Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, typically consisting of five players each, compete to score points by shooting a ball through the opponent’s hoop or basket. The game is played on a rectangular court with a hoop at each end, elevated 10 feet above the ground. Points are scored by making field goals (worth two or three points, depending on the distance from the hoop) or free throws (worth one point). The game is played in four quarters, and the objective is to score more points than the opposing team by the end of the game. Key skills in basketball include dribbling, shooting, passing, and defending. The sport emphasizes teamwork, strategy, and physical fitness, and it is played both recreationally and professionally worldwide. Basketball is governed by a set of rules established by organizations such as FIBA (International Basketball Federation) and the NBA (National Basketball Association) in the United States.