Basketball Rules for Kids: A Simple Explanation
Basketball, like all other sports, requires you to play the game regularly in order to be able to comprehend the rules and technicalities. You should read the rules and penalties to basketball before you enroll for tryouts for your school.
Kids learn more about a sport when they are younger. Children will learn faster and be able understand rules and regulations more easily. You can help your child improve by practicing every day. Basketball games help to instill team spirit, as well as leadership skills. It fosters independence and achievement in the children and helps them to stay mentally and emotionally healthy.
How to Teach Basketball to Kids
Scoring System
The scoring system is simple. The score system is very simple. All baskets that are made within the key or the three-point arc earn 2 points. A foul will result in a free penalty shot. Shots from the free-throw line count as 1 point in such situations. For each basket, 3 points will be given if it is made from the 3-point arc and beyond.
Offensive & Defensive Teams
Each team plays against another and has five active players. Additional players are kept on the sidelines as a buffer and replacements. The offensive team holds the ball, while the defensive team tries to grab it.
It is the job of the defense team to prevent the opposing team from scoring a basket. When defending, you can’t grab the hand of the opposing team member or any other part of their body. You can’t push or pull on other players. The ball cannot be tapped while it is still in the opponent’s hands. The ball can be dragged out of the opponent’s hands and you can score for your team. Or, pass the ball on to another player.
Many games revolve around the “Man to Man” defense. This is where one player is assigned to one opponent. This creates discipline by eliminating confusion. A team member will be assigned to an opponent who is extremely good at dribbling. A taller member of the team will also be assigned to a tall opponent. This helps to balance the disadvantages of the team.
Basic Rules for Children
The first rule in basketball refers to how you dribble your basketball. Basketball for children requires that you follow certain rules. Below are some of them.
Remember that you must not hold the ball in both of your hands when dribbling. Instead, you should move forward with the ball.
When the ball is held by both hands, the player must stop and put his feet flat on the ground.
The pivot stance is when a player’s left leg is free to move, while his right leg is restrained until he stops. After he stops at a specific spot, he must pass the ball on to the other player or try to score a basket.
If a player is seen running with the ball, without dribbling it, it’s a Traveling Violation’. It is a double-dribble violation if a player holds onto the ball with both his hands and attempts to dribble again. Any violation results in the ball being transferred from one team to another.
Sometimes, the possession can suddenly be taken away by the player who is not able to move. He may then pass, shoot, or hold onto the ball by taking a protective position and crouching forward. The ball will be held by the player until it is taken away or stopped by the referee.
The player with the ball cannot carry it. This means that he can not hold the ball from underneath, then resume dribbling. This is known as a ‘Carrying-Violation’.
When dribbling, the person with possession of the ball may interchange his hands. This prevents an opponent’s hand from moving the ball.
The ball must stay within the boundary line of the court, while ait’s within the possession of the offensive player, else it constitutes an ‘Out-of-Bounds-Violation’.
Backcourt violations are when an offensive player with ball possession attempts to dribble it back from his offensive end to his defense side. When the ball is brought in from the defense team, the only way for the offensive team to return to their side of the court.
Fouls can result in severe penalties
*The defense team must make sure they are not guilty of any foul. Fouls will be issued to any player on the defensive team who touches an offensive player while trying to score a basket. In the event that the shot was taken beyond the three point arc, there will be two free shots from the centre and three free shots.
- The offensive team will get 2 free shots from their free throw line if the defensive team commits 6 non-basket fouls within any quarter.
- Five fouls in a game will result in a player being eliminated.
These rules can be followed with your parents or a group of buddies. You can also play between 1-1 and 2-2 depending on how many children are available. To practice their board shots, kids can start playing half-court games. This will help improve their shooting skills.