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Basketball
A team sport that requires considerable skill and agility, basketball has a huge following. Two teams of five players each compete by shooting a basketball through a raised hoop.
An excellent way of getting fit, basketball was in fact invented by Doctor James Naismith in 1891 for specifically that purpose. It quickly swept the whole of the United States and continues to enjoy great popularity in many countries.
You can move around the court by bouncing the ball, known as dribbling, or passing it between team mates. Your opponents will attempt to intercede either by catching a throw or successfully tackling while you're dribbling. There are specific rules about how tackling is allowed and you cannot cut across a player or manhandle them in any way.
You get more points for getting one through the hoop depending how far away you are when you choose to shoot. Each game is divided into four quarters lasting ten or twelve minutes. At half time there is a fifteen minute interval.
There are also a limited number of time outs during which the couch can advise the players. A high energy sport that requires considerable stamina, it's very good for developing your speed as well as strengthening your heart and lungs. While height is a distinct advantage, it's a game that can be enjoyed by anyone. From the big professional games that draw huge crowds to the local court down your street, shooting the hoop continues to be a favourite American past time.
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