Basketball

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This article is about the sport. For the ball used in the sport, see Basketball (ball). For other uses,
see Basketball (disambiguation).

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Basketball

Michael Jordan goes for a slam dunk at the old Boston

Garden
Highest governing body FIBA
1891, Springfield, Massachusetts,
First played
USA
Characteristics
Contact Contact
Team members 13 to 15 (5 at a time)
Mixed gender Single
Categorization Indoor or Outdoor
Equipment Basketball
Olympic 1936

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or
"shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules. Basketball is
one of the most popular and widely viewed sports in the world.[1]

A regulation basketball hoop consists of a rim 18 inches (45.7 cm) in diameter and 10 feet (3.05
m) high mounted to a backboard. A team can score a field goal by shooting the ball through the
hoop during regular play. A field goal scores two points for the shooting team if a player is
touching or closer to the hoop than the three-point line, and three points (a "3 pointer") if the
player is "outside" the three-point line. The team with more points at the end of the game wins,
but additional time (overtime) may be issued when the game ends with a tie. The ball can be
advanced on the court by bouncing it while walking or running (dribbling) or passing it to a
teammate. It is a violation (traveling) to walk with the ball, carry it, or to double dribble (to hold
the ball and then resume dribbling).

Various violations are generally called "fouls". Disruptive physical contact (a personal foul) is
penalized, and a free throw is usually awarded to an offensive player if he is fouled while
shooting the ball. A technical foul may also be issued when certain infractions occur, most
commonly for unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of a player or coach. A technical foul gives
the opposing team a free throw.

Basketball has evolved many commonly used techniques of shooting, passing, and dribbling, as
well as specialized player positions and offensive and defensive structures (player positioning)
and techniques. Typically, the tallest members of a team will play "center", "small forward", or
"power forward" positions, while shorter players or those who possess the best ball handling
skills and speed play "point guard" or "shooting guard".

While competitive basketball is carefully regulated, numerous variations of basketball have

developed for casual play. Competitive basketball is primarily an indoor sport played on
carefully marked and maintained basketball courts, but less regulated variations are often played
outdoors in both inner city and rural areas.

Contents
[hide]

 1 History
o 1.1 The first rules, court, and game
o 1.2 Women's basketball
o 1.3 Surge in popularity
o 1.4 Basketball Hall of Fame founded
o 1.5 Development of equipment and technique
 o 1.6 Historical antecedents
o 1.7 Early college basketball development
o 1.8 Early women's basketball development
o 1.9 First Canadian interuniversity game
o 1.10 Early American professional and barnstorming teams
o 1.11 American national college championships
o 1.12 U.S. high school basketball
 1.12.1 National championships
o 1.13 National Basketball Association
o 1.14 Women's National Basketball Association
o 1.15 Philippine Basketball Association
o 1.16 National Basketball League (Australia)
o 1.17 International basketball
o 1.18 Pros in the Olympics
o 1.19 International stars in the NBA
o 1.20 Globalization of basketball
 2 Rules and regulations
o 2.1 Playing regulations
o 2.2 Equipment
o 2.3 Violations
o 2.4 Fouls
 3 Common techniques and practices
o 3.1 Positions
o 3.2 Strategy
o 3.3 Shooting
o 3.4 Rebounding
o 3.5 Passing
o 3.6 Dribbling
o 3.7 Blocking
 4 Height
 5 Variations and similar games
o 5.1 Wheelchair Basketball
o 5.2 Water Basketball
o 5.3 Beach Basketball
o 5.4 Dunk Hoops
o 5.5 Slamball
o 5.6 Streetball
o 5.7 Unicycle Basketball
o 5.8 More distantly related basketball games
 6 Social forms of basketball
 7 Fantasy basketball
 8 See also
 9 References
  10 External links
o 10.1 Historical
o 10.2 Organizations
o 10.3 Other

History
Main article: History of basketball

The first basketball court: Springfield College

The first rules, court, and game

In early December 1891, Dr. James Naismith,[2] a Canadian-born physical education professor
and instructor at the International Young Men's Christian Association Training School[3]
(YMCA) (today, Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, was trying to keep his
gym class active on a rainy day. He sought a vigorous indoor game to keep his students occupied
and at proper levels of fitness during the long New England winters. After rejecting other ideas
as either too rough or poorly suited to walled-in gymnasiums, he wrote the basic rules and nailed
a peach basket onto a 10-foot (3.05 m) elevated track. In contrast with modern basketball nets,
this peach basket retained its bottom, and balls had to be retrieved manually after each "basket"
or point scored; this proved inefficient, however, so the bottom of the basket was removed,[4]
allowing the balls to be poked out with a long dowel each time. The peach baskets were used
until 1906 when they were finally replaced by metal hoops with backboards. A further change
was soon made, so the ball merely passed through, paving the way for the game we know today.
An association football was used to shoot baskets. Whenever a person got the ball in the basket,
his team would gain a point. Whichever team got the most points won the game.[5] The baskets
were originally nailed to the mezzanine balcony of the playing court, but this proved impractical
when spectators on the balcony began to interfere with shots. The backboard was introduced to
prevent this interference; it had the additional effect of allowing rebound shots.[6]

Naismith's handwritten diaries, discovered by his granddaughter in early 2006, indicate that he
was nervous about the new game he had invented, which incorporated rules from a children's
game called "Duck on a Rock", as many had failed before it. Naismith called the new game
"Basket Ball".[7]

The first official game was played in a YMCA gymnasium on January 20, 1892 with nine
players. The game ended at 1–0; the shot was made from 25 feet (7.6 m), on a court just half the
size of a present-day Streetball or National Basketball Association (NBA) court. By 1897–1898
teams of five became standard.

