are into more into more popular weight loss means such as indulging into weight loss diets. Little do they know that a simple sport such as basketball can do all the work in keeping healthy and fit body.
One thing that sets playing basketball apart from weight loss plans and diets out there is that it promotes and encourages versatility since playing basketball can be played alone for a practice or with a team.
One good thing about playing basketball is that it aids good lung and heart conditions. Experts say that basketball helps increase oxygen that can be found in the body, hence, it makes people have better lung and heart function.
It also enables good utilization of oxygen as well making the person’s heart use oxygen supply more efficiently. If played regularly, basketball can help people prevent and even cure illnesses of the heart.
Aside from conditioning the heart and lungs, playing basketball can also help control the body’s fat along with proper diet and strength training, increase the body’s resistance to fatigue resulting to the supply of extra energy, helps achieve toned muscles and could increase a person’s body mass, prevents stress, vital to good sleep and can generally the person’s stamina.
Basketball is a sport that does not require much equipment, you just need a ball, a hoop and a playing court which you can find in your backyard or gym. However, if you are seriously training for a varsity team or planning to pursue a career in basketball, then there are important training equipments which may help you improve your performance.
Let’s start with what the player needs.
Basketball jerseys and shorts
When playing and training make sure to wear the right size. Wearing ill-fitting sizes could cause you problems when moving around. Basketball shorts should not be far below the knees so that the player could easily run or move around the court. Jerseys are sleeveless to allow swift and free movement of the arms. The clothes should be made out of breathable material.
Safety pads
Wear elbow and knee pads to avoid possible knee and elbow injuries. These pads provide enough padding to cushion the blow or impact that may cause broken joints or if you are playing in rough surfaces, scratches and serious wounds. For ankle support, you could use an ankle brace or support which can be worn regardless of any type of shoes.
A head band could also offer protection, especially from sweat dripping from your head. The sweat may get into your eyes and affect your vision when trying to shoot the ball. Wrist bands also serve the same purpose, to dry up excess sweat.
Mouth guard
Mouth guards would protect your teeth. Although basketball is not that physical, there are times when contact could happen and hit your mouth. Not all players prefer wearing mouth guards, since it could be uncomfortable.
Basketball shoes and socks
When playing basketball, make sure that you will be using the right basketball shoes. Using the right basketball shoes would ensure that your ankle will be safe from any sprain or possible injury. Playing with incorrect footwear would increase possible risk of injury. Correct shoe size is also important, the last thing you need is to finding your basketball shoes too tight. Tight shoes can cut proper blood circulation. It is important to always wear socks, since it would prevent the foot from slipping inside the shoe. There are also socks which reduces foot or shoe odour.
Coaches and trainers should be able to provide different equipment like basketballs, hoops, and strength training equipments. Basketball is not basketball without its trademark balls. There are three kinds of basketballs, those made of leather, synthetic and rubber. Leather made basketballs are best for indoor games, synthetic basketballs for outdoor games and rubber for children.
Of course, the basketball hoop is important and there are different kinds of backboards to choose from. Some basketball trainers would include weight lifting exercises in their training, like bench press, shoulder press, leg extensions and press downs. Aside from trainings, basketball players must also build their body’s strength through different exercises.
There are a lot of sources for basketball training equipment. There are sports shops where they sell basketball gear and equipment. The internet is also a great source of affordable but still efficient training machines.
Basketball is probably the most popular sport in the whole world. Thanks to NBA and the likes of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and others, many people have indulged into this sport not only because their idols do so but for the simple reason that they want to be physically fit and live a longer and healthier life.
In fact, playing basketball also became popular to people who are trying to lose weight for good because it doesn’t give them too much pressure and give them so much fun. Since playing basketball enables a person to play with others, it is enjoyed by many because it also helps them improve their social skills.
For people who feel that their weight is greatly affecting their self-esteem because of physical appearance, health, emotional stability, physical abilities and the overall quality of your life in general, then it is about time that you contemplate on losing weight by playing basketball.
GETTING STARTED
Whether you are playing to lose weight or just to have fun, there are some considerations first before you finally decide to engage with the sport.
Before buying all the gear needed for playing basketball, you must determine first the real reasons why you want to engage in sport. For some, they play basketball because they want to lose weight while for others, it’s because they enjoy playing with others. By determining and establishing your reason/s why you would want to play basketball, you can use these as motivations continue with it.
