# Court, Ball and Gear · Basketball Level 1: Beginner

Basketball · Level 1: Beginner · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/basketball/level-1/court-ball-and-gear/)

Court, Ball and Gear in Basketball (Level 1: Beginner) on Insporta: 100 sourced facts behind 10 tests. Covers: names of court areas; and more.

The names of the court's areas, the basket and backboard, nets and rims, balls and their materials, shoes, kit, protective gear and practice equipment.

## Test 1: Names of court areas

- The restricted area is usually called the paint or the key. (Source: General basketball reference)
- The elbows are where the free-throw line meets the sides of the lane. (Source: General basketball reference)
- The block is the low post spot by the lane, near the basket, often marked by a small square. (Source: General basketball reference)
- The wing is out to the side, roughly level with the free-throw line. (Source: General basketball reference)
- The corner three is shot from the short stretch of the arc near the end line. (Source: General basketball reference)
- The top of the key is the area out in front of the free-throw circle. (Source: General basketball reference)
- The end line behind each basket is commonly called the baseline. (Source: General basketball reference)
- From the basket: the paint, the free-throw line, the top of the key, then three-point range. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Corner, wing, then out level with the top of the key. (Source: General basketball reference)
- A sits at the corner of the free-throw line: the elbow. B is the block, C the corner, D the top of the arc. (Source: General basketball reference)

## Test 2: The hoop and backboard

- Top-level backboards are transparent tempered glass. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Shots off the backboard are said to go 'off the glass'. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Padding cushions players who leap up near the basket. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Players aim at the square, often its top corner, for shots off the glass. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Bank shots work best from angles to the side, where the board helps guide the ball in. (Source: General basketball reference)
- The structure holding the backboard is the basket support, sometimes called the stanchion. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Shot clock displays sit above each backboard so every player can see them. (Source: General basketball reference)
- The base, the board's padded bottom edge, the rim, then the top of the board. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Hand, backboard, rim, net. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Aim at the top corner of the square on the near side. (Source: General basketball reference)

## Test 3: Nets, rims and shots

- Breakaway rims flex under a dunk and snap back, protecting the board and player. (Source: General basketball reference)
- The net checks the ball briefly so everyone can see a basket was scored. (Source: General basketball reference)
- A shot that touches only the net is a swish. (Source: General basketball reference)
- A clumsy miss that clangs off the rim is called a brick. (Source: General basketball reference)
- An air ball touches nothing at all. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Some outdoor courts use chain nets, which last longer outside. (Source: General basketball reference)
- A ball that rolls round the rim and out is an in-and-out or rim-out. (Source: General basketball reference)
- A swish is cleanest; an air ball misses everything. (Source: General basketball reference)
- The breakaway rim gives under the force and snaps back. (Source: General basketball reference)
- A swish goes through touching nothing but net. (Source: General basketball reference)

## Test 4: The ball

- Men's 5x5 uses the size 7 ball. (Source: General basketball reference)
- The small raised bumps, or pebbling, help the player grip the ball. (Source: General basketball reference)
- The grooves are the ball's channels or seams. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Pebbling gives the fingers grip for dribbling and shooting. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Game balls are orange or light brown-orange, easy to see. (Source: General basketball reference)
- A smaller, lighter ball suits small hands and helps good technique. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Balls are inflated through a valve using a pump and needle. (Source: General basketball reference)
- A cover over a wound carcass, with the air held in a rubber bladder. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Size 5, then 6, then 7. (Source: General basketball reference)
- An adult man playing 5x5 uses the size 7 ball. (Source: General basketball reference)

## Test 5: Ball materials

- Indoor game balls are leather or composite (synthetic) leather. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Composite balls use a man-made leather-like cover. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Rubber balls are inexpensive and stand up to outdoor courts. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Leather balls grip better once they have been played with for a while. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Indoor/outdoor balls, usually composite, cope with both surfaces. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Composite covers are often designed to manage sweat and moisture. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Rough surfaces quickly ruin a leather ball. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Rubber is cheapest, leather usually dearest. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Rubber is toughest; leather is for indoor floors. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Rubber stands up to asphalt; leather and indoor composite wear out there. (Source: General basketball reference)

## Test 6: Basketball shoes

- High-tops wrap the ankle, which many players feel steadies it. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Basketball involves constant lateral moves, so shoes support sideways movement. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Non-marking soles keep wooden floors clean. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Herringbone tread patterns grip the floor for quick stops. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Running shoes lack the lateral support needed for basketball movement. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Cushioning absorbs the impact of repeated jumps and landings. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Worn tread loses grip, raising the risk of slipping. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Low-tops sit below the ankle; high-tops cover it. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Fit them properly, break them in at practice, then play games in them. (Source: General basketball reference)
- A high collar wraps the ankle; mesh, colour and laces do not steady it. (Source: General basketball reference)

## Test 7: Playing kit

- Numbers appear on both the front and back of the shirt. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Matching colours make it clear who is on which team. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Basketball jerseys are traditionally sleeveless. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Turning a reversible jersey inside out switches a player's team in practice. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Compression shorts and tights are common under the kit. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Headbands soak up sweat before it runs into the eyes. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Good socks cushion the feet and reduce rubbing. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Compression gear sits underneath, the playing shorts over it, warm-up trousers on top until the game. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Reversible jerseys sort the teams in seconds. (Source: General basketball reference)
- They let a coach split players into two teams quickly. (Source: General basketball reference)

## Test 8: Protective gear

- A mouthguard cushions the teeth and jaw from knocks. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Ankle braces add support to an often-injured joint. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Clear masks protect a facial injury while it heals. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Buddy taping uses the next finger as a splint. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Sports goggles protect the eyes from fingers and elbows. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Pads soften knocks when players hit the hardwood. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Arm sleeves keep the arm warm and supported; they do not change the rules. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Eyes, mouth, knees, ankles. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Report it, get it checked, then tape it before going back. (Source: General basketball reference)
- A mouthguard protects the teeth; a brace the ankle, pads the knees, goggles the eyes. (Source: General basketball reference)

## Test 9: Practice equipment

- Cones mark paths and spots for drills. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Return nets feed the ball back so a shooter can take many shots alone. (Source: General basketball reference)
- They block the downward view so players learn to dribble with their eyes up. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Shooting machines rebound and pass so a player can shoot many times. (Source: General basketball reference)
- A tactics board lets the coach sketch plays and positions. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Pads let coaches bump players so they learn to score through contact. (Source: General basketball reference)
- A rack keeps balls close to hand for practice. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Shoot, the net returns it, catch, repeat. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Set up, weave through, change hands, finish. (Source: General basketball reference)
- They block the view of the ball so the player dribbles with his eyes up. (Source: General basketball reference)

## Test 10: Looking after a ball

- A slightly moistened needle slides in without damaging the valve. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Manufacturers print the right pressure range on the ball. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Sitting on a ball can distort it. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Heat and damp damage balls, so store them cool and dry. (Source: General basketball reference)
- A light wipe and drying keeps leather in good shape. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Low bounce usually means the ball is under-inflated. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Over-inflation makes a ball too bouncy and strains it. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Check the target, prepare the needle, inflate, test. (Source: General basketball reference)
- Clean, dry, check, store. (Source: General basketball reference)
- A soft, low-bouncing ball needs air, up to the pressure printed on it. (Source: General basketball reference)

Sources: General basketball references, FIBA (3x3, mini-basketball), IWBF, FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered FIBA rules belong to the Rules category.

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