The following are the main rules of basketball: 1. The game is played on a rectangular court with a basket at each end. 2. Each team has five players on the court at a time. 3. The object of the game is to score more points than the other team by throwing the ball through the opponent's basket. 4. A field goal is worth two points if it is scored from inside the three-point line, and three points if it is scored from outside the three-point line. 5. Free throws are worth one point each and are awarded to a player who is fouled while shooting a field goal. 6. A team has 24 seconds to shoot the ball after gaining possession. If the ball is not shot within 24 seconds, the other team gets possession. 7. Players cannot travel with the ball, which means they cannot take more than two steps without dribbling.