Delphi

The communities include Chrysso which in ancient times was Crissa.
. Delphi also has a school, a lyceum and a square (plateia). Half-court games double the number of players that can utilize a court, and are sometimes required by the owner of a busy facility. The two main streets are each one-way and narrow. Only one basket is used, with the requirement that the ball be "cleared" - passed or dribbled outside the half-court or three-point line - whenever possession of the ball changes. It is passed by a major highway linking Amfissa along with Itea and Arachova. Perhaps the single most common variation is the half court game.

The modern Delphi or Delfi or Delfoi is situated west of the archaeological site. Most of the variations are played in informal settings without referees or strict rules. Three of the Doric colums have been restored, making it the most popular site at Delphi for tourists to take photographs. Other variations include children's games, contests or activities intended to help the player reinforce skills, which may or may not have a competitive aspect. The Tholos is located approximately a half-mile (800 m) from the main ruins at Delphi. Some variations are only superficial rules changes, while others are distinct games with varying degrees of basketball influences. It consisted of 20 Doric columns arranged with an exterior diamater of 14.76 meters, with 10 Corinthian columns in the interior. Variations of basketball are activities based on the game of basketball, utilizing common basketball skills and equipment (primarily the ball and basket).

The Tholos at the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia is a circular building that was constructed between 380 and 360 B.C. Anthony "Spud" Webb was just 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) tall, but had a 42-inch (1.07 m) vertical leap, giving him significant height when jumping. Another impressive treasury that exists on the site was dedicated by the city of Siphnos, who had ammassed great wealth from their silver and gold mines and so they dedicated the Siphnian Treasury. Some shorter players experience success at professional level. The Athenians had previously been given the advice by the oracle to put their faith in their "wooden walls" – taking this advice to mean their navy, they won a famous battle at Salamis. The shortest player ever to play in the NBA is Muggsy Bogues at 1.60 meters (5 ft 3 in). The most impressive is the now-restored Treasury of Athens, built to commemorate the Athenians' victory at the Battle of Marathon. Currently, the tallest NBA player is Yao Ming, who stands at 2.29 m (7 ft 6 in).

These were built by the various states – those overseas as well as those on the mainland – to commemorate victories and to thank the oracle for advice important to those victories. The tallest players ever to play in the NBA, Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan, are 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in). From the entrance of the site, continuing up the slope almost to the temple itself, is a large number of votive statues, and numerous treasuries. Most centers are over 2.1 meters (6 ft 10.5 in) tall. Other archaeologists believe that the oracle also inhaled fumes of burning bay leaves. Forwards in the men's professional leagues are almost all 2 meters (6 ft 6 in) or taller. here for a popular science coverage). Guards, for whom physical coordination and ball-handling skills are of greater importance, tend to be the smallest players although they can occasionally be quite tall.

707; see e.g. At the professional level, most male participants are above 1.90 meters (6 ft 3 in) and most women are above 1.70 meters (5 ft 7 in). (de Boer et al., Geology 29 (2001) pp. Being tall is a clear advantage in basketball. However, recent geological research indicates that the site of the oracle shows young geological faults, and it seems plausible that these emitted in ancient times light hydrocarbon gases, possibly ethylene, from bituminous limestone which do have an intoxicating effect. A skilled player can dribble without watching the ball, using the dribbling motion or peripheral vision to keep track of the ball's location.By not having to focus on the ball, a player can look for teammates or scoring opportunities, as well as avoid the danger of someone stealing the ball from them. ¹ After investigating the site, archeologists were convinced that these vapours are only a myth, as no evidence for them could be found, and — so the then standard opinion in geology — gaseous emissions from rock only occur in conjunction with volcanic activity. It is common for beginners to dribble into a difficult position.

The temple to Apollo at Delphi was built by Trophonius and Agamedes. Alternatively, to switch hands, a player can dribble between their legs or behind the back. In the 3rd century A.D., the oracle (perhaps bribed) declared that the god would no longer speak there. This is because, when switching the hand that is dribbling, the ball travels in front of the player making it easier to steal. Another famous motto of Delphi is Meden Agan (Μηδέν Άγαν): "nothing in excess". The dribble is also lowered when switching hands. This claim is related to one of the most famous mottos of Delphi, which Socrates said he learned there, Gnothi Seauton (Γνώθι Σεαυτόν): "know thyself". Also, the dribble will be lowered so that its movement is more frequent.

