Naismith and Wheeler wrote the first 13 <a href=”http://www.watchbasketballonline.net/”> rules of the game. </a>

1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.

2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands (never with the fist).

3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he

catches it, allowance to be made for a man who catches the ball when running at a good

speed if he tries to stop.

4. The ball must be held in or between the hands; the arms or body must not be used for

holding it.

5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking in any way the person of an

opponent shall be allowed; the first infringement of this rule by any player shall count as

a foul, the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made, or, if there was

evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game, no substitute allowed.

6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violation of Rules 3, 4, and such as

described in Rule 5.

7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count a goal for the opponents

(consecutive means without the opponents in the mean time making a foul).

8. A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket

and stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If

the ball rests on the edges, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.

9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field of play by the

person first touching it. In case of a dispute, the umpire shall throw it straight into the

field. The thrower-in is allowed five seconds; if he holds it longer, it shall go to the

opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on that

side.

10. The umpire shall be judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee

when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have power to disqualify men

according to Rule 5.

11. The referee shall be judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in

bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has

been made, and keep account of the goals with any other duties that are usually performed

by a referee.

12. The time shall be two 15-minute halves, with five minutes’ rest between.

13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner. In case of a

<a href=”http://www.watchbasketballonline.net/”> draw, the game </a> may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is made.