Women's basketball

Women's basketball began in 1892 at Smith College when Senda Berenson, a physical education
teacher, modified Naismith's rules for women. Shortly after she was hired at Smith, she went to
Naismith to learn more about the game.[8] Fascinated by the new sport and the values it could
teach, she organized the first women’s collegiate basketball game on March 21, 1893, when her
Smith freshmen and sophomores played against one another.[9] Her rules were first published in
1899 and two years later Berenson became the editor of A.G. Spalding’s first Women's
Basketball Guide.[9]

Surge in popularity

Basketball's early adherents were dispatched to YMCAs throughout the United States, and it
quickly spread through the USA and Canada. By 1895, it was well established at several
women's high schools. While the YMCA was responsible for initially developing and spreading
the game, within a decade it discouraged the new sport, as rough play and rowdy crowds began
to detract from the YMCA's primary mission. However, other amateur sports clubs, colleges, and
professional clubs quickly filled the void. In the years before World War I, the Amateur Athletic
Union and the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (forerunner of the
NCAA) vied for control over the rules for the game. The first pro league, the National Basketball
League, was formed in 1898 to protect players from exploitation and to promote a less rough
game. This league only lasted five years.

Basketball Hall of Fame founded

By the 1950s, basketball had become a major college sport, thus paving the way for a growth of
interest in professional basketball. In 1959, a basketball hall of fame was founded in Springfield,
Massachusetts, site of the first game. Its rosters include the names of great players, coaches,
referees and people who have contributed significantly to the development of the game. The hall
of fame has people who have accomplished many goals in their career in basketball.

Development of equipment and technique

Basketball was originally played with an association football. The first balls made specifically
for basketball were brown, and it was only in the late 1950s that Tony Hinkle, searching for a
ball that would be more visible to players and spectators alike, introduced the orange ball that is
now in common use. Dribbling was not part of the original game except for the "bounce pass" to
teammates. Passing the ball was the primary means of ball movement. Dribbling was eventually
introduced but limited by the asymmetric shape of early balls. Dribbling only became a major
part of the game around the 1950s, as manufacturing improved the ball shape.

Historical antecedents

Basketball, netball, dodgeball, volleyball, and lacrosse are the only ball games which have been
identified as being invented by North Americans[citation needed]. Other ball games, such as baseball
and Canadian football, have Commonwealth of Nations, European, Asian or African
connections. Although there is no direct evidence as yet that the idea of basketball came from the
ancient Mesoamerican ballgame, knowledge of that game had been available for at least 50 years
prior to Naismith's creation, in the writings of John Lloyd Stephens and Alexander von
Humboldt. Stephens' works especially, which included drawings by Frederick Catherwood, were
available at most educational institutions in the 19th century and also had wide popular
circulations.

Early college basketball development

Dr. James Naismith was instrumental in establishing college basketball. His colleague C.O.
Beamis fielded the first college basketball team just a year after the Springfield YMCA game at
the suburban Pittsburgh Geneva College.[10] Naismith himself later coached at the University of
Kansas for six years, before handing the reins to renowned coach Forrest "Phog" Allen.
Naismith's disciple Amos Alonzo Stagg brought basketball to the University of Chicago, while
Adolph Rupp, a student of Naismith's at Kansas, enjoyed great success as coach at the University
of Kentucky.

On February 9, 1895, the first intercollegiate 5-on-5 game was played at Hamline University
between Hamline and the School of Agriculture, which was affiliated with University of
Minnesota.[11][12] The School of Agriculture won in a 9–3 game.

In 1901, colleges, including the University of Chicago, Columbia University, Dartmouth

College, the University of Minnesota, the U.S. Naval Academy, the University of Utah and Yale
University began sponsoring men's games. In 1905, frequent injuries on the football field
prompted President Theodore Roosevelt to suggest that colleges form a governing body,
resulting in the creation of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS).
In 1910, that body would change its name to the National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA).

Early women's basketball development

In 1891, the University of California and Miss Head's School played the first women's
interinstitutional game. Berenson's freshmen played the sophomore class in the first women's
intercollegiate basketball game at Smith College, March 21, 1893.[13] The same year, Mount
Holyoke and Sophie Newcomb College (coached by Clara Gregory Baer) women began playing
basketball. By 1895, the game had spread to colleges across the country, including Wellesley,
Vassar, and Bryn Mawr. The first intercollegiate women's game was on April 4, 1896. Stanford
women played Berkeley, 9-on-9, ending in a 2–1 Stanford victory.

Women's basketball development was more structured than that for men in the early years. In
1905, the Executive Committee on Basket Ball Rules (National Women's Basketball Committee)
was created by the American Physical Education Association.[14] These rules called for six to
nine players per team and 11 officials. The International Women's Sports Federation (1924)
included a women's basketball competition. 37 women's high school varsity basketball or state
tournaments were held by 1925. And in 1926, the Amateur Athletic Union backed the first
national women's basketball championship, complete with men's rules.[14]

The Edmonton Grads, a touring Canadian women's team based in Edmonton, Alberta, operated
between 1915 and 1940. The Grads toured all over North America, and were exceptionally
successful. They posted a record of 522 wins and only 20 losses over that span, as they met any
team which wanted to challenge them, funding their tours from gate receipts.[15] The Grads also
shone on several exhibition trips to Europe, and won four consecutive exhibition Olympics
tournaments, in 1924, 1928, 1932, and 1936; however, women's basketball was not an official
Olympic sport until 1976. The Grads' players were unpaid, and had to remain single. The Grads'
style focused on team play, without overly emphasizing skills of individual players.

The first women's AAU All-America team was chosen in 1929.[14] Women's industrial leagues
sprang up throughout the United States, producing famous athletes, including Babe Didrikson of
the Golden Cyclones, and the All American Red Heads Team, which competed against men's
teams, using men's rules. By 1938, the women's national championship changed from a three-
court game to two-court game with six players per team.[14]

First Canadian interuniversity game

The first Canadian interuniversity basketball game was played at the YMCA in Kingston,
Ontario on February 6, 1904, when McGill University visited Queen's University. McGill won
9–7 in overtime; the score was 7–7 at the end of regulation play, and a ten-minute overtime
period settled the outcome. A good turnout of spectators watched the game.[16]
Ad from The Liberator magazine promoting an exhibition in Harlem, March 1922. Drawing by
Hugo Gellert.

Early American professional and barnstorming teams

Teams abounded throughout the 1920s. There were hundreds of men's professional basketball
teams in towns and cities all over the United States, and little organization of the professional
game. Players jumped from team to team and teams played in armories and smoky dance halls.
Leagues came and went. Barnstorming squads such as the Original Celtics and two all-African
American teams, the New York Renaissance Five ("Rens") and (still in existence as of 2010) the
Harlem Globetrotters played up to two hundred games a year on their national tours.

