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     Two teams of five players are on the court at one time. Teams usually line up with two guards, two forwards, and one center. All players contribute on offense and defense. Coaches may substitute players as often as they want, but only when the clock is stopped.  Center - Plays underneath the basket. He or she is typically the tallest player on the team. The center’s main tasks are to gain position under the hoop so as to best get “rebounds,” take shots, and on defense block shots by opposing players. Forwards - Generally play along the court baselines on either side of the basket. Along with the center, they are the team’s main rebounders. Offensively they shoot from both outside and in close to the hoop. Guards - As the main ball handlers, they are typically the best “dribblers” and passers on the team. They are responsible for bringing the ball up the court and passing it to open players for scoring opportunities. The point guard calls the offensive plays and controls the tempo of the game. The shooting guard generally plays near the top of the “key” and is often relied upon to take the three-point shot. Entire contents copyright © 1997-2006, MomsGuide.com , Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form for commercial re-use without prior written permission is forbidden. “Mom’s Guide to Sports” is a registered trademark of MomsGuide.com, Inc. |
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