The oracle is also said to have proclaimed Socrates the wisest man in Greece, to which Socrates said that if so, this was because he alone was aware of his own ignorance. In this way, the defender will not be able to get to the ball without getting past the dribbler. Croesus of Lydia consulted Delphi before attacking Persia, and according to Herodotus received the answer "if you do, you will destroy a great empire." Croesus found the response favorable and attacked, and was utterly overthrown (resulting, of course, in the destruction of his own empire). It is therefore important for a player to be able to dribble confidently with both hands. She also was respected by the semi-Hellenic countries around the Greek world, such as Lydia, Caria, and even Egypt. When dribbling past an opponent, the dribbler should dribble with the hand furthest from the player. This oracle exerted considerable influence across the country, and was consulted before all major undertakings: wars, the founding of colonies, and so forth. When a player dribbles, he or she pushes the ball down towards the ground, rather than patting it, because this ensures greater control.

Still others claimed the Sibyl received her powers from Gaia originally, who passed the oracle to Themis, who passed it to Phoebe. Dribbling is the act of bouncing the ball continuously. Others said she was sister or daughter to Apollo. For this reason, large arc-shaped passes are almost always avoided and cross-court passes, called skip passes, are only used in certain situations. Pausanias claimed that the Sibyl was "born between man and goddess, daughter of sea monsters and an immortal nymph". The most important aspect of a good pass is that it is difficult for the defense to intercept. The Sibyl sat on the Sibylline Rock, breathing in vapors from the ground¹ and gaining her often puzzling predictions from that. A pass is not necessarily between two players a distance from each other; sometimes a clever cut by a teammate can mean that a pass is to a directly adjacent teammate who is in motion, where either player's hands remain on the ball for the duration of the pass.

Later, "Sibyl" became a title given to whichever priestess manned the oracle at the time. This pass is also a fairly direct pass and can cover more distance than a chest pass. She sang her predictions, which she received from Gaia. The ball is passed from behind the passer's head, coming over it and aiming for around the chin of the receiver. The first oracle at Delphi was commonly known as Sibyl or Pythia, though her name was Herophile. The overhead pass is used to pass the ball over a defender. The oracle at that time predicted the future based on the lapping water and leaves rustling in the trees. Thus, in crowded moments, or to pass the ball around a defender, this pass is often used.

The shrine dedicated to Apollo was probably originally dedicated to Gaia and then Poseidon. It does take longer to complete than the chest pass, but it is more difficult for the opposing team to intercept (kicking the ball deliberately is a violation). Apollo killed Python but had to be punished for it, since Python was a child of Gaia. In this way, it is completed in the smallest amount of time possible for this pass. This was the spring which emitted vapors that caused the Oracle at Delphi to give her prophesies. Like the chest pass, it is passed from the passer's chest to the receiver's chest, and it is passed as directly as possible, for example, there should be no downward motion of the ball between the bounce and the time the receiver catches it. When young, Apollo killed the chthonic serpent Python, which lived beside the Castalian Spring, according to some because Python had attempted to rape Leto while she was pregnant with Apollo and Artemis. In this pass, the ball bounces about two-thirds of the way from the passer.

Even in Roman times hundreds of votive statues remained, described by Pliny the Younger and seen by Pausanias. Another type of pass is the bounce pass. Delphi was the site of a major temple to Phoebus Apollo, as well as the Pythian Games and a famous oracle. This has the advantage that it takes the least time to complete, as the passer tries to pass as directly straight as possible. In commemoration of this legend, the winners at the Pythian Games received a laurel wreath picked in Tempe. The ball is passed directly from the passer's chest to the receiver's chest. Another legend held that Apollo walked to Delphi from the north and stopped at Tempe, a city in Thessaly to pick laurel, a plant sacred to him. One of the most basic passes is the chest pass.

The epithet is connected with dolphins (the "womb-fish") in the Homeric Hymn to Apollo Εις Απόλλωνα Πύθιον, 400), telling how Apollo first came to Delphi in the shape of a dolphin, carrying Cretan priests on his back. Most passes are accompanied by a step forward to increase power and are followed through with the hands to ensure accuracy. either "the one of Delphi", or "the one of the womb". A pass is a method of moving the ball between players. Apollo is connected with the site by his epithet Δελφίνιος Delphinios, "the Delphinian", i.e. Realizing a shooting opportunity and using it is as important as basic technique; top players at the professional level rarely miss when given an unguarded look at the basket. The name Delphoi is connected with δελφός delphus "womb" and may indicate archaic veneration of an Earth Goddess at the site. The best shooters have good coordination, balance, courage and are well practiced.

