NBA rules state that the game is divided into four quarters. Each quarter is 12 minutes long. The team that scores the most points wins the game. A team can score points by putting the ball through the other team's basket. If the teams' scores are the sameat the end of the four quarters, then overtime is played for five minutes, to determine the winner. Additional five minute overtime periods are played if neither team wins after the first five minutes. The five minute overtime periods continue until there is a winner.

According to the NBA rules, each team recienes nine time-outs per game and three time-outs every overtime period. A time-out is when the team coach ask for the play to stop temporarily during a game. There are two 20-second time outs in the NBA.

Each game has two teams with with five players and at least one coach. Each team has substitute players if the coach wants to relieve a regular player during the game. A substitute player who enters a game reports to the scorer before the game clock is stopped in order to exchange places with the player in the game.

The main rule violations are illegal dribbling, traveling, and spending more time than three seconds in the restiricted area (see diagram). Each of these violations allow the other team to gain possession of the ball. Dribbling permits a player to move the ball on the court by bouncing it off the floot. Once a player stops dribbling, they cannot start dribbling again unless the ball has been played by another player. If you dribble again, or dribble with two hands, it is a violation called double dribble. Players may only take one full step while holding the ball, and if they are about to recieve a pass. Traveling occurs when a player takes more than the legal amount of steps while holding the ball.

The baskets at each end of the court has a semicircle area called the key. The key is a resticted area. A player cannot stand in the opponents key are for longer than three seconds.

There are other time violations besides the three second rule that would result in the offensive team losing possession of the ball. A team must put a ball in play from out-of-bounds within five seconds. In the NBA, a team has eight seconds to move the ball onto the opponents half of th e court from their own half of the court. A team must take a shot within 24 seconds of gaining possession of the ball, according to the NBA.

A foul is called by reference against a player. A personal foul occurs when a player holds, pushes, or charges into an opponent or hits the arm or body of an opponent wilte shooting the ball. A technical foul is charged to a player or coach for unsportsmanlike conduct. Two technical fouls can result in rejection from the game.

Depending on the situation, a player who is fouled gets the chance at free throws or gains possession of the ball. In the NBA, a player must be permanently replaved in a game if the commit a total of six personal or technical fouls.

Below is a diagram of the various dimensions of a basketball court. Now that you have learned the rules and regulations, get out there and start palying some basketball!