Basketball court facts for kids
In basketball, a basketball court is the special playing area where the game happens. It's a rectangular floor with a basket at each end. Most indoor courts, especially for professional games, are made from shiny wood, often maple. Outdoor courts are usually made of concrete or asphalt. No matter where you play, the basket is always 10 feet (about 3 meters) above the ground, unless it's a game for very young kids.
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How Big is a Basketball Court?
Basketball courts come in different sizes depending on the league. For example, in the National Basketball Association (NBA), the court is 94 feet long and 50 feet wide (about 28.65 by 15.24 meters). Courts used in international games, following International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules, are a bit smaller, at 28 by 15 meters (about 91.86 by 49.21 feet). For casual games, court sizes can vary a lot.
Court Markings and Lines
Every basketball court has important lines that tell players where to stand and how many points a shot is worth.
- Three-point arc: This is a big curved line around each basket. If you shoot from behind this line and score, it's worth three points! If your foot is touching the line, or you shoot from inside it, the basket is worth two points.
- Free-throw line: This line is 15 feet (about 4.57 meters) from the basket. Players stand here to take "foul shots" after an opponent commits a foul. Each successful foul shot is worth one point.
Basketball Court Diagrams
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This diagram shows the different court markings for FIBA, NBA, and NCAA games.
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A close-up of the backboard and basket.
Important Areas on the Court
Knowing the different parts of the court helps you understand the game better.
The Center Circle
The center circle is right in the middle of the court. At the start of a game, two players (usually the tallest ones) stand inside this circle for the "jump ball." The referee throws the ball up, and the players try to tap it to a teammate to start the game. Only these two players are allowed in the circle before the jump ball.
The Three-Point Line
The three-point line is super important because it separates the two-point area from the three-point area. If you shoot from behind this line and the ball goes in, it's a three-point shot! If you step on the line while shooting, it only counts as two points. If an opponent fouls you while you're shooting from behind this line, you get three free throws (if you missed the shot) or one free throw (if you made the shot).
The distance of the three-point line from the basket can be different depending on where you play:
- 19.75 feet (6.02 meters): High schools in the US.
- 20.75 feet (6.32 meters): NCAA women's college basketball.
- 21.65 to 22.15 feet (6.60 to 6.75 meters): FIBA (international) and NCAA men's college basketball.
- 22 to 22.15 feet (6.71 to 6.75 meters): WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association).
- 22 to 23.75 feet (6.71 to 7.24 meters): NBA.
The NBA first added the three-point line in 1979. FIBA and the NCAA added it in 1985. Over the years, the distance of this line has sometimes changed to make the game more exciting.
The Key (or Free Throw Lane)
The "key" is the painted area directly under the basket. It's also called the free-throw lane or shaded lane. In the NBA, it's 16.02 feet wide. The main rule for the key is the "three-second rule." Players on offense can't stay in the key for more than three seconds at a time, to prevent them from just waiting under the basket for an easy shot.
There's also a "no charge zone arc" within the key. This is a semi-circle drawn directly under the basket. If a defensive player is inside this arc, they usually can't draw a "charging foul" (where an offensive player runs into them). This rule helps prevent collisions and makes the game flow better. This arc is 4 feet (1.22 meters) from the center of the basket in most professional and college leagues.
Other Important Lines
- Coaching Box: On the sidelines, there are lines that show how far a coach can stand from their bench.
- Substitution Area: Near the half-court line, there are lines where players wait to enter the game as substitutes.
Recent Changes to International Courts
In 2008, FIBA announced some big changes to international court markings, which became mandatory in 2012.
- The shape of the key changed from a trapezoid (a shape with four sides, two of which are parallel) to a rectangle, just like in the NBA.
- The three-point line was moved back a bit, from 6.25 meters to 6.75 meters (about 22 feet, 1.7 inches).
- FIBA also adopted the "no charge zone arc" with a slightly wider radius of 1.25 meters (about 4 feet, 1.2 inches).
