Basketball

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Description

Basketball is played by two teams. During a game, there are five main players in each team on the playing court. Each team also has five to seven substitutes, depending on which basketball association is organising the game. During a break in the game, substitues replace the main players. The goal of each team is to score in the opponents' basket and to prevent the opposing team from scoring. At the end of the fourth period, the team with the highest score wins the game.

History

Basketball was first played at Springfield College, Massachusetts in 1891. Its purpose was to keep the students busy during the months of winter. The story has it that Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian physical education teacher, had the idea for basketball from throwing a scrunched-up ball of paper into a basket. The first basketball game in history was played with fruit baskets.

In 1904, basketball made its debut at the Olympic Games as a display sport in St. Louis. On February 28,1935 the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) was officially recognised by the IOC, which paved the way for the sport to be included in the programme of the Olympic Games at the Berlin Games in 1936.


Equipment

• Field Of Play
  For basketball games, the playing court is a flat, hard and rectangular surface free of obstacles. It is 28 metres long and 15 metres wide. A wooden floor is used in official international and national games.
  
  
• Ball
  For official games, the ball is made of leather and is filled with air. The ball weighs from 600-650 gr and is 75-78 cm in circumference.
  
  
• Dress
  The players wear a uniform shirt and coloured shorts. Teams must have a dark-colourd kit and a light-coloured kit, which is normally white, so that they are able to wear the one appropriate depending on the opponents' colours. The player's team, number and sometimes their name are marked on their shirt. The number of the player is her or his identification for the duration of the game. The number must appear on the front and the back of the shirt.
  
  
• Shoes
  The leather shoes need to firmly support the ankles, which are vulnerable to injury. Usually they have additions such as built-in ankle supports so that the player will have greater protection from jumping and other movements.

Information taken from: http://www.athens2004.com/

        


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