Southwest of Delphi, about 15 km away, is the harbor-city of Kirrha on the Corinthian Gulf. This provides much greater power and range, and it also allows the player to elevate over the defender. This semicircular spur is known as Phaedriades; it overlooks the Pleistos Valley. The jump shot is taken while in mid-air, near the top of the jump. Parnassus. The set shot is taken from a standing position, with neither foot leaving the floor, typically used for free throws. Delphi is located in a plateau on the side of Mt. The two most common shots are the set shot and the jump shot.

. Most players shoot directly into the basket, but in certain situations the shooter may use the backboard to redirect the ball into the basket. 61, 84). The ideal trajectory of the shot is somewhat arguable, but generally coaches will profess proper arch. After the battle of Plataea, the Greek cities extinguished their fires and brought new fire from the hearth of Greece, at Delphi; in the foundation stories of several Greek colonies, the founding colonists were first dedicated at Delphi (Burkert, 1985, pp. Players often try to put a steady backspin on the ball to deaden its impact with the rim. In the inner εστία (hestia), or hearth, of the Temple of Delphic Apollo (Απόλλων Δελφίνιος - Apollon Delphinios), an άσβεστος φλόγα (eternal flame) burned. Generally, the non-shooting arm is only used to guide the shot, not to power it.

Delphi was revered throughout the Greek world as the site of the ομφαλός (omphalos) stone, the centre of the universe. The ball is shot by extending the shooting arm to become straight; the ball rolls off the finger tips while the wrist completes a full downward flex motion. In ancient times it was the site of the Delphic Sibyl, dedicated to the god Apollo. The player holds the ball to rest in the dominant hand's fingertips (the shooting arm) slightly above the head, with the other hand on the side of the ball. Delphi (Greek Δελφοί - Delphoi; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece. While methods can vary with players and situations, the most common technique can be outlined here. Burkert, Walter, Greek Religion 1985. Shooting is the act of attempting to score points by throwing the ball through the basket.

The New York Times, March 19, 2002: "Fumes and Visions Were Not a Myth for Oracle at Delphi". Defensive and offensive structures, and positions, are more emphasised in higher levels in basketball; it is these that a coach normally requests a time-out to discuss. Geology of Delphi. On court, the point guard is generally responsible for indicating which play will occur. John Roach, "Delphic Oracle's Lips May Have Been Loosened by Gas Vapors" in National Geographic news, August 2001. Teams almost always have several offensive plays planned to ensure their movement is not predictable. Hale, et al., "Questioning the Delphic Oracle: When science meets religion at this ancient Greek site, the two turn out to be on better terms than scholars had originally thought", in Scientific American August 2003. Screens and cuts are very important in offensive plays; these allow the quick passes and teamwork which can lead to a successful basket.

John R. The two plays are combined in the pick and roll, in which a player sets a pick and then "rolls" away from the pick towards the basket. "The Delphic oracle". A legal attempt by an offensive player to stop an opponent marking a teammate, by standing in the defender's way such that the teammate cuts next to him, is a screen or pick. Eloise Hart, "The Delphic oracle". A quick movement by an offensive player without the ball to gain an advantageous position is a cut. Livius Picture Archive: Delphi. Offensive plays are more varied, normally involving planned passes and movement by players without the ball.

Osborne , "A Short detour to Delphi and the Sibyls". Variations of these two main structures are used. C. In man-to-man defense, each defensive player guards and follows a specific opponent and tries to prevent him from taking action. Delphi (in Greek). Zone defense involves players in defensive positions, guarding whichever opponent is in their zone. Delphi guide. Two main defense concepts are used: zone defense and man-to-man defense.

The Oracle of Delphi and Ancient Oracles, annotated guide edited by Tim Spalding. On some occasions, teams will choose to use a three guard offense, replacing one of the forwards or the center with a third guard. Hellenic Ministry of Culture: Delphi. Since the 1980s, more specific positions have evolved, namely point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward and center. Homepage of the modern municipality (in English or Greek). During the first five decades of basketball's evolution, two guards, two forwards, and one center were used. Although the rules do not specify any positions whatsoever, they have evolved as part of basketball.

