| On any given weekend, one can travel to almost | | | | but must be extremely careful when they do, or |
| any local park and watch the neighborhood men | | | | they will receive a foul. The third rule has also |
| and women engaged in an exciting game of | | | | been done away with because it did not allow |
| basketball. This game is more important to those | | | | players to run with the ball. They had to stay in |
| players, more important than the NBA | | | | their spot, throw the ball to a teammate, and |
| championship because this game directly affects | | | | then they could move to another spot of the |
| them, their pride, and their bragging rights for the | | | | court and have the ball thrown to them again. |
| next week. After the neighborhood basketball | | | | The fourth and fifth rules are still in effect. The |
| game, the players will return home to watch their | | | | fourth rule mainly stated that the player had to |
| favorite National Basketball Association (NBA) | | | | hold the ball with his hands and nothing else. The |
| team on television. The two teams with the best | | | | fifth rule is the modern definition of what a foul is. |
| record of wins will meet at the end of the season | | | | No player was allowed to harm any other player |
| to play for the championship. This game, which | | | | by any means, which included no tripping, |
| fascinates and excited millions of fans around the | | | | shouldering, striking, pushing, or holding the |
| world, would never have been possible, if Dr. | | | | opponent. |
| James Naismith had not invented it over a | | | | The sixth rule is also in effect today, which does |
| century ago. | | | | not allow the player to punch or hit the ball with |
| When Dr. Naismith began inventing basketball, it | | | | their fist. This is considered a foul. Rule seven is |
| looked very different from the game that is | | | | no longer valid today because it awarded points |
| played today. It had baskets, but they were | | | | to the other team if the opposing side had three |
| wicker baskets without a hole in the center for | | | | consecutive fouls without the other team fouling. |
| the ball to drop out of and a back board to | | | | Fouls have changed to personal and team fouls. If |
| bounce a layup off of. So the object was to | | | | a player receives 5 personal fouls, they are |
| throw the ball into the basket without it bouncing | | | | expelled from the game. Rules eight and nine |
| back out of tipping the basket over. There were | | | | have not changed with time because when the |
| only 13 rules which governed the play, as opposed | | | | ball foes into the basket, it is still a goal and still |
| to today, where there is an entire book governing | | | | earns points for the team. A ball which is thrown |
| the play. The rules have changed greatly over the | | | | out of bounds can be thrown back into play. Rule |
| years, along with the way the game is played. | | | | ten has been replaced with Rule eleven as there |
| The first of the original rules seems to still be an | | | | are no umpires but several referees who keep |
| active rule today. It stated that a player could | | | | track of the ball, players, and points. Rule twelve |
| throw the ball with either one or two hands in any | | | | has changed from two 15 minute halves of |
| direction. The second rule has become outdated in | | | | playing to 4 quarters of play with a half time |
| today's games. It allowed players to bat the ball | | | | break in between quarters two and three. Rule 13 |
| away but they could never use a closed fist to | | | | is still the same: the winner has scored the most |
| accomplish this. Today, players can block the ball | | | | goals. |