American national college championships

The first men's national championship tournament, the National Association of Intercollegiate
Basketball tournament, which still exists as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
(NAIA) tournament, was organized in 1937. The first national championship for NCAA teams,
the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in New York, was organized in 1938; the NCAA
national tournament would begin one year later.

College basketball was rocked by gambling scandals from 1948 to 1951, when dozens of players
from top teams were implicated in match fixing and point shaving. Partially spurred by an
association with cheating, the NIT lost support to the NCAA tournament.

U.S. high school basketball

Before widespread school district consolidation, most United States high schools were far
smaller than their present day counterparts. During the first decades of the 20th century,
basketball quickly became the ideal interscholastic sport due to its modest equipment and
personnel requirements. In the days before widespread television coverage of professional and
college sports, the popularity of high school basketball was unrivaled in many parts of America.
Perhaps the most legendary of high school teams was Indiana's Franklin Wonder Five, which
took the nation by storm during the 1920s, dominating Indiana basketball and earning national
recognition.

Today virtually every high school in the United States fields a basketball team in varsity
competition[17] Basketball's popularity remains high, both in rural areas where they carry the
identification of the entire community, as well as at some larger schools known for their
basketball teams where many players go on to participate at higher levels of competition after
graduation. In the 2003–04 season, 1,002,797 boys and girls represented their schools in
interscholastic basketball competition, according to the National Federation of State High School
Associations. The states of Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky are particularly well known for their
residents' devotion to high school basketball, commonly called Hoosier Hysteria in Indiana; the
critically acclaimed film Hoosiers shows high school basketball's depth of meaning to these
communities.

National championships

There is currently no national tournament to determine a national high school champion.

The most serious effort was the National Interscholastic Basketball Tournament at the University
of Chicago from 1917 to 1930. The event organized by Amos Alonzo Stagg and sent invitations
to state champion teams. The tournament started out as a mostly Midwest affair but grew. In
1929 it had 29 state champions. Faced with opposition from the National Federation of State
High School Associations and North Central Association of Colleges and Schools that bore a
threat of the schools losing their accreditation the last tournament was in 1930. The organizations
said they were concerned that the tournament was being used to recruit professional players from
the prep ranks.[18]

The tournament did not invite minority schools or private/parochial schools.

The National Catholic Interscholastic Basketball Tournament ran from 1924 to 1941 at Loyola
University.[19] The National Catholic Invitational Basketball Tournament from 1954 to 1978
playing at a series of venues at Catholic University, Georgetown and George Mason.[20]

The National Interscholastic Basketball Tournament for Black High Schools was held from 1929
to 1942 at Hampton Institute.[21] The National Invitational Interscholastic Basketball Tournament
was held from 1941 to 1967 starting out at Tuskegee Institute. Following a pause during World
War II it resumed at Tennessee State College in Nashville. The basis for the champion dwindled
after 1954 when Brown v. Board of Education began an integration of schools. The last
tournaments were held at Alabama State College from 1964 to 1967.[22]

National Basketball Association

Main article: National Basketball Association

In 1946, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) was formed. The first game was played
in Toronto, Ontario, Canada between the Toronto Huskies and New York Knickerbockers on
November 1, 1946. Three seasons later, in 1949, the BAA merged with the National Basketball
League to form the National Basketball Association (NBA). An upstart organization, the
American Basketball Association, emerged in 1967 and briefly threatened the NBA's dominance
until the ABA-NBA merger in 1976. Today the NBA is the top professional basketball league in
the world in terms of popularity, salaries, talent, and level of competition.

The NBA has featured many famous players, including George Mikan, the first dominating "big
man"; ball-handling wizard Bob Cousy and defensive genius Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics;
Wilt Chamberlain, who originally played for the barnstorming Harlem Globetrotters; all-around
stars Oscar Robertson and Jerry West; more recent big men Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille
O'Neal and Karl Malone; playmaker John Stockton; crowd-pleasing forward Julius Erving;
European stars Dirk Nowitzki and Dražen Petrović and the three players who many credit with
ushering the professional game to its highest level of popularity: Larry Bird, Earvin "Magic"
Johnson, and Michael Jordan.

In 2001, the NBA formed a developmental league, the NBDL. As of 2008, the league has sixteen
teams.

Women's National Basketball Association

Main article: Women's National Basketball Association

The NBA-backed Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) began in 1997. Though it
had shaky attendance figures, several marquee players (Lisa Leslie, Diana Taurasi, and Candace
Parker among others) have helped the league's popularity and level of competition. Other
professional women's basketball leagues in the United States, such as the American Basketball
League (1996-1998), have folded in part because of the popularity of the WNBA.

The WNBA has been looked at by many as a niche league. However, the league has recently
taken steps forward.

In June 2007, the WNBA signed a contract extension with ESPN. The new television deal runs
from 2009 to 2016. Along with this deal, came the first ever rights fees to be paid to a women's
professional sports league. Over the eight years of the contract, "millions and millions of dollars"
will be "dispersed to the league's teams."

The WNBA gets more viewers on national television broadcasts (413,000) than both Major
League Soccer (253,000)[23] and the NHL (310,732).[24]

In a March 12, 2009 article, NBA commissioner David Stern said that in the bad economy, "the
NBA is far less profitable than the WNBA. We're losing a lot of money amongst a large number
of teams. We're budgeting the WNBA to break even this year."[25]

Philippine Basketball Association

Main article: Philippine Basketball Association

The Philippine Basketball Association's first game was played on April 9, 1975 at the Araneta
Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City. Philippines. It was founded as a "rebellion" of several teams
from the now-defunct Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association which was tightly
controlled by the Basketball Association of the Philippines (now defunct), the then-FIBA
recognized national association. Nine teams from the MICAA participated in the league's first
season that opened on April 9, 1975.

National Basketball League (Australia)

Main article: National Basketball League Australia

The NBL is Australia's pre-eminent men's professional basketball league. The league
commenced in 1979, playing a winter season (April–September) and did so until the completion
of the 20th season in 1998. The 1998/99 season, which commenced only months later, was the
first season after the shift to the current summer season format (October–April). This shift was
an attempt to avoid competing directly against Australia's various football codes. It features 8
teams from around Australia and one in New Zealand. A few players including Luc Longley,
Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Chris Anstey and Andrew Bogut made it big internationally,
becoming poster figures for the sport in Australia. The Women's National Basketball League
began in 1981.

