Today basketball is a popular action-packed sport It pits two five-player teams against each another as they race against the clock Each team’s goal is to score as many points as they can by shooting the ball into the opposing team’s basket Know the Court Basketball is played both indoors and outdoors on large rectangular courts split into two halves Two baskets are located at the opposite ends of the court The basket is
sideline baseline lane throw free basket line point three baseline basket line throw free sideline usually 10 feet 3 meters high Each basket is surrounded by the three-point shooting line free throw line and the free throw lane Baselines and sidelines surround the court and determine what is out of bounds Basketball Basics To move down the court players can either pass the ball to a teammate or they can dribble the ball Once they get close enough to the basket they can try to score Players from the opposite team can try to prevent this by stealing
the ball or blocking a shot Basketball is all about possession The team that is in possession of the ball is the offense The other team is the defense The team on offense tries to score points The team on defense tries to stop offense from getting points and to gain possession of the ball The offense lose possession when the defense steals or blocks a shot after they make or miss a basket or after an illegal move such as traveling A foul is an illegal move that a player does to her opponent and can sometimes result in loss of possession This
possession obsession means that basketball games are fast and furious Get Started Girls interested in joining a basketball team should explore their options Some leagues are extremely competitive Others focus mostly on making sure girls have fun Ask an adult to help you find the right league for you Your area may have leagues associated with your school or community
