What's it all about? Basketball

Ivy Susanti, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Michael Jordan is coming back!

It's been three years since we last saw his trademark "Air Jordan" dunk shot and all the other tricks of the trade that earned him the title of greatest sportsman on the planet. It was only this week that the player who once wore the famous No. 23 announced he wanted to "scratch his itch so it won't bother him for the rest of his life" and prepare for a return with his new club, the Washington Wizards, at the opening of the regular season next month.

And then Jordan fever will hit the world.

Back home, it may take quite a while before you can play like Jordan, but at least you can start practicing now.

What's basketball?

The Webster's Sports Dictionary (1976) defines basketball as a fast moving game played on a court -- both indoor and outdoor -- between two teams of five players with the object of scoring by tossing an inflated ball through a goal consisting of a basket mounted above the floor on a backboard, while attempting to prevent one's opponents from scoring. The height of the basket and the size of the basketball are adjusted according to the player's size. Standard NBA basketballs are 30 inches in circumference.

The game is played for various lengths of time depending on the age of the players, but most youth games are made up of four six minute quarters, allowing a two-three minute break between quarters and at least a 10-minute half-time break.

At the start of the game, five players from each team advance to the center court to contest a jump ball. Each team tries to take possession of the ball and move it toward their designated net.

Players may dribble the ball or pass it to a teammate, but they may not walk or run with the ball. They are not allowed to hit, shove, hold or tackle opponents to prevent them from scoring, but they may intercept passes, block shots, bat away the ball when it is being dribbled or wrest it from an opponent.

When one team scores, the other team must put the ball in play from outside the end line underneath the basket.

During offense (with the ball), the team works together to move the ball forward to score, while on defense (without the ball) team members try to stop the opposing team from scoring.

The www.healthatoz.com website says that basketball can improve physical fitness, coordination and self-discipline and give children valuable opportunities to learn about teamwork. But as in most sports that require running for sustained periods of time, injuries to the lower extremities are common, particularly ankle injuries, with strains and sprains being the most often encountered basketball injuries.

Other injuries such as bruises, lacerations and bone fractures can result both from falls and from collisions between players.

Basic skills

You can start basketball training as young as five years of age.

There are some basic skills you will need to play basketball: * Dribbling: Bouncing the ball with successive taps of one hand. A player is not allowed to walk or run when he or she has the ball unless the ball is dribbled. * Passing: Throwing a ball to a teammate. * Shooting: Throwing or propelling the ball with the hands into the net to score a goal.

In addition, slam dunking involves making a shot by jumping high into the air and throwing the ball forcefully down through the basket with one or both hands.

Another related skill is rebounding, gaining possession of the ball after the shot hits the goal and bounces away.

Team

A team normally consists of two guards who are responsible for bringing the ball into the court and working it to teammates near the basket, and who customarily play near the backcourt; two forwards who usually play on the sides near the basket, and a center who is usually the tallest player and normally plays in the middle of the frontcourt around the free throw line where he can relay passes to teammates, shoot and position himself to seize rebounds (see the illustration). The game is conducted by a referee assisted by an umpire.

Tips

Coach Geoff Shurtleff, on the www.prostar.com/web/northshr/bb- tips.htm website, provides some tips on step-by-step basketball fundamentals for use by children and parents:

Dribbling - Push the ball with the fingers - Head up - Lower dribble when closely guarded - Body between defender and ball - Use both hands - Elbow close to body

Passing * Eye contact * Crisp two handed passes * Pass to target -- outside shoulder * Step to receive

Shooting * Lay-ups (you shoot from near the basket at the top of a jump, usually by playing the ball off the backboard. It needs a lot of practice): - Off the back board - Concentrate - Jump off the left foot for a right handed lay-up, vice versa. * Jump Shot (one handed): - Elbow in - Release ball up -- not out - Wrist- finger flip with fore finger being last to touch the ball - Eyes on the spot over the front of the rim.

Rebounding - Block-out (between man and basket) - Flex knees - Eye on the ball - Timing - Long rebounds on three-pointer attempts Remember the ball will more likely bounce back toward the shooter.

Offense - Eye on the ball - Don't force shots or passes - Shoot if open - Put offensive rebound back up - Get back fast on turnovers

Defense - Eye on the ball - Between man and basket - Never rest on defense - Hands up - Watch the hips - Slide, don't cross legs - Be aggressive, go for steals

Half Court Press - Guard double team player with the ball once he has crossed the half court line. - Center and forwards look to intercept passes.