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Basketball court
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of the National Basketball Association]]
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, Sport Court, VersaCourt International, and Sport-Floor.
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Encyclopedia
of the National Basketball Association]]
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, Sport Court, VersaCourt International, and Sport-Floor. 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." 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 feet by 50 ft (28.65 m by 15.24 m). Under International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules, 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 74' x 42'. In amateur basketball, court sizes vary widely. The baskets are always 10' (3.05m) above the floor (except possibly in youth competition).
Diagram of basketball court and backboard
Layout prescribed by the rules of the International Basketball Federation, the National Basketball Association, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Dimensions
| Area | NBA | FIBA | WNBA | Men's NCAA | U.S. high school | U.S. junior H.S. |
|---|
| Imperial | Metric | 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 ft | 3.05 m | Same as NBA | | Restraining circle diameter | 4 ft | 1.22 m | Same as NBA | 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
22.15 ft (from Oct. 2010) | 6.25 m
6.75 m (from Oct. 2010) | 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 | Same as NBA | 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 arc. The 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.
Sections of the basketball court
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.
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, and one if it does.
The distance to the three-point varies depending on the level/league, and has changed several times. These are the current distances, and the league/level that uses that distance:
- NCAA (women), high school
- International, WNBA
- NCAA (men)
to : NBA
The NBA adopted the 3 point line at the start of the 1979-1980 season, which is of variable distance, ranging from in the corners to behind the top of the key. During the 1994–95, 1995–96, and 1996-97 seasons, the NBA attempted to address decreased scoring by shortening the overall distance of the line to a uniform around the basket. It was moved back to it's original distance after the 1996-97 season.
In college basketball, as well as in most high school associations in the United States, the distance is 19.75 feet. On May 26, 2007, the NCAA playing rules committee agreed to move the three-point line back one foot to 20.75 feet for the men. This rule went into effect for the 2008-2009. The three-point line for the women (NCAA) remains at 19.75 feet.
The international distance, used in most countries outside the United States and in FIBA competition, is currently 20.5 feet (6.25 m). The same goes for the WNBA.
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."
Low post area
The low post is defined as the areas that are closest to the basket but outside of the free throw lane. 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.
Key
The key or shaded lane refers to frequently painted area beneath the basket; for NBA, it is wide, for the NCAA it is wide; for both instances it is 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 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.
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.
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.
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:
- 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 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).
External links
- Community tool for locating basketball courts and organizing pickup games.
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