The ball is moved down the court toward the basket by passing or dribbling. The team with the ball is called the offense. The team without the ball is called the defense. They try to steal the ball, contest shots, steal and deflect passes, and garner rebounds.

When a team makes a basket, they score two points and the ball goes to the other team. If a basket is made outside of the three-point arc, then that basket is worth three points. A free throw is worth one point. Free throws are awarded to a team according to some formats involving the number of fouls committed in a half and/or the type of foul committed. Fouling a shooter always results in two or three free throws being awarded the shooter, depending upon where he was when he shot

Each team is assigned a basket or goal to defend. This means that the other basket is their scoring basket. At halftime, the teams switch goals. The game begins with one player from either team at center court. A referee will toss the ball up between the two. The player that gets his hands on the ball will tip it to a teammate. This is called a tip-off.

 The players can throw the ball in any direction he wishes with using one or both of his hands. But he can never use his fist to do this and he cannot run keeping the ball in his hand. It is strictly prohibited for the players that they should not shoulder, hold, push, strike or trip an opponent in any way. The first violation of this rule by any player will be counted as a foul. If he violates it for the second time, he will be disqualified till the next goal is made.