Essential equipment for a basketball court

As with any type of sports field, a basketball court requires a number of installations. The equipment required for this type of court is quite different from that for a soccer pitch, for example, or any other playing field. Here's a summary of the regulations governing basketball court equipment.

The basketball

It's the key to making the game happen. Basically, basketball consists of passing a ball inside a circle called a basket. But while the ball is as round as the soccer, its characteristics are quite different. A basketball can be made from different types of material. Generally speaking, there are rubber balls and leather balls. Each type of ball is adapted to a specific type of court. In basketball, the court floor can be either concrete or tar, or wood. Concrete courts are often used outdoors, while parquet courts are used indoors. For outdoor pitches, it's more appropriate to use a rubber ball, as it's more resistant to wear and tear caused by concrete or tar. Indoors, however, leather balls are more often used.

Basketballs are available in four different sizes, each corresponding to a specific age group, gender or use. From the largest to the smallest, we distinguish :

- Size 7: This is the size used by men aged 14 and over.

- Size 6: Balls of this size are used mainly by boys aged between 12 and 13. But it's also the ball size used by female players aged 14 and over. So this is the feminine size par excellence.

- Size 5: This is the type of ball used by boys aged 7 to 11 and girls aged 7 to 13.

- Size 3: Small and light, this type of ball is well suited to little players, both boys and girls, under 6 years of age.

The basketball hoop

This is the circle through which the ball must pass for points to be scored. It's usually attached to a panel, supported by a base of a certain height. Also known as a hoop, the basket generally has a diameter of 45cm. The height of the hoop can be adjusted according to age. For older children, the hoop is located 3.05 meters from the ground, while for children aged 9 and under, the basket will be placed at a height of 2.60 meters. The board that supports the basket is also called the panel. Its dimensions also vary.

- For those aged 10 and over, the board is 1.80 metres wide and 1.05 metres high.

- The smallest board (9 years and under) will be 1.20 metres wide and 90 centimetres high.

NB: A rectangle measuring 59x45cm is drawn on the board, just above the hoop.

In addition, an ordinary basket can be made of iron and the board of wood. But for professional levels such as national championships and international competitions (H2 and H3 levels), the board must have a Plexiglas or methacrylate structure to be transparent. The entire structure should also be padded for added protection. Some baskets are removable (especially at professional level), while others are not.

On a proper pitch, you need two different hoops. But it's possible to play tournaments with just one hoop. You can even install a hoop at home.

The structure of the basketball court

According to the new regulations in force, the basketball playing area must be 28x15m, whatever the level. However, there are slight variations from one federation to another. As for the floor covering, as mentioned above, it can be either parquet or concrete. Parquet flooring is compulsory at the top professional level (H3). In addition, the aforementioned dimensions are delimited by a line, the color of which can be red, white or contrasting.

The lines

The bas eline: defines the playing area.

The halfway line: divides the pitch in two and cuts through the center circle where the face-off takes place.

The 3-point line: It is located at 6.75 meters for FIBA and 7.23 meters for the NBA. A shot taken before this line will count as 3 points if the basket is awarded.

The free-throw line : 4.60 metres from the board.