A player who commits five fouls, including technical fouls, in one game (six in some professional leagues, including the NBA) is not allowed to participate for the rest of the game, and is described as having "fouled out". If a team surpasses a preset limit of team fouls in a given period (quarter or half) – four for international and NBA games – the opposing team is awarded one or two free throws on all subsequent fouls for that period, depending on the league. Blatant fouls with excessive contact or that are not an attempt to play the ball are called unsportsmanlike fouls (or flagrant fouls in the NBA) and incur a harsher penalty; in some rare cases a disqualifying foul will require the player to leave the playing area. The penalty involves free throws and varies between leagues; repeated incidents can result in disqualification.

A player or coach who shows poor sportsmanship, for instance, by arguing with a referee or by fighting with another player, can be charged with a technical foul. Contact in basketball is unavoidable, and the calling of a foul can vary between games, leagues and even between referees. This makes fouls sometimes controversial calls. There is some discretion with the referee when calling a foul — they consider if there was unfair advantage gained, for example, a player gained possession unfairly.

One point is awarded for making a free throw, which is attempted from a line 4.5 metres (15 feet) from the basket. Players who are fouled either receive the ball to pass inbounds again, or receive one or more free throws if they are fouled in the act of shooting, depending on whether the shot was successful. These are most commonly committed by defensive players; however, they can be committed by offensive players as well. An attempt to unfairly disadvantage an opponent through personal contact is illegal and is called a foul.

If a teammate of the shooter or dribbler goaltends, the basket is cancelled and the team loses possession. No player may interfere with the basket or ball on its downward flight to the basket, or while it is on the ring (or, in the NBA, while it is directly above the basket), a violation known as goaltending. If a defensive player goaltends, the attempted shot is considered to have been successful. These rules are designed to reward good defense. There are limits imposed on the time taken before progressing the ball past halfway (8 seconds in international and NBA), before attempting a shot (24 seconds), holding the ball while closely guarded (5 seconds), and remaining in the restricted area (3 seconds).

A violation of these rules results in loss of possession, or, if committed by the defense, a reset of the shot clock. The ball may not be kicked nor struck with the fist. A team, once having established ball control in the front half of the court, may not return the ball to the backcourt. A player's hand must remain on top of the ball while dribbling, failure to do so is known as carrying the ball.

The ball-handler may not move both feet without dribbling, known as travelling, nor may he dribble with both hands or catch the ball in between dribbles, a violation called double-dribbling. The ball must stay within the court; the last team to touch the ball before it travels out of bounds forfeits possession. The ball may be advanced toward the basket by being shot, passed between players, thrown, tapped, rolled or dribbled (bouncing the ball while running). While variation is possible in the dimensions of the court and backboard, it is considered important for the basket to be the correct height; a rim that is off by but a few inches can have an adverse effect on shooting.

At almost all levels of competition, the top of the rim is exactly 10 feet (3.05 m) above the court and 4 feet (1.2 m) inside the endline. A cast-iron basket with net and backboard hang over each end of the court. Most courts are made of wood. 92 by 49 ft) and in the NBA is 94 by 50 feet (29 by 15 m).

A regulation basketball court in international games is 28 by 15 meters (approx. The women's ball's circumference is about 29 inches (73 cm) and weighs about 1 lb 3 oz (540 g). The men's ball's circumference is about 30 inches (76 cm) and weighs about 1 lb 5 oz (600 g). Competitive levels require the use of more equipment such as clocks, scoresheets, scoreboards, alternating possession arrows, and whistle-operated stop-clock systems.

The only essential equipment in basketball is the ball and the court: a flat, rectangular surface with baskets at opposite ends. The table officials are responsible for keeping track of each teams scoring, timekeeping, individual and team fouls, player substitutions, team possession arrow, and the shot clock. The game is controlled by the officials consisting of the referee, one or two umpires and the table officials. They generally last no longer than one minute unless, for televised games, a commercial break is needed.

A limited number of time-outs, clock stoppages requested by a coach for a short meeting with the players, are allowed. Often, team names and players' names and sometimes sponsors are printed on the uniforms, too. Players also wear high-top sneakers that provide extra ankle support. For both men's and women's teams, a standard uniform consists of a pair of shorts and a sleeveless tank top with a clearly visible number, unique within the team, printed on both the front and back.