International basketball

XX. Olympic games Munich 1972 Krešimir Ćosić of Yugoslavia (blue shirt) vs. Petr Novicky of
Czechoslovakia

The International Basketball Federation was formed in 1932 by eight founding nations:
Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania and Switzerland. At this
time, the organization only oversaw amateur players. Its acronym, derived from the French
Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur, was thus "FIBA".
Men's Basketball was first included at the Berlin 1936 Summer Olympics, although a
demonstration tournament was held in 1904. The United States defeated Canada in the first final,
played outdoors. This competition has usually been dominated by the United States, whose team
has won all but three titles, the first loss in a controversial final game in Munich in 1972 against
the Soviet Union. In 1950 the first FIBA World Championship for men was held in Argentina.
Three years later, the first FIBA World Championship for Women was held in Chile. Women's
basketball was added to the Olympics in 1976, which were held in Montreal, Canada with teams
such as the Soviet Union, Brazil and Australia rivaling the American squads.

Pros in the Olympics

FIBA dropped the distinction between amateur and professional players in 1989, and in 1992,
professional players played for the first time in the Olympic Games. The United States'
dominance continued with the introduction of their Dream Team. However, with developing
programs elsewhere, other national teams started to beat the United States. A team made entirely
of NBA players finished sixth in the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis, behind
Yugoslavia, Argentina, Germany, New Zealand and Spain. In the 2004 Athens Olympics, the
United States suffered its first Olympic loss while using professional players, falling to Puerto
Rico (in a 19-point loss) and Lithuania in group games, and being eliminated in the semifinals by
Argentina. It eventually won the bronze medal defeating Lithuania, finishing behind Argentina
and Italy. In 2006, in the World Championship of Japan, the United States advanced to the
semifinals but were defeated by Greece by 101–95. In the bronze medal game it beat team
Argentina and finished 3rd behind Greece and Spain.

After the disappointments of 2002 through 2006, the U.S. regrouped, reestablishing themselves
as the dominant international team behind the "Redeem Team", which won gold at the 2008
Olympics, and the so-called "B-Team", which won gold at the 2010 FIBA World Championship
in Turkey despite featuring no players from the 2008 squad.

International stars in the NBA

Worldwide, basketball tournaments are held for boys and girls of all age levels. The global
popularity of the sport is reflected in the nationalities represented in the NBA. Players from all
six inhabited continents currently play in the NBA. Top international players began coming into
the NBA in the mid 1990's, including Croatians Dražen Petrović and Toni Kukoč, Serbian Vlade
Divac, Lithuanians Arvydas Sabonis and Šarūnas Marčiulionis and German Detlef Schrempf.

John Hollinger of ESPN has analyzed foreign players' performance in the NBA and his research
suggests that players moving from the Euroleague to the NBA experience, on average, a 25 per
cent drop in scoring rate, an increase of 18% in their rebound rate, a 31% increase in their assist
rate, a drop of 12 per cent in shooting percentage and a 30 per cent drop in Player Efficiency
Rating.[26]

Globalization of basketball
The all-tournament teams at the 2002 and 2006 FIBA World Championships, respectively held
in Indianapolis and Japan, demonstrate the globalization of the game equally dramatically. Only
one member of either team was American, namely Carmelo Anthony in 2006. The 2002 team
featured Nowitzki, Ginobili, Yao, Peja Stojakovic of Yugoslavia (now of Serbia), and Pero
Cameron of New Zealand. Ginobili also made the 2006 team; the other members were Anthony,
Gasol, his Spanish teammate Jorge Garbajosa and Theodoros Papaloukas of Greece. The only
players on either team to never have joined the NBA are Cameron and Papaloukas.

The all-tournament team from the 2010 edition in Turkey featured four NBA players—MVP
Kevin Durant of Team USA and the Oklahoma City Thunder, Linas Kleiza of Lithuania and the
Toronto Raptors, Luis Scola of Argentina and the Houston Rockets, and Hedo Türkoğlu of
Turkey and the Phoenix Suns. The only non-NBA player was Serbia's Miloš Teodosić.

The strength of international Basketball is evident in the fact that Team USA won none of the
three world championships held between 1998 and 2006, with Serbia (then known as
Yugoslavia) winning in 1998 and 2002 and Spain in 2006.

Rules and regulations

Main article: Rules of basketball

Measurements and time limits discussed in this section often vary among tournaments and
organizations; international and NBA rules are used in this section.

The object of the game is to outscore one's opponents by throwing the ball through the
opponents' basket from above while preventing the opponents from doing so on their own. An
attempt to score in this way is called a shot. A successful shot is worth two points, or three points
if it is taken from beyond the three-point arc which is 6.25 metres (20 ft 6 in) from the basket in
international games and 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) in NBA games. A one-point shot can be earned
when shooting from the foul line after a foul is made.

Playing regulations

Games are played in four quarters of 10 (FIBA)[27] or 12 minutes (NBA).[28] College games use
two 20-minute halves,[29] while high school varsity games use 8 minute quarters.[30] Fifteen
minutes are allowed for a half-time break under FIBA, NBA, and NCAA rules[29][31][32] and 10
minutes in high school.[30] Overtime periods are five minutes in length[29][33][34] except for high
school which is four minutes in length.[30] Teams exchange baskets for the second half. The time
allowed is actual playing time; the clock is stopped while the play is not active. Therefore, games
generally take much longer to complete than the allotted game time, typically about two hours.

Five players from each team may be on the court at one time.[35][36][37][38] Substitutions are
unlimited but can only be done when play is stopped. Teams also have a coach, who oversees the
development and strategies of the team, and other team personnel such as assistant coaches,
managers, statisticians, doctors and trainers.
For both men's and women's teams, a standard uniform consists of a pair of shorts and a jersey
with a clearly visible number, unique within the team, printed on both the front and back. Players
wear high-top sneakers that provide extra ankle support. Typically, team names, players' names
and, outside of North America, sponsors are printed on the uniforms.

A limited number of time-outs, clock stoppages requested by a coach (or sometimes mandated in
the NBA) for a short meeting with the players, are allowed. They generally last no longer than
one minute (100 seconds in the NBA) unless, for televised games, a commercial break is needed.

