Basketball

JERSEY NUMBER 7

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Basketball has been an important part of my life. I started playing this sport when I was in class 4. I have had my journey of basketball with all sorts of feelings. There have been days when I used to wake up early morning and sneak out of the house just to play a friendly match. There have also been days when I couldn’t move my legs after playing a match. I have learnt so much from basketball. Not just the rules and regulations but also discipline and team work which are very important factors to cope up with life. We have won and lost so many matches which have taught me how to accept a win with modesty and a loss with pride. The competitive factor of the game makes it more interesting.

In 2012, when I was in class 6, my school hosted a basketball tournament. It was the first time I was able to score a basket in a match. We won the match and I won some confidence. After that, I was able to believe in myself and sometimes lead the team. I had amazing team mates who are also my friends and more like a family. Jennie, who is my best friend is amazing at lay ups. Samaiya is great at defense and has really good speed. Mahima is an all-rounder and would usually guide us all during the game. Sreeparna is good at defense and would dribble and pass the ball to anyone who’s free. Tanishka is amazing at three pointers. I also have some amazing and interesting juniors. Sanjana, Jasmine, Mansha. We also had an amazing boys team. 2 of the most closest and famous boys were Vineet and Rijo. I miss all the cheering we used to do for the boys/girls team. Those mini bus trips and getting scolded by our coach Lawrence sir after losing a match is one of the greatest thing to remember. 

The memories that I cherish from school are mostly related to basketball. We used to have a zero period everyday in the morning from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. in which we used to play basketball. We would try our best not to miss any coaching. First, we used to jog along the corners of the ground. Then we used to warm up our bodies. Then we would practice some passes and throws like two men pass, three men pass, five men pass etc. After all this, we would have a little match among ourselves. That one hour zero period used to be the most tiring yet refreshing hour of the day.

In 2017, Mr. Adrian (Director Jr. NBA Delhi NCR & Basketball coach Spain), former NBA star KEVIN MARTIN visited our school as St.Paul’s was chosen amongst 300 schools from all over Delhi-NCR as a part of the Reliance Foundation, Jr. NBA programme. Kevin Martin is a retired basketball player who has played 12 seasons in the NBA. It was an amazing experience to show our skills.

In 11^th and 12^th standard, our basketball practice faced a downhill. We all were divided by subjects and got so busy that we would hardly get time to play. Sometimes during weekends, we used to go to sports complex to play and all our stress and tension would disappear once we started to play. Basketball is our happy pill.

IMPORTANCE OF SPORTS

It is essential to have a hobby or a favorite sport so that we can be ourselves for a little while in this hustle bustle of life. Playing sports not only make you fit and strong but also teaches you many important lessons of life like discipline, team/group work, patience, acceptance, rejection and many more things. Sports also help us in shaping our mental and physical health. They help us in avoiding being lethargic and clumsy. In the world where mobile phones and screens have emerged, sports help children to become active, alert and smart.

 

ABOUT BASKETBALL

Basketball is a game played between 2 teams, each consisting of 5 players, opposing the other team in the rectangular basketball court. The main objective of the game is to shoot the ball in the basket without any fouls or violations. A basketball court is a rectangular surface with baskets at both of the ends. Professionally, the game is mostly played indoors so the floor is wooden mainly made of maple and it is highly polished. Basketball courts are of different sizes. While playing amateur basketball, the size of the basketball court varies widely. Basketball players apply skills like dribbling, jumping, shooting, running etc. It is not necessary that all the players in the team have to be tall but people of all heights can ace the game with skills and techniques. The game consists of 4 quarters and the team that scores the most baskets, wins. If there is a tie, then there is overtime in which both the teams play for an extra basket. Basketball is played in almost every part of the world. But it is mostly played in United States, Philippines, Australia, Canada etc.

HISTORY OF BASKETBALL

Basketball was invented by Dr. James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was invented as a less injury-prone sport than football. Naismith created this game to keep young athletes in shape during winters. His class consisted of 18 students and all of them were divided into 2 teams, with 9 players in each team. The main objective of this game was to throw a soccer like ball into a fruits basket which was nailed on the balcony.

 

Naismith created 13 rules of basketball which were as follows-

1. The ball could be thrown by one hand or both hands, in any direction

2. The ball could be batted by one or both hands, in any direction

3. A player cannot run while having ball in his hands.

4. The arms and body cannot hold the ball, only hands were allowed to hold the ball

5. No shouldering, running, striking, pushing was allowed. If done, would be             considered as a foul

6. Striking the ball with a fist is a violation

7. If any one of teams makes 3 fouls consecutively, then it would be considered as a goal of the opponent

8. A goal would be considered only when the ball is thrown into the basket from the ground

9. If the ball goes out of boundary, it shall be thrown back into the field and played by the first person who touches the ball

10. The umpire was supposed to note the fouls and tell the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made

11. The referee performs most of the duties like deciding when the ball is in play, to which side it belongs to, when the goal should be counted etc.

12. Each quarter was of 15 minutes with a 15 minutes rest in between.

13. The team which will score the most goals shall be considered as a winner. In case of draw, another basket will be played.

