Basketball court

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In basketball, the basketball court is the playing surface, consisting of a rectangular floor with baskets at either end. In professional or organized basketball, especially when played indoors, it is usually made out of a hardwood, often maple, and highly polished. Other indoor surfaces include suspended plastic interlocking tiles from companies like Mateflex, Flex court, Rhino Court and Sport Court. Outdoor surfaces used include plastic interlocking tiles (suspended athletic courts), asphalt, blacktop, or similar materials are used. Amateur players would typically use tarmac as the surface.

The object of the game is to throw the ball through the baskets at either end of the court. When the game was first invented, actual baskets were used. Dr. James Naismith's original rules specified that "A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do no touch or disturb the goal." ^[1] However, because it proved to be inconvenient to continually retrieve the ball from the baskets, the baskets were soon replaced by metal hoops (usually with dangling netting attached to direct the ball straight down.) The hoops are attached to rectangular (or sometimes fanshaped) backboards made of either metal, fiberglass, acrylic, or tempered glass.

The basketball court comes in different shapes and sizes. In the National Basketball Association, the court is 94 ft by 50 ft (28.65 m by 15.24 m). Under International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules^[2], the court is slightly smaller, measuring exactly 28 m by 15 m (91'10.4" by 49'2.6"), although national federations are allowed to use smaller courts, as long as they are at least 26 m by 14 m (85'3.6" by 45'11.2"). A high school court is slightly smaller, at 84' by 50' and some elementary schools have courts measuring 42' x 74'. In amateur basketball, court sizes vary widely. The baskets are always 10' (3.05m) above the floor (except possibly in youth competition).

Contents 1 Diagram of basketball court and backboard 2 Dimensions 3 Sections of the basketball court 3.1 Center circle 3.2 Three-point line 3.3 Perimeter 3.4 Low post area 3.5 Key 3.5.1 Restricted area arc 3.6 Other lines 3.7 Future changes 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Diagram of basketball court and backboard

A diagram of a FIBA basketball court

A diagram of a basketball court with FIBA (top half only), NBA and NCAA (men - both halves, women - bottom half only) markings

The backboard and basket

NCAA backboard and basket (2008)

Layout prescribed by the rules of the International Basketball Federation, the National Basketball Association, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

[edit] Dimensions

Area		NBA		FIBA		Men's NCAA		U.S. high school		U.S. junior H.S.
		Imperial	Metric	Imperial	Metric	Imperial	Metric	Imperial	Metric	Imperial	Metric
Court length		94 ft	28.65 m	91.86 ft	28 m	Same as NBA		84 ft	25.6 m	74 ft	22.56 m
Court width		50 ft	15.24 m	49.21 ft	15 m	Same as NBA				42 ft	12.8 m
Rim height		10.0 ft	3.05 m	Same as NBA
Restraining circle diameter		4 ft	1.22 m	Nonexistent
Center circle diameter		12 ft	3.66 m	11.81 ft	3.6 m	Same as NBA
3-point line distance from the center of the basket		23.75 ft 22 ft*	7.24 m 6.70 m*	20.5 ft	6.25 m	20.75 ft	6.32 m	19.75 ft	6.01 m	Same as high school
Key (shaded lane or restricted area) width	FT line	16 ft	4.88 m	11.81 ft	3.6 m	12 ft	3.66 m	Same as NCAA
	End line			19.69 ft	6 m
Free-throw line distance from the backboard		15 ft	4.57 m	15.09 ft	4.6 m	Same as NBA

* The NBA three-point line is 3 ft (0.91 m) from the sideline in a zone starting at the baseline and ending when it crosses the 23 ft 9 in arc. The 22 ft measurement applies only at a point where a line parallel to the baseline intersects the long axis of the court and the center of the basket.

[edit] Sections of the basketball court

[edit] Center circle

The only two players permitted to enter this area prior to the tipoff are the players contesting the jump ball (usually but not always centers). They both have to jump when the referee throws the ball in the air to attempt to push the ball in the hands of a player of their own team.

[edit] Three-point line

This is the line that separates the two-point area from the three-point area; any shots converted beyond this line counts as three points. If a player steps on the line, it is counted as two points only. Any foul made in the act of shooting beyond the 3-point line would give the player three free throws (if the shot doesn't go in).

The distance to the three-point arc has changed several times in the history of basketball. The rules for the international, United States amateur, and National Basketball Association versions of the game each specify distinct distances. In the 1979-1980 season, the NBA adopted a three-point arc that was a variable distance, ranging from 22 feet in the corners to 23'9" behind the top of the key. The line was briefly moved in to a uniform 22 feet during the 1990s before being restored to its original distance.

In college basketball, as well as in most high school associations in the United States, the distance is 19’ 9". The international distance, used in most countries outside the United States and in FIBA competition, is currently 6.25 m (20’ 6"). On May 26, 2007, the playing rules committee agreed on a new rule for men's college basketball which will move the three-point line back one foot to 20' 9". This rule will go into effect for the 2008-2009 season. The three-point line for women's college basketball will remain at 19' 9".[1]

[edit] Perimeter

The perimeter is defined as the areas that are farthest to the basket but outside of the free throw lane and inside the three-point line. Shots converted in this area are called "perimeter shots" or "medium-range shots."

[edit] Low post area

The low post is defined as the areas that are closest to the basket but outside of the free throw lane.^[3] This area is fundamental in strategy in American basketball (in international basketball, the key is currently trapezoidal, so low post play is not as prominent). Skilled low post players can score many points per game without ever taking a jump shot.

[edit] Key

The key or shaded lane refers to frequently painted area beneath the basket; for NBA, it is 16 feet wide, for the NCAA it is 12 feet wide; for both instances it is 15 feet from the backboard; at the top of the rectangle is the free-throw line where players shoot uncontested shots when they're fouled in the act of shooting or any other penalty. A circle is drawn beyond the free-throw line with a 6 feet radius; this is used for jumpball instances similarly done at the center circle.

For FIBA tournaments, the key is currently a trapezoid 3.7 meters (12 ft) wide at the free-throw line and 6 meters (19 feet and 6.25 inches) at the end line.

The key is primarily used to prevent players from staying beneath the basket for long periods.

[edit] Restricted area arc

The restricted area arc is an arc 4 feet (1.22 m) from the basket currently used only in the NBA; with some exceptions, defending players can't force offensive fouls in this area.

[edit] Other lines

At NBA floors, two lines are drawn at the end lines near the key - the area directly behind the lines designates the spot where teams on the offensive can inbound the ball.

A similar line parallel to the vertices of the three-point line in NBA floors serves with the same purpose; also this line demarcates the farthest extent a coach (aside from the sidelines) can stay. Directly behind this area is the team bench.

On the halfcourt line at NBA floors there are 2 lines extending outside the playing court designating the place where substitutes wait before they can enter the playing court; directly behind this area are the various off-court officials such as the timekeeper and reserve referee.

[edit] Future changes

On April 26, 2008, FIBA announced several major rules changes involving the court markings. These changes will take effect for major international competitions on October 1, 2010, after that year's World Championships for men and women, and for other competitions on October 1, 2012. The changes will be:^[4]

• The shape of the key will change from a trapezoid to a rectangle as it is in the NBA, with NBA dimensions.
• The three-point line will move back to 6.75 metres (22 ft 1.7 in) from the current 6.25 metres (20 ft 6.1 in), compared to 23 ft 9 in for the NBA at the top of the arc.
• FIBA will adopt the NBA's restricted area arc with a marginally wider radius of 1.25 metres (4 ft 1.2 in).

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Information on Building, Choosing, Maintaining a Basketball Court