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BASKETBALL

Basketball is a team sport consisting of 10 players on each team. It is most often played inside on a wooden court. Equipment needed include a basketball, a uniform to separate the two teams, a court, two hoops, referees and of course, players. There are two baskets at each end of the court and the aim of the game is to put the basketball in the hoop. Which ever team scores the most points wins the game. POINT SYSTEM When shooting from anywhere inside the three point line you get two points for each shot scored. However, any shots scored outside the three point line are counted as three points. When somebody makes contact with your body while you're taking a shot,(foul), you get two free throws. Each free throw is worth one point. RULES There are certain rules you must follow when playing basketball. While someone on the other team has the ball you can only touch the ball. If you make contact with the person it is a foul. The outcomes vary depending on the situation. If they are about to take a shot and you hit them, they get 2 free shots from the free-throw line. If they are shooting and you hit them and they get the ball in, they only get one free shot. If they are just holding the ball or dribbling, then they get to pass the ball in from the sideline/baseline. You cannot run with the ball. If you are to make any movement with the ball you need to dribble, pass or shoot. Pivoting is allowed, however, if you take steps while just holding the ball it is called a travel. Once you have dribbled the ball once and picked it up, you can't dribble it again. If you did that, it would be a double-dribble. Once you pick the ball up after dribbling you can only pivot, pass or shoot the ball. The only time you can take steps with the ball is when you are going for a layup. A layup is often a dribble up to the key and then you are allowed two steps to get to the basket and shoot the ball while in a running motion. POSITIONS A basketball team should include both tall and small players. It is usually the smaller players bringing the ball up the court. The person who does this is called the point guard (1). The point guard is responsible for setting up plays and is the best ball handler in the team. The shooting guard (2) is often the best shooter in the team. They are able to take long shots and drive the ball to the hoop, often helping out the point guard at the top of the 3-point-line. The small forward (3) is mid height and plays a very similar role to the shooting guard (2). The power forward (4) is one of the bigger players in the team, usually under the basket in the posts and low blocks. The centre (5) is the tallest player in the team. They play near the baseline and always close to the basket. They usually stay under the basket on defence and offence, and help out with "screens".