Teams also have a coach, who oversees the development and strategies of the team, and other team followers such as assistant coaches, managers, statisticians, doctors and trainers. Substitutions are unlimited but can only be done when play is stopped. Teams can have up to seven substitutes. There are five players from each team on the court at any time.

Therefore, games generally take much longer (about two hours). The time allotted is actual playing time; the clock is stopped while the play is not active. Teams exchange baskets for the second half. Overtime periods are five minutes long.

Fifteen minutes are allotted for a half-time break, and two minutes are allowed at the other breaks. Games are played in four quarters of 10 (international) or 12 minutes (NBA). A successful shot is worth two points, or three points if it is taken from beyond the three-point arc which is 6.25 meters (20 ft 5 in) from the basket in international games and 23 ft 9 in (7.24 m) in NBA games. An attempt to score in this way is called a shot.

The object of the game is to outscore one's opponents by throwing the ball through the opponents' basket from above while preventing the opponents from doing so on their own. Measurements and time limits discussed in this section often vary among tournaments and organizations; international and NBA rules are used in this section. The team featured Nowitzki, Ginobili, Peja Stojakovic of Serbia and Montenegro, Yao Ming of China, and Pero Cameron of New Zealand; all except Cameron were or became NBA players. The all-tournament team at the most recent World Basketball Championships held in 2002 in Indianapolis demonstrates the globalization of the game equally dramatically.

The San Antonio Spurs feature a trio of stars from outside the United States in Tim Duncan of the Virgin Islands, Manu Ginobili of Argentina, and Tony Parker of France. Dallas Mavericks superstar Dirk Nowitzki, is German. Steve Nash, who won the 2005 NBA MVP award as the Most Valuable Player in the NBA, is a South African-born Canadian player. Players from all over the globe can be found in NBA teams.

The global popularity of the sport is reflected in the nationalities represented in the NBA. Worldwide, basketball tournaments are held for boys and girls of all age levels, from five- and six-year-olds (called biddy-biddy), to high school, college, and the professional leagues. In the 2004 Olympics, the United States suffered its first Olympic loss while using professional players, falling to the Puerto Rican national basketball team and eventually came in third after Argentina and Italy. A team made entirely of NBA players finished sixth in the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis, behind Serbia and Montenegro, Argentina, Germany, New Zealand and Spain.

However, with developing programs elsewhere, other national teams have now caught up with the United States. The United States' dominance briefly resurfaced with the introduction of their Dream Team. FIBA dropped the distinction between amateur and professional players in 1989, and in 1992, professional players played for the first time in the Olympic Games. Women's basketball was added to the Olympics in 1976, with teams such as Brazil and Australia rivaling the American squads.

Three years later, the first World Championships for women were held in Chile. In 1950 the first World Championships for men were held in Argentina. This competition has usually been dominated by the United States, whose team has won all but three titles, the first loss in a controversial final game in Munich in 1972 against the Soviet Union. Basketball was first included in the Olympic Games in 1936, although a demonstration tournament was held in 1904.

Its acronym, in French, was thus FIBA; the "A" standing for amateur. At this time, the organisation only oversaw amateur players. The International Basketball Federation was formed in 1932 by eight founding nations: Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania and Switzerland. Other professional women's basketball leagues in the United States have folded in part because of the success of the WNBA.

Though it had an insecure opening season, several marquee players (Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, and Sue Bird among others) have helped the league improve its popularity and level of competition, as in the NBA. The NBA-backed Women's National Basketball Association began play in 1997. The NBA has featured many famous players, including George Mikan, the first dominating "big man"; ball-handling wizard Bob Cousy and defensive genius Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics; Wilt Chamberlain (who originally played for the barnstorming "Harlem Globetrotters"); all-around stars Oscar Robertson and Jerry West; more recent big men Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton, playmaker John Stockton; and the three players who many credit with ushering the professional game to its highest level of popularity: Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan. An upstart organization, the American Basketball Association, emerged in 1967 and briefly threatened the NBA's dominance until the rival leagues merged in 1976.

In 1946, the National Basketball Association (NBA) was formed, organizing the top professional teams and leading to greater popularity of the professional game. The states of Indiana and Kentucky are particularly well known for their residents' devotion to high school basketball; the critically acclaimed film Hoosiers shows high school basketball's depth of meaning to these rural communities. In the 2003–04 season, 1,002,797 boys and girls represented their schools in interscholastic basketball competition, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. Today virtually every high school in the United States fields a basketball team in varsity competition, and its popularity remains high, both in rural areas where they carry the identification of the entire community, as well as at some larger schools known for their basketball teams where many players go on to participate at higher levels of competition after graduation.

