Basketball Etiquette - The Rules of Backyard or Street Basketball

What Exactly is Street Basketball?

Street or Backyard basketball is usually played outside, with rules that differ to traditional basketball. Street basketball has a more relaxed playing style, with less structure and rules, meaning players can take the opportunity to really show off their skills, which makes it also really fun to watch too as a spectator, as Basketball Hoops Ireland outlines.

As street or backyard basketball is played in predominantly urban environments, it may not come as a surprise to learn that the biggest city who particularly love and play this style of the game is New York. Street basketball is also widely played across the US, with ESPN broadcasting their City Slam and Street Basketball tournaments, along with the NBA team, the Houston Rockets Blacktop Battle.

What are the Rules of Street Basketball?

Although the rules of street and backyard basketball are more flexible than the traditional game, there are still certain rules that generally need to be followed, depending on where you are playing. For example, teams are picked by captains choosing alternate members, just as you might at school. As there are no referees, players are responsible for calling out fouls. If a foul is accepted, play is halted and the ball passed to the other team. However, there are no free throws in street basketball, unlike the more traditional form of the game. As there are no referees to interject, players are encouraged not to call foul, as it can sometimes be difficult for both teams to decide as to whether this is fair or not. Other rules include making sure players do not kick the ball, double-dribble, goaltend or engage in any other backcourt violation.

Street Basketball and Half-Court Play

Half-court play is the way that most street basketball games are played. This is usually because street basketball teams are small, and are usually comprised of 3-on-3 players. This means it is easier to only use a half-court when in play. Before play starts, the teams must 'check'. This means that the offensive player must throw the ball to his chosen defender whilst simultaneously saying 'check'. This marks a distinct starting point for play, and enables all team members to ready themselves for the game. Sometimes, this 'check' process will happen again during play, for example if the ball goes off court. Teams must again 'check' if this is the case in order to resume play. Recent regulations from the FIBA have also added a 'check clock' stipulation to street basketball rules. This means that the offensive player only has 5 seconds to 'check' the ball in order to not delay play for any significant amount of time. Sometimes in order to decide the winning team, a 'make it, take it,' or 'winners ball' rule will be used. This rule means that whichever team scores next will also retain possession of the ball, making winning much easier as the other team may never get the chance to have possession again.

Street Basketball and Pick Up Games

The scoring system for street basketball is fairly straightforward. This is important, as often more players might join during a game. This is called a pickup game, where anyone can approach other players on an outside court and ask to join their game. In general, scoring is relative to each basket, so one basket equals one point, and so on. If a player scores outside of the court arc, then each basket is worth two points, not one. Sometimes when multiple teams are all playing at once, this scoring system can change, making street basketball a unique and ever-evolving sport.