Next, know it in yourself if you can be truly and whole-heartedly committed in doing the things necessary for you to play basketball. By asking yourself if you are ready to permanently change what you eat, how you eat, your behavior and your activity level, the possibility is greater that you would achieve your goals in playing basketball.
Third, look for a back up support system in case you are having a hard time maintaining your interest on basketball. It would be best if you have a set of friends who you can play basketball with on regular basis. If you have a fixed schedule and a fixed set of players, you will be encouraged to play basketball regularly.
HELPFUL TIPS
If you are planning to play basketball on a regular basis, you must seek professional help first to check if you are physically and mentally fit for the sport. For those who are playing basketball to, here are some tips you can do yourself:
• Watch what you eat. Choosing the foods you eat from the food pyramid can help you develop a well-balanced diet and will give your body the nutrients it needs to endure the rigorous activities while playing basketball.
• Never, ever skip regular meals. Food nourishes the body. Although dieting or cutting down on food intake can help you lose weight, this cannot assure permanent weight loss because you will tend to eat more the next meal.
• Prevent dehydration by drinking lots of water. Basketball is rigorous sport so expect that you will sweat a lot. You must ensure that you need to load up on liquids, especially water, so your body will be well-dehydrated to avoid dehydration-related problems.
It may be easier to become a spectator of a basketball game than to participate on an actual game, especially on a professional level. If this is your passion, you might as well start by knowing more about the rules and various equipments that are used and implemented on this kind of team sport. More and more people are getting fascinated with the sport. This is why there are many professional leagues that can be found at various countries all around the world. To give you some briefing about what to expect with the game, here’s a peek about the rules and a look at the standard equipments used during the game.
Basic Rules
Although some rules about measurements and time limits may vary depending on the league and tournaments, these are the basic rules that are followed by international leagues, including the NBA.
The rule of the game is simple, the team with the higher score by the end of the time limit for the whole game would win. This can be achieved by shooting the balls on the hoop to score points, while the opponent tries to hinder the shots through various strategies. A shot can be worth two or three points. Three points is given if the shot is made at the three-point arc or 6.25 meters away from the basket for international games and 7.24 meters for the NBA. One point can be gained if the player does the shot on the foul line after a foul is committed.
There are four quarters in each game. Each quarter can be 10 minutes long for international games and 12 minutes for the NBA. A half-time break is given 15 minutes. If the scores are equal by the end of the fourth quarter, an overtime will be issued that is five minutes long. Whenever the game is not active, the time is stopped. A game usually lasts for two hours, depending on various technical aspects that may occur while it is on. There are two teams that will play at each game. Aside from the players, these teams will have their coaches. The coach is responsible in overseeing the while game and in making sure that the strategies are implemented to increase the team’s chances of winning. The team must also have assistant coaches, doctors, trainers, managers and statisticians.
Equipments
A standard uniform is composed of pair of shorts and jersey that must be unique to each team, with the number and surname of the player who is wearing such. This is applicable for both men and women’s leagues. To begin the game, the two essential things that must be at sight are the ball and the court where the game is going to be played. At competitive levels, there must be score sheets, scoreboards, clocks, stop-clock system that is operated through whistle and alternating possession arrows.
As a basketball player, you have to excel not only in shooting, but also on how you can stop the other team from making points. You can achieve this through constant practice and by catching some good games on TV or on live venues.
Basketball is a sport—one of the most famous sport aside from soccer, football, and baseball. Like any other sport, it requires, as well as develops, physical strength. It is a sport of agility and endurance that develops hand-eye coordination of players.
Basketball is a game that only requires a basket, a ball, and at least two players. It is invented by Dr. James Naismith in 1891 by nailing two peach baskets to the balconies on opposite ends of a YMCA gym in Springfield, Massachusetts. Two centuries after, it became an unofficial pastime of nearly all races especially Americans. According to International Federation of Basketball (FIBA), more than 300 million people play basketball around the world. Also in 2001 report of National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA), it says that more than 28 million Americans played basketball.
With two baskets and more than two players play the game, how does exactly a basketball is being played?
