Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world. It’s the national game of Philippines and Lithuania, but it is also popular in the US, Canada, Australia, China, Greece, Serbia, Spain and other countries. To cherish this game across cultures, the World Basketball Day is observed on December 21. This annual day was initiated by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), in 2012.

How Basketball Game Started?
Basketball was invented by a physical education instructor, Dr James Naismith. It was 1891. The Springfield College teachers at the Massachusetts state of the US were worried about their students’ disinterest in studies especially during the cold winters. Just drills or gymnastics were not enough to ward off the cold. The students needed something unique to electrify their energies. So, after a lot of brainstorming and hard work, Naismith succeeded in designing a special game to keep the students involved, active and warm. He sensibly combined elements from games like football, hockey and rugby, and wrote down 13 rules that described the methods of moving the ball, judging the foul, etc. The game got so famous that by 1905 it was officially recognized worldwide as a trademark winter sport.
Rules of the Game
All you need is a basketball, hoop (10 feet high backboard with a rim of 18-inch-diameter), a court (4,700 sq ft: 94 ft long and 50 ft wide), and markers for drills. Two teams of five players each, play the game. The game duration is usually four quarters; 15 minutes each. Team players move the ball by passing or dribbling it quickly. The points can be scored in two ways either through field goals (2-3 points) or free throws (1 point). The aim is to simply score more points than the opposite team by shooting the ball straight into the opponent’s basket. Basketball can also be played outdoors. For that basketball courts must have hard and non-slippery ground so that the players could maintain balance and good bounce of the ball. It is necessary to practice the basic skills of dribbling, shooting, passing, and defence.
Benefits of the Game
Basketball is rewarded as a thrilling indoor sport. The game offers numerous benefits, like:
-   It enhances chances of staying away from screen, and growing mental as well as physical power.
-   It helps in developing speed, agility, movement and coordination. It increases physical activity and flow of the blood. It boosts endurance, self-confidence and sportsman spirit. 
-   It teaches teamwork, discipline and responsiveness; increases problem-solving ability, and strategic thinking; improves focus and concentration; builds stamina and prepares children for future sports. 
So, it is advisable that you play basketball for added energy, stamina and fun. It is rightly said that “Basketball is more than a game.”