You’re running down the court, sweat running down your forehead. You hear the loud thunderous steps of the other players trailing right behind you. Out of the corner of your eye, you see the opposing team’s players running right by your side. You’re playing in a competitive game of basketball, and they’re ready to close in on you. Panic flows through your veins as you step up to the hoop. You’re running out of time. The pressure of making the winning shot is tugging at your shoulders, causing you to overthink your every move. You count your steps carefully. One….two….three, shoot. Suddenly, you hear the ear piercing shriek of the whistle and the voice of the referee, “Travel!”

          You could have won the game. But how do you win a basketball game? The answer is simple, whichever team scores more points wins. Points are scored by shooting a basketball and getting it in the hoop. Regular shots scored inside the 3-point line are worth two points. Shots beyond the 3-point line are worth three points. And free throw shots are worth one point. Each team is allowed a minimum of four players on the court.

          Let’s talk about the rules of dribbling. A player dribbles the basketball when they would like to travel around the court without violating the rules. If a player does move both feet while carrying the ball in their hands, they get a travel violation. But where on the court can you dribble the ball? The answer is inbounds. A basketball court will usually have lines running the perimeter of the court. These are the boundary lines. Inside of these lines lies the court, where you can dribble freely. But outside of the lines is what people like to call Out of bounds, which is the area where it is illegal to dribble. Inside of the court is where you may do all of the passing, shooting, and dribbling you would like.

          Sometimes, when you break a rule you will get a foul. Each team is given five fouls per quarter. There are many rule violations that can lead to a foul. But the major cause for a foul is illegal contact between players. Three common fouls in basketball are personal fouls, shooting fouls, and defensive fouls. A personal foul is the most common type of foul and is given to a player when they make illegal contact with another player that violates the rules. A shooting foul is given to a defensive player that makes illegal physical contact with the shooter while he is shooting the ball. And lastly, a defensive foul is a foul given to a defensive player who has made illegal physical contact with another player. Fouls are a very important part of basketball when it comes to keeping the players safe.

          After learning about the many complex rules of basketball, you may be searching for a reason to play. Not only does basketball greatly improve your physical health, but it is also beneficial for your mental health. The rules of basketball are very important because they keep everybody safe and unharmed. But learning and submitting to the rules of basketball also teaches you responsibility, cooperation, and teamwork. As you begin to follow these rules, you are gaining responsibility for you and your team. You are also cooperating with the opposing team, the coaches, the referees, and your teammates. Working and cooperating with others will impact you greatly in the future and teach you the importance of teamwork. This is why learning and obeying the rules of basketball is important.

          Basketball rules are complicated and will vary from team to team. But learning about each of them will help you in the game of basketball. If one team member forgets the rules, they’re letting their whole team down.

-Julia B.