The specifications may vary from country to country. There is a circle positioned right in the centre of the court. A line called a 3-point line is placed at a certain distance from the basket. Balls that are thrown into the opponent s basket from beyond this point fetch 3 points. The baskets used are generally 18 inches in diameter and the nylon net connected to it measures up to 18 inches in length.
Fair play is ensured by the presence of referees.
Whenever the need is felt the referees can bring the game to a halt by blowing a whistle and signalling out the violation of rules and the player responsible for it. International games are generally of 40 minutes duration. Basketball was first introduced in the Olympic Games in the 1904 games in St. Louis, Missouri. It was at the 1936 Games in Berlin, Germany, that the first official Olympic basketball tournament was held. The United States team won the Gold medal and the game was played on a tennis court.