Index Player Rules Game Length and Times Time Outs Violations Throwing Violations Foul National Basketball Association, also known as (NBA), June 6, 1946. Makes the NBA interesting and intense. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Player Rules A team consists of 5 players but can start with 4 players. A team must always have 4 players on the pitch. Exception: Three players are allowed if a player cannot continue due to injury or has been eliminated from the game for a foul. When a team has forfeited, the opposing team must have at least 4 players registered to receive a win, unless the forfeit was decided well before the start of the match and both teams were informed. Substitutions must be reported to the scorer before entering play. Substitutes can only enter the game after the referee's recognition. Sanction: Technical foul. Teams must wear jerseys in the same color tone and each jersey must have a different number. The size of each number must be at least six inches. All players must wear athletic shoes with non-marking rubber soles. No jewelry of any kind (friendship bracelets, chains, rings or earrings) may be worn. Sanction: technical foul. Casts (plaster, metal or other hard substances in their final form) or any other object deemed dangerous by the supervisor, referee or athletic trainer may not be worn during the game. Knee pads made of hard, durable substances covered on both sides with all edges overlapping and any other hard substance covered with at least 1/2 inch of slow recovery rubber or similar material will be permitted. Game Duration and Timings There will be two twenty minutes half time of continuous operation. The clock stops for time outs or official time outs (for example for injuries or ball recovery). The clock is not stopped for violations. Exception: During the last two minutes of the second half, Time Outs. Each team will have four one-minute time outs per game with a limit of two per half. After each time out, the referee must record the number of the player who called the time out and the time it was called. Time outs can only be called by the team in possession of the ball or during a dead ball situation. Time outs in excess of the allotted number may be requested and will be granted during regulation playing time or during any extra period at the expense of a technical foul. The technical foul must be called even if the referee was not aware that the time out was excessive. A time out is allowed for each extra period. Time outs during regulation play do not carry over to overtime. Backcourt Violations: Teams will have ten seconds to cross the halfway line. Once the ball has been placed beyond the halfway line (both feet and the ball), it is a violation to cross the end court again. Sanction: Turnover. Three Seconds: An offensive player may not be in or in contact with the free throw zone for more than three seconds while the ball is in his team's frontcourt. Sanction: Turnover. Five Seconds: If a player is closely guarded (within six feet) in the front zone and holds the ball for more than five seconds, or dribbles the ball for more than five seconds, a violation will be called. Sanction: Turnover. Kicking: Kicking the ball is a violation only when it is an intentional act; Accidentally hitting the ball with your foot or leg is not one.