by Lizzie Fuhr
March Madness is officially in full swing! For anyone who's feeling a little clueless about the rules of basketball, you'll be glad to know that the game is relatively easy to follow. Once you understand the basics, you'll be feeling like a pro in no time.
The General Game
Two teams have five players on the court at all times. The game starts with a tip-off, where two opposing players attempt to gain control of the ball after it is tossed up into the air in between them by an official. Once a team gains possession of the ball, it has 35 seconds to take a shot. If the shot is made, the other team starts with the ball and a new shot clock. If the shot is missed, the team that rebounds gets a new shot clock.
Depending on who has control of the ball, each team takes turns playing offense or defense. The offense moves the ball up and down the court by dribbling or passing; the defense does everything they can to make sure the offense doesn't shoot and score. Either the offense makes a basket and the defense takes possession of the ball, or the defense steals the ball from the offense. Whoever has the most points at the end of the game wins.
Every college basketball game is played 40 minutes total; each half is played for 20 minutes. At the start of the second half in a college basketball game, the teams change baskets, shooting at the opposite end from the one they shot at during the first half. If there's a tie at the end of 40 minutes, the game goes into a five-minute overtime.
The Court
The game is played on a rectangular court with a 10-foot-high hoop at each end. The court is divided in half by the midcourt line, where the tip-off takes place to start the game. The three-point line is the designated arc surrounding the basket, and the free-throw lane (commonly referred to as the key or the paint) is the colored area underneath the basket. Although it's a small section of the court, the majority of the action takes place in the free-throw lane.
How to Score
When one player makes a traditional basket, they score two points. Then the ball goes to the other team to give them a chance to score. If a basket is made outside of the three-point arc, that basket is worth three points. A free throw, shot from the top of the free-throw lane, is worth one point.
Keep reading for the most common fouls and violations that stop the game.
