What's it all about? Basketball

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.