Oct
18 2008
The
Basketball Court
The
basketball court is the playing surface, consisting
of a rectangular floor with baskets at either
end. In professional or organized basketball,
especially when played indoors, it is usually
made out of a hardwood, often maple, and highly
polished. Other indoor surfaces include suspended
plastic interlocking tiles from companies
like Mateflex, Flex court, Rhino Court and
Sport Court. Outdoor surfaces used include
plastic interlocking tiles (suspended athletic
courts), asphalt, blacktop, or similar materials
are used. Amateur players would typically
use tarmac as the surface.
Regulation
Sizes- Official Measurements:
Court
Size Overall:
•
NBA and College – 94 feet long and 50
feet wide
• High School – 84 feet long and
50 feet wide
• Junior High – 74 feet long and
42 feet wide
The
Foul Line:
For
all courts the “foul line” distance
is 15 feet from the foul line to the front
of the backboard. This measurement is commonly
confused as from the center of the basket
and front of the rim.
The
Key:
Standard
for all basketball courts, “the key”
(sometimes called “the lane”)
is 12 feet wide. Regulation courts have the
backboard extending out 4 feet over the baseline
into the key. A 6 foot arc (half circle) extends
from the foul line away from the basket to
complete the key.
The
3 Point Line (Arc):
College
and High School Basketball Courts –
the 3 point arc is 19 feet 9 inches, with
a straight line extending out 5 feet 3 inches
(63 inches) from the baseline. Past those
points the line extends 19 feet 9 inches from
the center of the rim.
NBA Basketball Courts – the 3 point
arc is 22 feet to the center of the rim on
the sides with a straight line extending out
16 feet 9 inches from the baseline. Past those
points the line extends out 23 feet 9 inches
from the center of the rim.
The
Backboard and Rim:
The
regulation distance from the ground to the
top of the rim is 10 feet for all levels of
play. Regulation backboards are 6 feet wide
(72 inches) by 42 inches tall. All basketball
rims (hoops) are 18 inches in diameter. The
inner square on the backboard is 24 inches
wide by 18 inches tall.
All line markings on the floor are 2 inches
wide and can vary in color.
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