The game is controlled by the officials consisting of the referee (referred to as crew chief in the
NBA), one or two umpires (referred to as referees in the NBA) and the table officials. For
college, the NBA, and many high schools, there are a total of three referees on the court. The
table officials are responsible for keeping track of each teams scoring, timekeeping, individual
and team fouls, player substitutions, team possession arrow, and the shot clock.

Equipment

Main articles: Basketball (ball), Basketball court, and Backboard (basketball)

Traditional eight-panel basketball

The only essential equipment in a basketball game is the basketball and the court: a flat,
rectangular surface with baskets at opposite ends. Competitive levels require the use of more
equipment such as clocks, scoresheets, scoreboard(s), alternating possession arrows, and whistle-
operated stop-clock systems.

An outdoor basketball net.

A regulation basketball court in international games is 28 metres (91.9 ft) long and 15 metres
(49.2 ft) wide. In the NBA and NCAA the court is 94 feet (28.7 m) by 50 feet (15.2 m). Most
courts have wood flooring, usually constructed from maple planks running in the same direction
as the longer court dimension.[39] The name and logo of the home team is usually painted on or
around the center circle.

The basket is a steel rim 18 inches (45.7 cm) in diameter with an attached net affixed to a
backboard that measures 6 feet (182.9 cm) by 3.5 feet (106.7 cm), and one basket is at each end
of the court. The white outlined box on the backboard is 18 inches (45.7 cm) high and 2 feet
(61.0 cm) wide. At almost all levels of competition, the top of the rim is exactly 10 feet (305 cm)
above the court and 4 feet (121.9 cm) inside the baseline. While variation is possible in the
dimensions of the court and backboard, it is considered important for the basket to be of the
correct height - a rim that is off by just a few inches can have an adverse effect on shooting.

The size of the basketball is also regulated. For men, the official ball is 29.5 inches (74.9 cm) in
circumference (size 7, or a "295 ball") and weighs 22 ounces (624 g). If women are playing, the
official basketball size is 28.5 inches (72.4 cm) in circumference (size 6, or a "285 ball") with a
weight of 20 ounces (567 g).

Violations

The ball may be advanced toward the basket by being shot, passed between players, thrown,
tapped, rolled or dribbled (bouncing the ball while running).

The ball must stay within the court; the last team to touch the ball before it travels out of bounds
forfeits possession. The ball is out of bounds if touches or crosses over a boundary line, or
touches a player who is out of bounds. This is in contrast to other sports such as football,
volleyball, and tennis (but not rugby or American football) where the ball (or player) is still
considered in if any part of it is touching a boundary line.

The ball-handler may not move both feet without dribbling, an infraction known as traveling, nor
may he dribble with both hands or catch the ball in between dribbles, a violation called double
dribbling. A player's hand cannot be under the ball while dribbling; doing so is known as
carrying the ball. A team, once having established ball control in the front half of the court, may
not return the ball to the backcourt and be the first to touch it. The ball may not be kicked, nor be
struck with the fist. A violation of these rules results in loss of possession, or, if committed by
the defense, a reset of the shot clock (with some exceptions in the NBA).

There are limits imposed on the time taken before progressing the ball past halfway (8 seconds in
international and NBA; 10 seconds in NCAA men's play and high school for both sexes, but no
limit in NCAA women's play), before attempting a shot (24 seconds in the NBA, 30 seconds in
NCAA women's and Canadian Interuniversity Sport play for both sexes, and 35 seconds in
NCAA men's play), holding the ball while closely guarded (5 seconds), and remaining in the
restricted area below the foul line (the lane, or "key") (3 seconds). These rules are designed to
promote more offense.
No player may touch the ball on its downward flight to the basket, unless the ball has no chance
of entering the basket (goaltending). In addition, no player may touch the ball while it is on or in
the basket; when any part of the ball is in the cylinder above the basket (the area extended
upwards from the basket); or when the ball is outside the cylinder, if the player reaches through
the basket and touches it. This violation is known as "basket interference". If a defensive player
goaltends or commits basket interference, the basket is awarded and the offending team gets the
ball. If a teammate of the shooter goaltends or commits interference, the basket is cancelled and
play continues with the defensive team being given possession.

Fouls

The referee signals that a foul has been committed.

Main articles: Personal foul (basketball) and Technical foul

An attempt to unfairly disadvantage an opponent through physical contact is illegal and is called
a foul. These are most commonly committed by defensive players; however, they can be
committed by offensive players as well. Players who are fouled either receive the ball to pass
inbounds again, or receive one or more free throws if they are fouled in the act of shooting,
depending on whether the shot was successful. One point is awarded for making a free throw,
which is attempted from a line 15 feet (4.6 m) from the basket.

The referee may use discretion in calling fouls (for example, by considering whether an unfair
advantage was gained), sometimes making fouls controversial calls or no-calls. The calling of
fouls can vary between games, leagues and even among referees.

A player or coach who shows poor sportsmanship, such as by arguing with a referee or by
fighting with another player, can be charged with a more serious foul called a technical foul. The
penalty involves free throws (where, unlike a personal foul, the other team can choose any player
to shoot) and varies among leagues. Repeated incidents can result in disqualification. Blatant
fouls with excessive contact or that are not an attempt to play the ball are called intentional fouls
(or flagrant fouls in the NBA). In FIBA, a foul resulting in ejection is called a disqualifying foul,
while in leagues other than the NBA, such a foul is referred to as flagrant.
If a team exceeds a certain limit of team fouls in a given period (quarter or half) – four for NBA
and international games – the opposing team is awarded one or two free throws on all subsequent
non-shooting fouls for that period, the number depending on the league. In the US college and
high school games, if a team reaches 7 fouls in a half, the opposing team is awarded one free
throw, along with a second shot if the first is made. This is called shooting "one-and-one". If a
team exceeds 10 fouls in the half, the opposing team is awarded two free throws on all
subsequent fouls for the half.

When a team shoots foul shots, the opponents may not interfere with the shooter, nor may they
try to regain possession until the last or potentially last free throw is in the air.

After a team has committed a specified number of fouls, it is said to be "in the penalty". On
scoreboards, this is usually signified with an indicator light reading "Bonus" or "Penalty" with an
illuminated directional arrow indicating that team is to receive free throws when fouled by the
opposing team. (Some scoreboards also indicate the number of fouls committed.)

