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Teaching the Rules of Basketball Below is a simplified list of rules for 5 v 5 basketball. Every coach should obtain a copy of the Official Rules of the Game, available from the Federation Internationale de Basketball (FIBA). The coach should also study the rule modifications in the Special Olympics Sports Rules. Official Basketball Rules will give details of the rules; however, to get started, the coach and athletes need to know the basics.   The Court 5 v 5: Maximum is 28 meters (94 feet) long by 15 meters (50 feet) wide; minimum is 25.6 meters (84 feet) long by 15 meters (50 feet) wide. 3 v 3: (Half-court) Maximum is 14m (47 feet) long by 15 m (50 feet) wide; minimum is 12.8 meters (42 feet) long by 15 meters (50 feet) wide. For both: The court should be properly marked with sidelines, free-throw lanes, center circle and three-point field goal arc. The three-point field goal arc is a semi-circle that has a radius of 6.25m (19 feet 9 inches) from a point in the middle of the free-throw lane and directly below the center of the basket. There are two field goal baskets on backboards, one at each end of the court and each at 3.05 m (10 feet) above the floor.   The Ball For females: the smaller ball is used; it is 74 centimeters (28.5 inches) in circumference and 567 grams (18-20 ounces) in weight. It may be used as an alternative ball for junior division competition. For males ages 15 and older, the regulation ball is 78cm (29.5-30 inches) in circumference and 650g (20-22 ounces) in weight.   Number of Players To begin the game for 5 v 5, it is five; for 3 v 3, it is three. The minimum number to continue playing before forfeiture is two and one, respectively... unless the referee believes that the short-handed team has a possibility to win the game. Maximum number players on a team, eligible to participate in a game, is ten (in full-court 5 v 5 play) and five (in half-court 3 v 3 play).   Uniform of the Players Same color shirts and shorts must be worn by all players. According to Federation Rules, shirts must be numbered with plain Arabic numerals, front and back. The number shall be at least 6 inches high on the back and at least 4 inches high on the front and not less than ¾ inch in width. The following numbers are legal: 0, 3, 4, 5, 00, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55. A team member list shall not have both numbers 0 and 00. In international competition, FIBA Rules dictate that shirts must be numbered with plain numbers, front and back. In international competition, the numbers on the back are at least 20cm high; those on the front at least 10cm high; and all made with material not less than 2cm wide. Players shall use numbers from 4 to 15. No watches or jewelry are to be worn.   Referees The officials on the court include a referee and an umpire (or when teams mutually agree, a referee and two umpires). The referee is the authority on the court. Decisions of the officials are final.   Official Score Table Personnel A scorer, a timer, and a 30-second clock operator assist the referees.   Duration of the Game The Official 5 v 5 game in Federation Rules includes four quarters of 8 minutes each. The Official 5 v 5 game in FIBA Rules includes two halves of 20 minutes each. Intermission is 10 minutes long. The Official 3 v 3 games are 20 minutes in length or until a team scores 20 points, whichever occurs first. All competition may be modified by local tournament organizers.   The Start of the Game In 5 v 5, the referee will toss the ball between any two opponents at the center circle to start the game and each extra period necessary. Teams shoot at the basket opposite their benches during the first half. On a neutral court, the referee shall toss a coin to determine baskets. In 3 v 3, the game is started with a toss of a coin for team possession. There is no jump ball.   The Game Basketball is played by two teams of five (in 5 v 5) and three (in 3 v 3) each. The goal for each team is to shoot the ball into its opponent's basket and to prevent the other team from securing the ball or scoring. The ball may be passed, thrown, tapped, batted, rolled or dribbled in any direction, subject to restrictions in the Rules.   The Ball In and Out Play The ball is out of play when it touches any baseline, sideline or anything outside the lines. It is put in play by the team opposite that which caused it to go out of bounds.   Scoring Two points are awarded when a player makes a field goal that is shot inside the three-point arc. Three points are awarded when a player makes a field goal outside the three-point arc. One point is awarded for each made free throw.   Fouls A personal foul is one that involves contact with an opponent. A player shall not block, hold, push, charge, trip, impede the progress of an opponent by extending his/her arm, shoulder or knee or by bending his/her body into other than normal position, nor use rough tactics. The player who has been offended against gets two free throws, if that player was in the act of shooting and missed. On the 7th foul in a half, the player fouled is allowed a 1-and-1 situation. On the 10th foul and thereafter in a half, the player fouled is allowed two shots. Prior to the 7th foul in a half, the team that has been offended against gets the ball out-of-bounds nearest the spot of the infraction. In 3 v 3, the player who has been offended against gets the ball at a designated spot above the free-throw line.   Violations Ball handling infractions (double dribbling, traveling, carrying the ball, etc.), causing the ball to go out of play, stepping on the line, entering the free throw lane before the ball has left the shooter's hand, etc., are penalized by awarding the ball out-of-bounds at the nearest point generally on the sideline from where the infraction occurred. A throw-in is taken from here by the team that has been offended against. In 3 v 3 play, the ball is taken at the designated spot above the free-throw line.   Other Situations For a held ball (two opponents holding onto the ball simultaneously), the ball will be given to the teams on alternate possessions. During international competition, jump ball is administered. A technical foul is called for delay of game or unsportsmanlike conduct. The team that has been offended against gets two free throws and the ball out-of-bounds. In 5 v 5, each team gets five time-outs during regulation play.

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