Basketball Court Dimensions

Basketball is played between two teams having five members each. The goal is to pass the ball through the hoop positioned at both ends of court. Basketball court is rectangular in shape. For live basketball, the indoor courts are also made up of wood, mostly maple while the outdoor ones are made of paving material such as concrete. To play well, the court dimensions should be understood clearly.

Court size:

Basketball courts vary in size and color depending on league.NBA court is 94 feet in length and 50 feet in width.The high school court is 84 feet in length and 50 feet in width.Some elementary schools have courts of length 74 feet and width 42 feet.WNBA and NCAA have the same size as that of NBA court.

Major areas on live basketball court are:

·         Three point arc

·         Free throw line

·         key

·         Central circle

·         Rim and backboard

Three-point arc:

There is a three-point arc at both baskets. Goal made from outside this arc, worth three-points and goal from within this arc or if player’s foot is touching the line, worth two points only. From center of basket distance of three-point line varies depending on the level or league. The current measurement variations are described as follows:

·         19.75 feet for the court of High School

·         20.625 feet for WNBA

·         20.75 feet for NCAA

·         21.65 feet to 22.15 feet for FIBA

·         22 feet to 23.75 feet for NBA

Free throw line

There is a free throw line where a player stands while making a foul shot. It is within three point arc. It is also called foul line. For all basketball courts free throw line is 15 feet away from the front of backboard.

Key

Extending from the free throw line is a half circle of radius 6 feet. This half circle completes the key, which is 12 feet wide across the lane. This key is mainly used to stop players from staying underneath the basket of opponent team.

Around the key there are four tabs on each side of the lane. One of the four tabs is 12 inches wide and 8 inches deep. Remaining three tabs are 2 inches in width and 8 inches deep. Distance between each successive tab is 3 feet. Distance of tab next to free-throw line from the free throw line is also 3 feet.

Center circle

Center circle is in the middle of court. Only two players, one from each team, are allowed to enter in the circle before the tip-off. The referee stands at the center point of the circle before the game starts.

Rim and backboard

For all basketball courts rim is 18” in diameter. The rim is 10 feet above the ground. Regulation backboards are 6 feet wide and 42 inches in length and the distance of backboard from the back of rim is 6 feet.

Other areas

Low post area is space near the basket, but outside the free throw line. Perimeter is the area outside the free throw line, but inside three-point line. The Line markings on the court are two inches wide.