If a team misses the first shot of a two-shot situation, the opposing team must wait for the
completion of the second shot before attempting to reclaim possession of the ball and continuing
play.

If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is unsuccessful, the player is awarded a
number of free throws equal to the value of the attempted shot. A player fouled while attempting
a regular two-point shot, then, receives two shots. A player fouled while attempting a three-point
shot, on the other hand, receives three shots.

If a player is fouled while attempting a shot and the shot is successful, typically the player will
be awarded one additional free throw for one point. In combination with a regular shot, this is
called a "three-point play" or "four-point play" (or more colloquially, an "and one") because of
the basket made at the time of the foul (2 or 3 points) and the additional free throw (1 point).

Common techniques and practices

Positions

Main article: Basketball position

Basketball positions in the offensive zone

Although the rules do not specify any positions whatsoever, they have evolved as part of
basketball. During the first five decades of basketball's evolution, one guard, two forwards, and
two centers or two guards, two forwards, and one center were used. Since the 1980s, more
specific positions have evolved, namely:

1. point guard: usually the fastest player on the team, organizes the team's offense by
controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right player at the right time
2. shooting guard: creates a high volume of shots on offense; guards the opponent's best
perimeter player on defense
3. small forward: often primarily responsible for scoring points via cuts to the basket and
dribble penetration; on defense seeks rebounds and steals, but sometimes plays more
actively
4. power forward: plays offensively often with their back to the basket; on defense, plays
under the basket (in a zone defense) or against the opposing power forward (in man-to-
man defense)
5. center: uses height and size to score (on offense), to protect the basket closely (on
defense), or to rebound.

The above descriptions are flexible. On some occasions, teams will choose to use a three guard
offense, replacing one of the forwards or the center with a third guard. The most commonly
interchanged positions are point guard and shooting guard, especially if both players have good
leadership and ball handling skills.

Strategy

Main article: Basketball playbook

The strategies also evolve with the game. In the 1990s and early 2000s, teams played with more
"isolation". Teams that had one superstar would let one player, usually the point guard or
shooting guard, run most of the offense while the other four offensive players get out of his/her
way. Nowadays, teams tend to play with more teamwork. The "Center" position has evolved to
become more of a taller "Small Forward" position. Since teams play more teamwork, ball
movement has evolved with the game, and more jump shots have been taken as a result.

There are two main defensive strategies: zone defense and man-to-man defense. In a zone
defense, each player is assigned to guard a specific area of the court. In a man-to-man defense,
each defensive player guards a specific opponent. Man-to-man defense is generally preferred at
higher levels of competition, as it is intuitively easier to understand and avoids mismatches
between players who play different positions. However, zone defenses are sometimes used in
particular situations or simply to confuse the offense with an unexpected look.

Offensive plays are more varied, normally involving planned passes and movement by players
without the ball. A quick movement by an offensive player without the ball to gain an
advantageous position is a cut. A legal attempt by an offensive player to stop an opponent from
guarding a teammate, by standing in the defender's way such that the teammate cuts next to him,
is a screen or pick. The two plays are combined in the pick and roll, in which a player sets a pick
and then "rolls" away from the pick towards the basket. Screens and cuts are very important in
offensive plays; these allow the quick passes and teamwork which can lead to a successful
basket. Teams almost always have several offensive plays planned to ensure their movement is
not predictable. On court, the point guard is usually responsible for indicating which play will
occur.

Defensive and offensive structures, and positions, are more emphasized in higher levels in
basketball; it is these that a coach normally requests a time-out to discuss.

Shooting

Player releases a short jump shot, while her defender is either knocked down, or trying to "take a
charge."
Shooting is the act of attempting to score points by throwing the ball through the basket.
Methods can vary with players and situations.

Typically a player faces the basket with both feet facing the basket. A player will then allow the
ball to rest on the fingertips of the dominant hand (the shooting arm) slightly above the head,
with the other hand supporting the side of the ball. The ball is typically shot by jumping (though
not always) and straightening the shooting arm. The shooting arm, fully extended with the wrist
fully bent is held stationary for a moment following the release of the ball, known as a follow-
through. Players often try to put a steady backspin on the ball to deaden its impact with the rim.
The ideal trajectory of the shot is somewhat arguable, but generally coaches recommend a proper
arch. Players may shoot directly into the basket or may use the backboard to redirect the ball into
the basket.

The two most common shots that use the above described setup are the set shot and the jump
shot. The set shot is taken from a standing position, with neither foot leaving the floor, typically
used for free throws. The jump shot is taken while in mid-air, when the ball is released near the
top of the jump. This provides much greater power and range, and it also allows the player to
elevate over the defender. Failure to release the ball before the feet return to the ground is
considered a traveling violation.

Another common shot is called the layup. This shot requires the player to be in motion toward
the basket, and to "lay" the ball "up" and into the basket, typically off the backboard (the
backboard-free, underhand version is called a finger roll). The most crowd-pleasing and typically
highest-percentage accuracy shot is the slam dunk, in which the player jumps very high and
throws the ball downward, straight through the hoop.

Another shot that is becoming common is the "circus shot." The circus shot is a low-percentage
shot that is flipped, heaved, scooped, or flung toward the hoop while the shooter is off-balance,
airborne, falling down, and/or facing away from the basket.

A shot that misses both the rim and the backboard completely is referred to as an air ball. A
particularly bad shot, or one that only hits the backboard, is jocularly called a brick.

Rebounding

Main article: Rebound (basketball)

The objective of rebounding is to successfully gain possession of the basketball after a missed
field goal or free throw, as it rebounds from the hoop or backboard. This plays a major role in the
game, as most possessions end when a team misses a shot. There are two categories of rebounds:
offensive rebounds, in which the ball is recovered by the offensive side and does not change
possession, and defensive rebounds, in which the defending team gains possession of the loose
ball. The majority of rebounds are defensive, as the team on defense tends to be in better position
to recover missed shots.

Passing
See also: Assist (basketball)

A pass is a method of moving the ball between players. Most passes are accompanied by a step
forward to increase power and are followed through with the hands to ensure accuracy.