 

DEVELOPMENT IN BASKETBALL OVER THE YEARS

A lot of development and refinement has been made in basketball in the last 125 years. So many changes and up gradation has been done in the rules and regulations and many other things. Before, basketball was only played in a rectangular field but now it is played in a proper court. Dr. James Naismith’s 13 rules have been upgraded and a lot of new things have been added. Now the game is played with strict rules and regulations.

 

WHAT IS NBA?

NBA stands for National Basketball Association. It is an American men’s professional basketball league. It consists of 30 teams out of which 29 are in the United States and 1 is in Canada. NBA was created in New York, 1946 and was first called as BBA (Basketball Association of America). Its name changed in 1949 to NBA. A regular season of NBA generally starts from October & ends in April, where each team plays 82 games.

DIMENSIONS OF THE BASKETBALL COURT-

In NBA (National Basketball Association), the court is 94 by 50 feet. But under the rules and regulations of FIBA (International Basketball Federation) the court is slightly smaller and it measures 24 by 15 meters.

 

FOULS IN BASKETBALL-

1. Personal foul

The most common foul is personal foul. It’s a result of contact between players from opposite teams.

2. Flagrant foul

Flagrant foul is an unnecessary foul made to hurt the opponent player excessively.

3. Technical foul

A technical foul is not related to any physical contact during the game. Examples of technical fouls are taunting, misbehavior towards an official and profanity.

 

POSITIONS IN BASKETBALL-

1. Point Guard

Controls the ball and makes sure that the ball reaches the right place at the right time. He/she is usually the fastest player of the team. Point guard is the player of the team who handles the ball in the best way. They generally lead the team and create shots for themselves and their teammates. Depending upon their skills, they aim their shot mainly from inside the 3 pointer line.

2. Shooting Guard

The shooting guard is also known as the off guard. They generally shoot from the 3 pointer range or long range. The shooting guard creates space for other positions as well, around the 3 pointer line. He/she can also be the best defender of the team.

3. Small forward

The small forward can be considered as one of the most versatile players out of the 5 players. They have assets like strength and quickness. They are good passers. They have the ability to shoot from a long range. Small forwards should be able to do a small part of everything on the court.

4. Power forward

Power forward’s role is kind of similar to that of the center. His position is under the block. He/she can be defined as one of the most powerful players as they have to stop the opponent from shooting. They require strength, athleticism and quickness.

5. Center

The position of the center is near the baseline of the basket. Mostly, the tallest players on the court are the centers. They are experts in collecting rebounds and applying screen on opponent players.

 

TYPES OF SHOTS IN BASKETBALL-

1. Jump shot

2. Hook shot

3. Bank shot

4. Free throw

5. Layup

6. Slam dunk

7. Alley oop

8. Fade away

9. Tip-ins

10. The backboard

11. Swish

12. Arching shot

13. Baby jumper shot

14. Pedestal shot

15. Pocket shot

16. Power shot

17. Buzzer beater

18. 2 pointer

19. 3 pointer

20. Baseline shot

21. Sky hook

 

TYPES OF PASSES IN BASKETBALL

1. Chest pass

In a chest pass, the ball is held between both the hands near the chest. We have to aim on throwing the ball towards the other player’s chest. Chest pass should be used when you’re not being defended.

2. Push pass

In a push pass, we have to push the basketball in the direction of the player’s chest with a little force.

3. Bounce pass

In a bounce pass, we have to bounce the basketball with a lot of strength so that it reaches up to the chest of our team mate.

4. Overhead pass

In an overhead pass, the ball is held with both the hands over the head. The ball is to be thrown across the court while aiming the chest, face or overhead of your team mate, depending upon his position and efficiency to catch the ball.

 

VIOLATIONS IN BASKETBALL

 

1. Double dribble

A double dribble violation happens when the person dribbles the ball before picking it up and then dribbles again

2. Carrying

Holding the ball to carry it while dribbling is called as carrying

3. Out of bounds

Out of bound means the person who has last touched the ball before it goes out of boundaries

4. Hitting the ball with the fist

Hitting the ball with fist is not allowed and is considered as a violation

5. 5 seconds violation

Not being able to throw the ball after holding it for 5 seconds

6. Kicking the ball

Kicking the ball is not allowed and is considered as a violation

7. Jump ball violation

Any movement of any player before the ball is tipped is a violation

8. Leaving the court

A player cannot leave the court in the middle of the game

9. Travelling

In travelling, the player takes two or more steps without dribbling the ball

10. Entering basket from below

The players cannot enter the basket from below the net and it is considered as a violation

11. Over and back violation

Throwing the ball from front court to back court without the opponent touching the ball

12. Offensive 3 seconds

The player cannot stay under the basket for more than 3 seconds.

 

 

This was all about basketball, its history, rules, advantages, passes, positions, fouls, violations, NBA and development of basketball over the years.

Basketball is just another sport that keeps your mind fresh and your body active. From some personal experience I would like to share that giving up on sports and hobbies due to lack of time and opportunities is easy but once you decide that you have to achieve something, nothing matters. Give in your 100% into something and you will surely get the results.

“I THINK THE REASON WHY I AM WHO I AM TODAY IS BECAUSE I WENT THROUGH THOSE TOUGH TIMES WHEN I WAS YOUNGER” – LEBRON JAMES