Learn the rules of basketball fast: for women coming back to the game

Coming back to basketball after years away can be... overwhelming.

You didn’t grow up playing the game and so you feel like you’ve missed out on a lot of the fundamentals of basketball. The easiest and most logical place to start learning the basics of basketball is to understand the rules.

But you’re busy, I get it. You don’t need the full rundown of all 105 pages of the FIBA rulebook. You need to know the basic rules ASAP. Let’s not get bogged down with the nitty gritty, let’s cover off just enough for you to be able to play social or recreational basketball for fun and fitness:

Court and teams

• Two teams compete, each with 5 players on the court at any time. Additional players can be substituted throughout the game, but no more than 5 from each team can be on the court at the same time.
• Players can take up any space on the court, so long as it isn’t already occupied by another player.
• The boundary lines and everything outside of them are out-of-bounds. If the ball or a player holding the ball touches anything out-of-bounds then the ball goes 'dead’ and possession is given to the opponents.

Points and scoring

• The aim of the game is to score more points than the other team, and the game is played in 4 quarters, each usually 10 minutes long (game duration can vary between local leagues).
• Points are awarded for putting the ball through the opponent’s basket: 2 points are awarded if the shot is taken inside the 3-point line, and 3 points are awarded if it’s taken outside the 3-point line. Single points are only given for successful free throws (taken at the free throw line), which are awarded when a player is fouled while in the act of shooting.
• Players can defend their basket by blocking, stealing or intercepting the ball. But they cannot make excessive contact that disadvantages the opponent from progressing towards the basket, which will be penalised with a foul.

Moving with the ball

• The ball is played with the hands only. Dribbling (bouncing the ball) is the only legal way to move with the ball. The ball can be dribbled with either hand, but not with both hands at the same time. The dribble ends once the ball is touched by both hands, and it cannot be started again: the ball must be passed or shot.

Fast games

To keep the game moving quickly there are several time-based rules:

• Each team gets 24 seconds to attempt a shot per possession (some local leagues don’t enforce this strictly). If they fail to attempt a shot in that time, possession will be given to the opponents.
• When possession changes, the ball is thrown in from a boundary line, and the player has 5 seconds to inbound the ball.
• The attacking team then has 8 seconds to get the ball across the halfway line into their frontcourt (the half of the court that they’re shooting in). During that possession, they cannot return the ball to the backcourt once they’ve crossed the halfway line.
• The attacking players are only allowed in the keyway (the rectangle under the hoop) for 3 seconds at a time. They can leave and return as often as they want while they are attacking.

If you want to learn more about these basic rules, including video examples, grab your FREE Basketball Quick Guide for Beginners. Or flip through the rules flashcards right now.