About The Sport
Basketball is played by two teams, made up of five players and seven substitutes. The aim of the game for each team is to get the ball into the elevated baskets at either end of the court more times than the opposition, while preventing the opposition from scoring at the same time.
A game is made up of four periods, each lasting 10 minutes of actual playing time. If the scores are tied at the end of the game, extra five-minute overtime periods are played until a winner is declared. There are strict limitations on how the ball can be moved by and between players, including strict time limits that make the games fast, furious and physical.