A staple pass is the chest pass. The ball is passed directly from the passer's chest to the receiver's
chest. A proper chest pass involves an outward snap of the thumbs to add velocity and leaves the
defence little time to react.

Another type of pass is the bounce pass. Here, the passer bounces the ball crisply about two-
thirds of the way from his own chest to the receiver. The ball strikes the court and bounces up
toward the receiver. The bounce pass takes longer to complete than the chest pass, but it is also
harder for the opposing team to intercept (kicking the ball deliberately is a violation). Thus,
players often use the bounce pass in crowded moments, or to pass around a defender.

The overhead pass is used to pass the ball over a defender. The ball is released while over the
passer's head.

The outlet pass occurs after a team gets a defensive rebound. The next pass after the rebound is
the outlet pass.

The crucial aspect of any good pass is it being difficult to intercept. Good passers can pass the
ball with great accuracy and they know exactly where each of their other teammates prefers to
receive the ball. A special way of doing this is passing the ball without looking at the receiving
teammate. This is called a no-look pass.

Another advanced style of passing is the behind-the-back pass which, as the description implies,
involves throwing the ball behind the passer's back to a teammate. Although some players can
perform such a pass effectively, many coaches discourage no-look or behind-the-back passes,
believing them to be difficult to control and more likely to result in turnovers or violations.

Dribbling
A U.S. Naval Academy ("Navy") player, left, posts up a U.S. Military Academy ("Army")
defender.
Main article: Dribble

Dribbling is the act of bouncing the ball continuously with one hand, and is a requirement for a
player to take steps with the ball. To dribble, a player pushes the ball down towards the ground
with the fingertips rather than patting it; this ensures greater control.

When dribbling past an opponent, the dribbler should dribble with the hand farthest from the
opponent, making it more difficult for the defensive player to get to the ball. It is therefore
important for a player to be able to dribble competently with both hands.

Good dribblers (or "ball handlers") tend to bounce the ball low to the ground, reducing the
distance of travel of the ball from the floor to the hand, making it more difficult for the defender
to "steal" the ball. Good ball handlers frequently dribble behind their backs, between their legs,
and switch directions suddenly, making a less predictable dribbling pattern that is more difficult
to defend against. This is called a crossover, which is the most effective way to move past
defenders while dribbling.

A skilled player can dribble without watching the ball, using the dribbling motion or peripheral
vision to keep track of the ball's location. By not having to focus on the ball, a player can look
for teammates or scoring opportunities, as well as avoid the danger of having someone steal the
ball away from him/her.

Blocking

Main article: Block (basketball)

A block is performed when, after a shot is attempted, a defender succeeds in altering the shot by
touching the ball. In almost all variants of play, it is illegal to touch the ball after it is in the
downward path of its arc; this is known as goaltending. It is also illegal under NBA and Men's
NCAA basketball to block a shot after it has touched the backboard, or when any part of the ball
is directly above the rim.

To block a shot, a player has to be able to reach a point higher than where the shot is released.
Thus, height can be an advantage in blocking. Players who are taller and playing the power
forward or center positions generally record more blocks than players who are shorter and
playing the guard positions. However, with good timing and a sufficiently high vertical leap,
even shorter players can be effective shot blockers.

Height
At the professional level, most male players are above 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and most women
above 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m). Guards, for whom physical coordination and ball-handling skills
are crucial, tend to be the smallest players. Almost all forwards in the men's pro leagues are
6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) or taller. Most centers are over 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) tall. According
to a survey given to all NBA teams, the average height of all NBA players is just under 6 feet
7 inches (2.01 m), with the average weight being close to 222 pounds (101 kg). The tallest
players ever in the NBA were Manute Bol and Gheorghe Mureşan, who were both 7 feet
7 inches (2.31 m) tall. The tallest current NBA player is Yao Ming, who stands at 7 feet 6 inches
(2.29 m).

The shortest player ever to play in the NBA is Muggsy Bogues at 5 feet 3 inches (1.60 m).[40]
Other short players have thrived at the pro level. Anthony "Spud" Webb was just 5 feet 7 inches
(1.70 m) tall, but had a 42-inch (1.07 m) vertical leap, giving him significant height when
jumping. The shortest player in the NBA (and second shortest ever in the NBA) as of the 2009–
10 season is Earl Boykins at 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m).[41] While shorter players are often not very
good at defending against shooting, their ability to navigate quickly through crowded areas of the
court and steal the ball by reaching low are strengths.

Variations and similar games

Main article: Variations of basketball

Variations of basketball are activities based on the game of basketball, using common
basketball skills and equipment (primarily the ball and basket). Some variations are only
superficial rules changes, while others are distinct games with varying degrees of basketball
influences. Other variations include children's games, contests or activities meant to help players
reinforce skills.

There are principal basketball sports with variations on basketball including Wheelchair
basketball, Water basketball, Beach basketball, Slamball, Streetball and Unicycle
basketball. An earlier version of basketball was Six-on-six basketball played until the end of
the 1950s. Horseball is a game played on horseback where a ball is handled and points are
scored by shooting it through a high net (approximately 1.5m×1.5m). The sport is like a
combination of polo, rugby, and basketball. There is even a form played on donkeys known as
Donkey basketball, but that version has come under attack from animal rights groups.

Games using basketball skills and equipment include popular versions of the half-court game
played in informal settings without referees or strict rules. Perhaps the single most common
variation is the half court game. Only one basket is used, and the ball must be "cleared" – passed
or dribbled outside the half-court or three-point line -each time possession of the ball changes
from one team to the other. Half-court games require less cardiovascular stamina, since players
need not run back and forth a full court. Half-court games also raise the number of players that
can use a court, an important benefit when many players want to play. Half court games are also
played when there is an insufficient number of players to form full 5-on-5 teams.

There are also other basketball sports like

 21 (also known as American, cutthroat and roughhouse)[42]

 42
 Around the world
  Bounce
 Firing Squad
 Fives
 H-O-R-S-E
 Hotshot
 Knockout
 One-shot conquer
 Steal The Bacon
 Tip-it
 Tips
 "The One"
 Basketball War.
 One-on-One, a variation in which two players will use only a small section of the court
(often no more than a half of a court) and compete to play the ball into a single hoop.
Such games tend to emphasize individual dribbling and ball stealing skills over shooting
and team play.

