How can I start to play basketball?
Basketball is a global sport played and enjoyed across the planet.
Basketball is, according to Sport England's Active Lives study, the nation's second-most popular team sport, sitting behind only football in terms of the number of regular participants.
Many of those can be found in the education sector sector in schools, colleges and universities.
There is also a huge network of hundreds of Basketball England-affiliated clubs and thousands of individuals who play informally on park and leisure centre courts.
The chances are, you already know something about the best sport around, but what else is there to learn?
How can I play basketball?
In a number of ways. There are two main formats of basketball - the traditional 5v5 version of the game, played for decades across the world in domestic and international competition, and its newer up-and-coming cousin 3x3, the three-aside format that originated in 'streetball' and is now an official FIBA, Olympic and Commonwealth Games sport.
These are the two main organised forms of the games but, of course, you can play however you like - in pairs or one-vs-one and you can practice on your own. Just play.
Find out more about each below:
find out more about 5v5find out more about 3x3
How can I get involved?
Where can I play?
Find a court to play on with your friends using our handy Court Finder - click the link, follow the instructions and locate a court near you to play on, indoors or out.
Not all outdoor courts have a net, so if you need one for your local court, head to our #ProjectSwish page and we'll send you one free of charge. There plenty more going on with our #ProjectSwish campaign to make basketball happen so check it out.
How can I find a club?
We've got you covered. Use our Club Finder to discover which clubs are near you. Clubs offer a range of playing opportunities from beginners sessions and central venue leagues through to local and NBL opportunities.
Affiliated Basketball England clubs have qualified coaches and safeguarding measures in place to give you a great experience.
Where can I get a basketball and kit?
Again, we've got you covered. Visit the Basketball England shop to browse our extensive selection of basketballs, kit equipment to get your started or keep you going on your basketball journey.
Visit the basketball England shop
How can I become a coach or official?
Playing is great but the game needs coaches and officials (referees, table officials and statisticians) to operate. Visit our Courses section for our full range of coaching and officiating courses for everyone from beginners to experienced operators.
The basics of the game
The history of basketball
You might know more about the game, but how did the sport began? You probably won’t be surprised to learn that basketball has come a long way in 100 years!
In early December 1891, James Naismith, a Canadian physical education teacher at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts invented an indoor game called basketball. He invented the sport to keep his students from becoming bored during the winter.
Naismith wrote the basic rules and then nailed a peach basket onto a 10-foot tall pole. Unlike modern basketball hoops, the bottom of the peach-basket was still there, so after a point was scored, somebody had to get the ball out of the basket with a long stick. Over time, people made a hole at the bottom of the basket, so the ball could go through more easily.
The score of the first game of basketball ever played was 1-0. There is a sculpture in Springfield, outside where the first game was held. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is also in Springfield.
Since the rules hadn't been formally written, there was no maximum number of players back then unlike today. This also meant that there were no set rules to the game; Naismith only observed and changed the rules accordingly.
The modern game
Basketball has evolved to become one of the world's most popular and widely viewed sports.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the most significant professional basketball league in the world in terms of popularity, salaries, talent, and level of competition.
Outside North America, the top clubs from national leagues qualify to continental championships such as the EuroLeague and the Basketball Champions League Americas.
The FIBA Basketball World Cup and Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament are the major international events of the sport and attract top national teams from around the world. Each continent hosts regional competitions for national teams, like EuroBasket and FIBA AmeriCup.
The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup and Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament feature top national teams from continental championships. The main North American league is the WNBA (NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship is also popular), whereas strongest Sports club. European clubs participate in the EuroLeague Women.
In the UK the British Basketball Federations (BBF) governs the Great Britain national teams and oversees the professional leagues for men and women.
Basketball England is the National Governing Body (NGB) for basketball in England and responsible for all aspects of the sport, serving member clubs and players across areas including safeguarding, infrastructure, facilities and grassroots development.
Find a courtFind a clubLearn and get qualifiedBuy a ball or kit