The Rules of Basketball
Boy, How They've Changed!

Basketball sizes

Court dimensions

Basketball terms

Positions

Dec 1891

Dr. James Naismith invents basketball

Jan 15, 1892

First printed basketball rules appear

1892

Cylindrical baskets of woven wire are introduced to replace the peach baskets

1893

First backboards introduced, 6 ft by 12 ft in size, to stop fans in the balconies from interfering with the ball

1894-95

First basketball invented to replace soccer balls that were being used

Free throw line shortened from 20 ft to 15 ft

1895-96

Free throw first introduced as a penalty for fouls

Field goal was changed from 3 points to 2 points

Free throw changed from 3 points to 1 point

Backboard officially reduced in size to 4 ft by 6 ft

1896-97

Player could not dribble with 2 hands more than once

1901

Dribbler could not shoot for a field goal; the ball had to be passed to another player

1908

Player committing 5 fouls (including traveling and other violations) was disqualified from game

1909-10

Glass backboards approved for use

Player was disqualified from game after fourth foul

1913-14

Bottom of basket must be left open so ball could fall through

1920-21

Player could only re-enter a game once

Backboards moved 2 feet away from walls to stop players from jumping up walls to shoot

1921-22

Traveling was changed from a personal foul to a violation

1923-24

Player fouled had to shoot free throw; ended designated free throw shooter

1929-30

Use of wire or rope cage around court to keep ball in play was ended

Games started using 2 referees instead of 1

1932

10-second line created at half-court to stop stalling

No player with ball could stand in free throw lane more than 3 seconds

1934-35

Circumference of ball reduced from 32 inches to between 29.5 and 30.25 inches

1936-37

Greatest year of all for rule changes

No player on offensive team, with or without ball, could stay in lane more than 3 seconds

Number of team timeouts increased from 3 to 4

Center jump after each basket eliminated

Defensive player prohibited from touching basket while ball was on the rim

Basketball without laces made legal

1939-40

Backboards moved from 2 ft to 4 ft away from end line to allow more movement under basket

1940-41

Fan-shaped backboards made legal

1944-45

Number of timeouts increased from 4 to 5

Players allowed unlimited substitutions

Number of personal fouls leading to disqualification increased from 4 personal fouls to 5

Goal-tending rule expanded. Defensive player could not touch ball on its downward flight

1948-49

Rectangular glass backboards became official in college games

Coaches finally allowed to speak to players during a timeout

1949-50

Molded basketball became official ball

1952

Free throw lane widened from 6 ft to 12 ft

Oct 30, 1954

24-second clock used first used in NBA game

1957-58

Bonus free throw introduced, allowing a team to shoot a free throw once opponent commits 7 fouls in a half

1963-64

Players called for personal fouls were asked to raise their arms

1967-68

Dunk shot banned from college basketball

1971

Number of players on women's basketball teams was reduced from 6 to 5

1972

Freshmen allowed to play major-college basketball for the first time

1976

Dunk shot allowed once again in college basketball

1978-79

NBA added a third referee

I got a lot of my information from The Amazing Basketball Book: The First 100 Years by Bob Hill and Randall Baron.

If you're a fan of the game, I highly recommend reading this book.

It's full of fascinating basketball facts about the origin of basketball, the inventor of basketball, and other interesting basketball trivia.

1979-80

NBA added 3-point shot

NBA returned to 2 referees

Mandatory 30-second shot clock goes into effect for NCAA women

1981-82

Alternating possession rule introduced. Jump balls restricted to start of game and overtime periods only, and teams alternate taking balls out of bounds on other jump-ball situations

1984-85

NCAA officially approves a smaller basketball for women's basketball, 29 inches in circumference

1985-86

NCAA approves a 45-second shot clock for all men's games

1986-87

3-point field goal introduced for NCAA men

1987-88

3-point shot goes into effect for women's and high school basketball

1988-89

NBA add a third referee again

1990-91

Beginning with a team’s 10th personal in a half, two free throws were awarded for each personal foul

3 free throws awarded when shooter fouled during unsuccessful 3-point attempt

1993-94

Shot clock for college men reduced from 45 seconds to 35 seconds

1996-97

Teams had to warm up and shoot at end of court farthest from their bench for the first half; they couldn’t choose

2002-03

No players can occupy 2 free throw lane spaces closest to the free throw shooter

2007-08

No players can occupy the first lane space nearest the basket on either side during a free throw

2008-09

3-point was line extended to 20 feet, 9 inches for college men

First space in the key under the basket eliminated in the free throw shooting line alignment. Changed the number of players lining up around the lane from 8 to 6

2009-10

If player who is fouled is not able to shoot the free throw, the opposing coach selects the free throw shooter from the 4 players on the floor. The coach of the fouled player used to be able to select any player from his roster.