In the days before widespread television coverage of professional and college sports, the popularity of high school basketball was unrivaled in many parts of America. high schools were far smaller than their present day counterparts and during the first decades of the 20th century basketball quickly became the ideal interscholastic sport due to its modest equipment and personnel requirements. Before widespread school district consolidation, most U.S. Leagues came and went, and barnstorming squads such as the New York Rens and the Original Celtics played up to two hundred games a year on their national tours.

There was little organization to the professional game, as players jumped from team to team, and teams played in armories and smoky dance halls. In the 1920s, there were hundreds of professional basketball teams in towns and cities all over the United States. Today, the NCAA tournament is rivaled only by the baseball World Series and the Super Bowl of American football in the American sports psyche. Partially spurred by the association of the NIT with many of the cheaters, the NCAA national tournament surpassed the NIT in importance.

College basketball was rocked by gambling scandals from 1948 to 1951, when dozens of players from top teams were implicated in game fixing and point-shaving. College leagues date back to the 1920s, and the first national championship tournament, the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in New York, followed in 1938. Naismith disciple Amos Alonzo Stagg brought basketball to the University of Chicago, while Adolph Rupp, a student of Naismith at Kansas, enjoyed great success as coach at the University of Kentucky. Naismith himself was instrumental in establishing the college game, coaching at University of Kansas for six years before handing the reins to renowned coach Phog Allen.

The first balls made specially for basketball were brown, and it was only in the late 1950s that Tony Hinkle, searching for a ball that would be more visible to players and spectators alike, introduced the orange ball that is now in common use. Basketball was originally played with a soccer ball. In the years before World War I, the Amateur Athletic Union and the Intercollegiate Athletic Association (forerunner of the NCAA) vied for control over the rules of the game. Other amateur sports clubs, colleges, and professional clubs quickly filled the void.

Interestingly, while the YMCA was responsible for initially developing and spreading the game, within a decade, it discouraged the new sport, as rough play and rowdy crowds began to detract from the YMCA's primary mission. "Basket ball", the name suggested by one of his students, was popular from the beginning, and with its early adherents being dispatched to YMCAs throughout the United States, the game was soon played all over the country. At that time, it was played with nine players on a court just half the size of a present-day NBA court. The first official game was played in the YMCA gymnasium on January 20, 1892.

Legend has it that, after rejecting other ideas as either too rough or poorly suited to walled-in gymnasiums, he wrote the basic rules, and nailed a peach basket onto the gym wall. James Naismith, a Canadian-born physician and minister on the faculty of a college for YMCA professionals (today, Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts, sought a vigorous indoor game to keep young men occupied during the long New England winters. In early December 1891, Dr. Basketball is unique in that it was invented by one person, rather than evolving from a different sport.

. Basketball is also a popular spectator sport. While competitive basketball is carefully regulated, variations have developed for casual play. Through time, basketball has developed to involve common techniques of shooting, passing and dribbling, as well as players' positions (which are not legally required) and offensive and defensive structures.

Advantageous personal contact (fouls) is not permitted and there are restrictions on how the ball can be handled (violations). The ball can be advanced on the court by bouncing it (dribbling) or passing it between teammates. Points are scored for passing the ball through the basket from above (shooting); the team with more points at the end of the game wins. Basketball is primarily an indoor sport, played in a relatively small playing area (the court).

Even though it was originally a North American sport, it quickly spread internationally and outstanding players and teams are found today all over the world. Basketball eventually became a professional sport. It originated in the YMCA; early leagues were formed in colleges. Since its invention in 1891, it has developed to become a truly international sport.

Basketball is a sport in which two teams of five players each try to score points by throwing a ball through a hoop (the basket) under organized rules. URL accessed on January 11, 2006.. HowStuffWorks. How Basketball Works: Who's Who.

Bonsor, Kevin. FIBA Assist (14): 40.. FIBA vs North American Rules Comparison. Reimer, Anthony (June 2005).

Official Basketball Rules.. International Basketball Federation (June 2004). URL accessed on July 16, 2004.. Official Rules of the National Basketball Association.

National Basketball Association (2001).