Basketball


Background
Canadian James Naismith invented the sport of basketball in 1891 at the YMCA Training School in Massachusetts, in an effort to entertain his students during the cold winter months.  Early on, the ball used by two nine player teams was simply a soccer ball and the baskets at each end of the court were peach boxes.  The bottoms of the peach boxes were cut out and then eventually replaced with metal hoops and backboards.

Competition at the Games
The BC Summer Games are the introduction of elite basketball programs for Basketball BC.  Players are identified for future National Championship and Centre for Performance opportunities through competition at the BC Summer Games.

Most athletes at the Games will get their initial basketball experience through participation in the various Steve Nash Youth Basketball programs offered across the province.  BC Summer Games participants are not ranked at this stage of development because they will be in either their last year of elementary school or first year of high school, and have not yet played in Basketball BC provincial team programs or high school championships.

Athlete Development
The Basketball BC Under 14 program develops athletes for the BC Summer Games.  To ensure continuity of player development, Basketball BC also holds an Under 14 Provincial Jamboree in non Summer Games years.  Sixteen teams from eight geographic zones in British Columbia participate in the Games.  A single girls’ team and boys’ team represent each zone.

The Under 14 program consists of Regional Development Camps, the selection of Regional teams, the selection of BC Summer Games Zone teams, and participation in the BC Summer Games.  The program is designed to assist in the development of fundamental skills and provide expert coaching for athletes in this age group.  It also provides an initial provincial based identification opportunity for participating athletes. 

How to Watch Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two groups of five active players each try to score points against one another by shooting a ball through a 10 foot hoop under organized rules.  The team with more points at the end of the game wins.  The ball can be advanced on the court by bouncing it which is known as dribbling or passing it between teammates.  Disruptive physical contact (fouls) is not permitted and there are restrictions on how the ball can be handled (violations).  A game at this level consists of four quarters which are eight minutes in length each.  A typical basket known as a field goal is worth two points whereas a basket shot from behind a measured arch that is painted on the court (three point line) is worth three points. Points may also be scored when a player is awarded a free throw(s).  This occurs when a player is fouled in the act of shooting or a team reaches five cumulative fouls in a quarter.  Each converted free throw is worth a single point.

Basketball has developed over the years to involve common techniques of shooting, passing and dribbling, as well as players' positions, and offensive and defensive structures.  Typically, the tallest members of a team will play centre or one of two forward positions, while shorter players or those who possess the best ball handling skills and speed, play the guard positions.

For more info on Basketball, contact Basketball BC at www.basketball.bc.ca or (604) 718-7852.