The basic idea of the game is so simple. The two teams need to achieve two goals: get the ball through the opposing team's basket as much as possible (also called offense) and stop the opposing team from doing the same thing (also called defense). The team with the ball plays the offense and the other is the defense. Hence, the team with a ball position players to take a shot, whereas the defense players place themselves to block the shots. Fundamentals of the game include passing, dribbling, and shooting.
The way players perform largely depends on the court, of which dimensions’ vary depending on the level of the play. An official court is a rectangle. A midcourt line divides the court into two halves. On each end, a basket is mounted to a backboard. It is raised to a height of three meters. A regular basket is 18-inch-diameter metal rim with a 15 or 18-inch long, and with an open-ended nylon net extending below it. It is about twice the diameter of a regular basketball.
A team is called on frontcourt during offense and on backcourt on defense. A center circle along the midcourt line is used for tip-off. This starts the game when a referee throws a ball into the air and one player from each team jumps to tip the ball to his/her respective teammates.
Furthermore, on each half of the court is a three-point line. Within such line is the key consisting of free-throw line and free throw lane—sometimes called the paint.
Players, compose of six, of basketball are categorized by position. The point guard is the best dribbler and passer, sometimes called the floor general. The shooting guard is the best outside shooter, the one who tries to create space to take a shot. The power forward is near the basket. They are skilled rebounders. The small forward is a better outside shooter than a power forward. Traditionally, the center is the tallest player who establishes a position near the basket allowing him or her easy jump shot. On defense, he blocks shots and grab rebounds.
Gaining points in basketball is by throwing the ball through the basket—called shooting. Different points are given to a shot depending where they take the shot. There are three, two, and one points.
There are also rules of the court. The referees police the action of the game and use hand signals to indicate the type of violation that has occurred. Furthermore, an official game is played for a set amount of time. These rules allow a fair game in basketball.
One of the most classic rivalries of recent years was the rivalry that bound Boston and Los Angeles for most of the 1980s. With little in common on the surface – Boston being a fairly blue-collar city in Massachusetts and Los Angeles the glitzy home of Hollywood – the rivalry between the teams was a result of their respective possession of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, two instant stars of the game. The teams played out three Finals series during that decade and ever since there has been a frisson to their encounters.
More recently there have been rivalries between teams who have exchanged high-profile players, which causes a lot of heat when the former crowd hero returns to their old stamping ground. Teams that are unpopular – often due to a reputation for “buying success” can expect to have a number of teams claim a rivalry with them, making every game a pitched battle for supremacy. This does explain the large number of rival clubs for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Of course, on the flip side is the fact that with your nerves stretched to breaking point you will enjoy it all the more if your team emerges triumphant. In overtime, every mistake can be a crucial one. Miss a free shot and you could have thrown away the winning point. Try a risky three-pointer and you know it had better come off. This raising of the stakes often brings out the best in the real marquee players. You will often find that the handling and passing in overtime periods is a little more erratic due to adrenaline, but the best players have a way of making time around them slow down.
In the playoffs, overtime takes on an even more sadistic turn – at least in regular season games it is possible to have a game finish on a tie if there is no clear winner after the first overtime period. In postseason, you play on for as many periods as it takes to decide the game. Now that is pressure.
Perhaps more than any other sport, basketball has the association with body shape that can put off a lot of young players. Some think because they’ll never grow to six feet tall that they can’t ever have a shot at being a pro basketball player.
While it is true that basketball is dominated by taller men, it just isn’t the case that you need to be a six or seven-foot giant. It may help in terms of being able to dunk the ball, but not everyone on court is going to do that anyway.
Perhaps the most notable case of a basketball player who was shorter than the rest of his team was the former Charlotte Hornets point guard .
Although the target of some gentle teasing for his height – a tiny 5’ 3, small even by the standards of non-sportsmen – Bogues was a player who had genuine success in the game, enjoying a career which spanned more than a decade, with his fast-passing, hustling game earning him the very genuine respect of a number of people who would not have believed him capable of what he achieved.
Height is an advantage in pro basketball – there is no pretending otherwise. It gives you a better perspective on the basket, more of a chance to slam dunk the ball, and allows you to put up a formidable defensive barrier.
However, growing to be seven feet tall will not guarantee you a successful basketball career, and being in the mid fives will not on its own prevent you.