Wheelchair Basketball

Main article: Wheelchair basketball

Wheelchair basketball, created by disabled World War II veterans,[43] is played on specially

designed wheelchairs for the physically impaired. The world governing body of wheelchair
basketball is the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation[44] (IWBF).

Water Basketball

Main article: Water basketball

Water basketball, played in a swimming pool, merges basketball and water polo rules.

Beach Basketball

Main article: Beach basketball

A modified version of basketball, played on beaches, was invented by Philip Bryant.[45] Beach
basketball is played in a circular court with no backboard on the goal, no out-of-bounds rule with
the ball movement to be done via passes or 2½ steps, as dribbling is next to impossible on a soft
surface.[46] Beach basketball has grown to a very popular, widespread competitive sport. Fifteen
Annual World Championships have been organized.

Dunk Hoops

Dunk Hoops (aka Dunk Ball) is a variation of the game of basketball, played on basketball hoops
with lowered (under basketball regulation 10 feet) rims. It originated when the popularity of the
slam dunk grew and was developed to create better chances for dunks with lowered rims and
using altered goaltending rules.

Slamball

Main article: Slamball

Slamball is full-contact basketball, with trampolines. Points are scored by playing the ball
through the net, as in basketball, though the point-scoring rules are modified. The main
differences from the parent sport is the court; below the padded basketball rim and backboard are
four trampolines set into the floor which serve to propel players to great heights for slam dunks.
The rules also permit some physical contact between the members of the four-player teams.

Streetball

Main article: Streetball

Streetball is a less formal variant of basketball, played on playgrounds and in gymnasiums across
the world. Often only one half of the court is used, but otherwise the rules of the game are very
similar to those of basketball. The number of participants in a game, or a run, may range from
one defender and one person on offense (known as one on one) to two full teams of five each.

Streetball is a very popular game worldwide, and some cities in the United States have organized
streetball programs, such as midnight basketball. Many cities also host their own weekend-long
streetball tournaments.

Unicycle Basketball

Unicycle basketball is played using a regulation basketball on a regular basketball court with the
same rules, e.g., one must dribble the ball whilst riding. There are a number of rules that are
particular to unicycle basketball as well, e.g., a player must have at least one foot on a pedal
when in-bounding the ball. Unicycle basketball is usually played using 24" or smaller unicycles,
and using plastic pedals, both to preserve the court and the players' shins. In North America,
popular unicycle basketball games are organized.[47]

More distantly related basketball games

Main article: Variations of basketball#More distantly related games

Spin-offs from basketball that are now separate sports include:

 Korfball (Dutch: Korfbal, korf meaning 'basket') started in the Netherlands and is now
played worldwide as a mixed gender team ball game, similar to mixed netball and
basketball
  Netball (formerly known as Women basketball but now played by both males and
females), a limited-contact team sport in which two teams of seven try to score points
against one another by placing a ball through a high hoop.

Social forms of basketball

A monument to basketball in Vilnius

Basketball has been adopted by various social groups, which have established their own
environments and sometimes their own rules. Such socialized forms of basketball include the
following.

 Recreational basketball, where fun, entertainment and camaraderie rule rather than
winning a game;
 Basketball Schools and Academies, where students are trained in developing basketball
fundamentals, undergo fitness and endurance exercises and learn various basketball
skills. Basketball students learn proper ways of passing, ball handling, dribbling, shooting
from various distances, rebounding, offensive moves, defense, layups, screens, basketball
rules and basketball ethics. Also popular are the basketball camps organized for various
occasions, often to get prepared for basketball events, and basketball clinics for
improving skills.
 College and University basketball played in educational institutions of higher learning.
o This includes National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) intercollegiate
basketball, commonly known as College basketball in the United States although
it is also played in most universities in the country.
 Disabled basketball played by various disabled groups, such as
o Bankshot basketball,[48]
o Deaf basketball,
o Wheelchair basketball, a sport based on basketball but designed for disabled
people in wheelchairs and considered one of the major disabled sports practiced.
  Ethnic and Religion-based basketball: Examples of ethnic basketball include Indo-Pak
or Russian or Armenian leagues in the United States or Canada, for example, or Filipino
expatriate basketball leagues in the Gulf or the United States. Religion-based basketball
includes, most notably, church-related Christian basketball leagues, Jewish, Muslim and
Hindu basketball leagues, etc. or denominational leagues like Coptic, Syriac/Assyrian
basketball leagues in the United States or Canada.
 Gay basketball played in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in gay
basketball leagues. The sport of basketball is a major part of events during the Gay
Games, World Outgames and EuroGames.
 Midnight basketball, a basketball initiative to curb inner-city crime in the United States
and elsewhere by keeping urban youth off the streets and engaging them with sports
alternatives to drugs and crime.
 Mini basketball played by underage children.
 Maxi Basketball played by more elderly individuals.
 Prison basketball, practiced in prisons and penitentiary institutions. Active religious
basketball missionary groups also play basketball with prisoners. Some prisons have
developed their own prison basketball leagues. At times, non-prisoners may play in such
leagues, provided all home and away games are played within prison courts. Film
director Jason Moriarty has released a documentary relating to the sport, entitled Prison
Ball.
 Rezball, short for reservation ball, is the term used to describe the avid Native American
following of basketball and, in some areas, the style of play of Native American teams.
 School or High school basketball, the sport of basketball being one of the most
frequently exercised and popular sports in all school systems.
 Show basketball as performed by entertainment basketball show teams, the prime
example being the Harlem Globetrotters. There are even specialized entertainment teams,
including
o Celebrity basketball teams made of celebrities (actors, singers, etc.) playing in
their own leagues or in public, often for entertainment and charity events;
o Midget basketball teams made up of athletes of short stature offering shows
using basketball;
o Slamball offered as entertainment events.

Fantasy basketball
Main article: Fantasy basketball

Fantasy basketball was inspired by fantasy baseball. Originally played by keeping track of stats
by hand, it was popularized during the 1990s after the advent of the Internet. Those who play this
game are sometimes referred to as General Managers, who draft actual NBA players and
compute their basketball statistics. The game was popularized by ESPN Fantasy Sports,
NBA.com, and Yahoo! Fantasy Sports. Other sports websites provided the same format keeping
the game interesting with participants actually owning specific players.