Basketball is actually not as hard to understand as one might think. It’s just that most people never take the time to learn the rules and definitions. It’s a shame because the game is not only about dribbling and shooting the ball. It’s a complex mechanism, created to make the game more difficult to play and more interesting to watch. Here is another basic rule necessary for understanding this game.
Out of Bounds
The playing court is restricted by sidelines and baselines, which can’t be crossed unless the player is awarded a throw-in from out of bounds. Out of bounds means that the player or the ball is located outside the playing area of a court. When the ball is inbounded from out of bounds and caught by any of the team members, just then the play is on.
The Ball
The ball is out of bounds if it crosses the boundary line that is parallel to the backboard (baseline) or any of the sidelines. It can happen after a failed field goal attempt or during a pass. Sometimes the ball can bounce off a player and get out of bonds.
The ball being out of bounds is a violation. If the officials are not sure which player touched the ball last, the situation is resolved by a jump ball between the player and the opponent.
The Player
A player is out of bounds in a basketball game when any part of the player’s body extends over or around the boundary lines, or a player touches something that is out of bounds. This may happen when the player is jumping to get the ball, and the ball is already out of the playing court. It’s important to determine the player’s location when he became out of bounds. The last place in which his feet were in contact with the three-point line or the midcourt line, would be crucial to specifying his position.
Throw In
Throw-in occurs when a ball is passed by a player from the sidelines or baseline. Throw in is allowed after some violations when the ball is out of bounds, like picking up the ball and traveling and when the ball is inbounded after a successful field goal attempt.
Timing Penalty
The game clock is always ticking! So are the shot clock and other clocks used to increase the pace of the game. After getting the ball from the official, the player has to obey five seconds rule to inbound the ball into the play. He can’t be touched or interfered with by any other player. The passing player has to inbound the ball in such a way as to make a pass directly to another player on the court. The ball can’t touch the floor or get out of bounds. If this is the case and the ball is not successfully passed in five seconds, the team loses possession of the ball and the throw-in is performed in the same spot, but by the other team. The same goes when a player is lingering to shoot free throws.
Throw Ins Categories
Throw-ins can be categorized by the place in which the action is performed.
Baseline \ Endline Throw In
After a ball enters the basket and a point is scored, the opposing team has the possession and throws in the ball from the baseline under the basket, in which the point was scored. When baseline throw-in is being made, the shooting player chooses the exact spot in which he makes the shot and he can move in a parallel manner to the baseline. He still has five seconds to shoot.
Sideline Throw In
Sideline throw-in is performed nearest to the spot where the violation has been committed.
Another rule concerning sideline throw-in is when a player makes a pass from the frontcourt or midcourt, it cannot get into the backcourt. There is an exception to that rule: in the last two minutes of the fourth period or the overtime period, the ball can be thrown into any part of the playing area.
Free Throw Line Extended Throw In
Free Throw Line Extended is an imaginary line, extension of the foul line, which cuts the playing field into the free-throw area (under the basket) and the rest of a playing area. As a fan of basketball, you have to precisely know where this line is located, to deeply understand the play.
Free Throws
If the free throw shooter is disturbed in any way, or If there is any violation committed during a free throw, the throw-in is made from the sidelines on the level of the free-throw line extension.
Few Last Words
Basketball is a fast-paced and entertaining game! With a big interest in NBA history and understanding of the rules, it’s hard to not get sucked into the beautiful world of basketball.
