Basketball Rules

Basketball

Basketball is played by two (2) teams of five (5) players each. The aim of each team is to score in the opponents' basket and to prevent the other team from scoring.

The game is controlled by officials, table officials and a commissioner, if present.

The team that has scored the greater number of points at the end of playing time shall be the winner.

Playing court

The playing court shall have a flat, hard surface free from obstructions  with dimensions of twenty-eight (28) m in length by fifteen (15) m in width measured from the inner edge of the boundary line.

All lines shall be drawn in white colour, five (5) cm in width and clearly visible.

The free-throw line shall be drawn parallel to each endline. It shall have its furthest edge 5.80 m from the inner edge of the endline and shall be 3.60 m long.

The team's three-point field goal area (Diagram 1 and Diagram 3) shall be the entire floor area of the playing court with an arc of radius 6.75 m measured from the point on the floor beneath the exact centre of the opponents' basket to the outer edge of the arc.

Each team consists of no more than twelve (12) team members entitled to play, including a captain.

Five (5) players from each team shall be on the playing court during playing time and may be substituted.

Playing time, tied score and extra periods

The game shall consist of four (4) periods of ten (10) minutes.

If the score is tied at the end of playing time for the fourth period, the game shall continue with as many extra periods of five (5) minutes as is necessary to break the tie.

A goal is made when a live ball enters the basket from above and remains within or passes through the basket

Two (2) time-outs may be granted to each team at any time during the first half; three (3) at any time during the second half and one (1) during each extra period.

A violation is an infraction of the rules.

Foul.

A foul is an infraction of the rules concerning illegal personal contact with an opponent and/or unsportsmanlike behavior. Personal foul, Double foul, Unsportsmanlike foul, Disqualifying foul.

Five fouls by a player .  A player who has committed five (5) fouls, personal and/or technical, shall be informed thereof by an official and must leave the game immediately. He must be substituted within thirty (30) seconds.

A team is in a team foul penalty situation when it has committed four (4) team fouls in a period.

Officials and table officials .The officials shall be a referee and one (1) or two (2) umpire(s). They shall be assisted by the table officials and by a commissioner, if present. The table officials shall be a scorer, an assistant scorer, a timer and a twenty-four (24) second clock operator