🏀Kanuni za Mpira wa Kikapu

Basketball is played by two teams of five players on a rectangular court, each defending one basket and attacking the other. Players move the ball by dribbling or passing, aiming to score by sending the ball through the opponent's hoop. It is a fast team sport that blends skill, tactics and teamwork.

Score more points than the opponent by putting the ball through their basket. At the same time, each team defends its own basket to stop the other team from scoring.

• •Five players per team are on court; you score by putting the ball through the opponent's basket.
• •To move with the ball you must dribble (bounce it); walking with the ball without dribbling is not allowed.
• •You cannot restart your dribble once you have stopped it (no double dribble).
• •Physical contact is limited: pushing, holding or hitting an opponent is a foul.
• •On offense, the team must attempt a shot within a time limit (shot clock, 24 seconds depending on the federation).
• •After a made basket, the conceding team restarts play from behind its own baseline.

A basket scored in play is worth 2 points, or 3 points if shot from beyond the 3-point line. A free throw, awarded after certain fouls, is worth 1 point. Each team's total score is the sum of all its made baskets and free throws.

A FIBA game is played in 4 quarters of 10 minutes; the NBA uses 4 periods of 12 minutes. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, 5-minute overtime periods are played until a winner emerges. Durations vary by federation and youth categories.

The team with the most points when time expires wins the game. If the score is tied, overtime periods are played until one team comes out ahead.