Basketball is played on a rectangular playing surface with baskets on the two ends. In the professional circuit, the courts are made of wood or maple, whereas in our daily life and the lower level tournaments, we use outdoor courts which are generally made of concrete.
Dimensions of the court vary with the tournaments. National Basketball Association (NBA) uses court dimensions of 28.7 by 15.2 m, whereas International Basketball Federation (FIBA) uses a comparatively smaller courts with sizes of 28 by 15 m.
The dimensions for the court used in WNBA and NCAA are the same as of the NBA.
Foul Line:
The Foul line is the line from which a player attempts the free throws. It is 15 ft. from the front of the backboard.
Three-point Line:
Every shot converted from beyond the three-point line results in three points. If a player shoots with a foot on the three-point line or from inside it, it gives him two points.
The distance of the three-point line from the centre of the basket varies with the tournament or league.
NBA: 6.71 m to 7.24 m
FIBA: 6.60 m to 6.75 m
NCAA: 6.32 m
WNBA: 6.60 m to 6.75 m
Key:
The painted area beneath the basket is termed as the key or shaded area. It is made to prevent the players from standing under an opponent's basket for not more than three seconds.
NBA: 16 ft. wide
FIBA: 16.08 ft. wide
NCAA: 12 ft. wide
Backboard and Rim:
For all the leagues, the distance from the rim to the ground is the same, i.e. 10 feet. The diameter of the rim is around 46 cm.
The Backboard height is 110 cm and width is 183 cm, with an area of around 1.95-meter square. It is usually made of Tempered glass or Plexiglass.
