subject: The Positions Involved In Basketball And How They Have Evolved [print this page] Basketball is a high energy sport that is a great form of aerobic exercise. It can be amazing for keeping supple with a lot of jumping, running and twisting involved.
The game involves shooting a ball through a hoop to score goals. It is played out on a court with a basket at either end which is located 10 feet high off the ground. Each game is split into four quarters of 12 minutes each and so officially lasts around 48 minutes long. This is then usually extended due to fouls, half time and extra time.
The sport does not have official positions, however over time these have evolved as part of the game. Each team consists of five players. Initially there was usually one guard, two forwards and two centres, or a similar equivalent to this on the courts. More recently even more in depth position names and roles have been identified. Here are a few of the names of these positions and what they mean.
Point guard
This position is usually taken on by the fastest player. It is an offensive position and the players job is to control the ball and ensure that it gets passed to the correct player at the right time.
Shooting guard
This player needs to make a large amount of on target shots on goal. The shots will usually be taken from long range. They are also used as a perimeter defence player.
Small forward
This position involves making cuts directly to the net to achieve goals, through skilful dribbling. In defence they watch out for the rebounds and steals in order to take the ball forward again.
Power forward
This is an offensive position and the player often stands with their back to the basket. In defence the player is usually positioned under the basket or playing man to man against the opposing teams power forward.
Centre
This position is usually delegated to a large, tall player, who uses these attributes to score. In defence the player protects the basket or looks for rebounds.
These positions and roles are not set in stone and teams have been known to change these tactics slightly depending on the game. The positions which can often be interchangeable are that of point guard and shooting guard. Sometimes a centre or forward is switched to a defensive position.
