Basketball court

In basketball, the basketball court is the playing surface, consisting of a rectangular floor with tiles at either end. In professional or organized basketball, especially when played indoors, it is usually made out of a wood, often maple, and highly polished. Outdoor surfaces are generally made from standard paving materials such as concrete or asphalt.

Dimensions

Basketball courts come in different sizes and colors. In the NBA, the court is 94 by 50 feet (29 by 15 m). Under International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules, the court is minutely smaller, measuring exactly 28 by 15 metres (92 by 49 ft). A high school court is slightly smaller, at 84 by 50 feet (26 by 15 m). In amateur basketball, court sizes vary widely. The baskets are always 10 feet (3.0 m) above the floor (except possibly in youth competition). Basketball courts have a three-point arc at both baskets. A basket made from behind this arc is worth three points; a basket made from within this line, or with a player's foot touching the line, is worth 2 points. The free-throw line, where one stands while taking a foul shot, is located within the three-point arc. A foul shot is worth 1 point, but if a shot is made from the foul line while in play it is still worth 2 points.

Height

The height of the underside of the roof structure, or the ceiling if there is one, above the floor is specified by each sport’s governing body, and this is a critical design factor. Badminton, tennis and trampolining require an unrestricted height of 9.1m for international competition, while 7.6m is necessary at C level in all sports except those for which height is not critical. In general a basketball court should have a minimum clearance of 25 feet (7.7m), although a ceiling height of at least 27 feet (8.23m) is recommended

Three-point line

The three-point line is the line that separates the two-point area from the three-point area; any shot converted beyond this line counts as three points. If the shooting player steps on the line, it is counted as two points only. Any foul made in the act of shooting beyond the three-point line would give the player three free throws if the shot doesn't go in, and one if it does.

The distance to the three-point line from the center of the basket varies depending on the level or league, and has changed several times. These are the current distances, with the league or level using each distance:

19.75 ft (6.01 m): High School

20.75 ft (6.32 m): NCAA

21.65 ft (6.60 m) to 22.15 ft (6.75 m): WNBA and FIBA

22 ft (6.71 m) to 23.75 ft (7.24 m): NBA

The NBA adopted the three-point line at the start of the 1979–80 season. This is of variable distance, ranging from 22 feet (6.7 m) in the corners to 23.75 feet (7.24 m) behind the top of the key. During the 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97 seasons, the NBA attempted to address decreased scoring by shortening the overall distance of the line to a uniform 22 feet (6.7 m) around the basket. It was moved back to its original distance after the 1996–97 season. FIBA and the NCAA both adopted the three-point line in 1985.

In most high school associations in the United States, the distance is 19.75 feet. This was formerly the distance for college basketball as well. On May 26, 2007, the NCAA playing rules committee agreed to move the three-point line back one foot to 20.75 feet for the men. This rule went into effect for the 2008–2009 season. The three-point line for women (NCAA) moved back one foot to 20.75 feet at the start of the 2011–2012 season.

The international distance, used in most countries outside the United States and in FIBA and WNBA competition, is currently 6.6 m (21.65 ft) to 6.75 m (22.15 ft).