Basketball UK
Tuesday 19 June 2007
History
Basketball is the fastest growing game in the world right now. It was invented in America at what is now Springfield College, Massachusetts in 1891. It was almost immediately brought to the UK by the YMCA and so has been around almost as long here.
Game for everyone
Basketball is a team game with no tackling that demands skill rather than strength to succeed.
Basketball promotes co-ordination, control, teamwork and leadership skills as well as good health! It is also a really easy game to learn and best of all - anybody can play.
Basics
- The game is a played on a court outdoors or indoors.
- It’s played in four quarters of 15 minutes each plus breaks in between.
- A limited number of time out stops are also allowed.
- There are two teams each with five players.
- Each team tries to get more points than the other by throwing a ball through a the hoop or basket.
- The number of points you get depends on where you score from – the further away you are the more points you get.
- Players move round the court by bouncing or ‘dribbling’ the ball and also passing between team mates.
There are of course rules as well, especially on when you can or can’t tackle other players.
Playing the game
One of the advantadges of basketball is that you don’t need to buy any expensive equipment to play. Stick on your trainers and sports stuff and you’re ready to go!
Then of course you need a court. For a list of courts and facilities near you, check out this page. It’s also worth checking if your school or youth group has a basketball club you can join.
Competitions
As well as playing the game, it is also really exciting to watch. There are several competitions throughout the year with big name sports brands supporting many up and coming youth teams.
FIBA is the governing body for basketball in the world. The UK has FIBA Europe which is responsible for promoting the game and also holding competitions. These include under 18, under 16 and mini basket ball tournaments for under 12s which happen every year.
The British Basketball League or BBL is the top men's professional basketball league UK and runs a championship as well as the BBL Cup and the BBL Trophy.
The English Basketball League is a semi-professional basketball UK league. The EBL aim to get more and more young people involved in the game. You can check out their calendar of events around the country on their website.
The English Schools Basketball Association or ESBBA run competitions and tournaments throughout the year, for both boys and girls teams, in varying age groups.
There is also the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association who also hold competitions for all age groups.
The BBC has a comprehensive list of all basketball associations and contacts in the UK. Find out more.
The Steetball UK site has videos and information on sponsored and independent competitions including Midnight Madness. See the video above.
