A basketball spectacle in Dresden: Titans vs. Towers and an extensive crash course in basketball rules

Basketball for Beginners: The Crash Course on the Rules

In order to fully enjoy the game, it is helpful to understand the basics of basketball. Here are some important rules, based on the official FIBA rulebook.

Playing court and zones

The playing court is 28 meters long and 15 meters wide, surrounded by a boundary line consisting of the end lines and the side lines. These lines are not part of the playing field. The center line divides the court into two halves.

• Three-point area:An arc of a circle with a radius of 6.75 m, measured from the outer edge, delimits the three-point area.
• Free-throw lines and zones:The free-throw line is 3.60 m long and parallel to each end line. The zones are rectangular areas bounded by the end line, the extended free-throw line and two lines starting 2.45 m from the outer edge measured from the center of each end line.
• No-charge semicircle areas: These are bounded by a semicircle line with a radius of 1.30 m, measured from the outer edge and drawn around the point located exactly under the center of the basket.

Timing rules 

A regular game according to the rules of FIBA lasts 40 minutes and is divided into four so-called quarters of 10 minutes each. Between the first and second quarter there are two minutes break, after the second 15 minutes (half-time break) and after the third again two minutes. If there is no winner after 40 minutes, the game goes into overtime. That lasts five minutes and is repeated until a winner is determined. Other time rules

• 24-second rule:A team must give up a throw within 24 seconds.
• 14-second rule: After certain interruptions, the throw clock is reset to 14 seconds.
• 8-second rule: A team has 8 seconds to bring the ball over the center line.
• Last 2 minutes: Special time rules apply in the last 2 minutes of the 4th quarter and any overtime.

Fouls 

• Personal fouls: Contact with an opponent who controls the ball or could control it.
• Technical fouls:Rules violations not directly related to the game, e.g., unsportsmanlike conduct.
• Unsportsmanlike fouls:Rules violations that are considered unsportsmanlike, e.g.. a foul to stop the clock.

Free throws: when and how many? 

• Foul without contact on an opponent: there are 2 free throws.
• Foul on a player who is not in the basket-throwing action: There are also 2 free throws.
• Foul on a player in basket-throwing action with a successful basket: the basket counts, and the player receives 1 additional free throw.
• Foul on a player in basket-throwing action without a successful basket: the player receives 2 or 3 free throws, depending on whether the attempted throw was inside or outside the three-point line.
• Technical or disqualifying foul: In this case, the free throw or free throws will be taken by a team member of the opposing team designated by his coach.

With these quick rule explanations, you are well prepared for today's game between the Dresden Titans and the Hamburg Towers. Tickets are available at the box office.