Anthony's International Basketball Officiating Site

Copyright © 1996–2009 Anthony Reimer

Ask Ace (About Rules)

Due to a large number of other commitments, I have had to discontinue my popular "Ask Ace" service which allowed you to ask me questions about Basketball rules. Check my Hoop Links page for other places you can ask your questions. (And don't bother trying to send in a question to one of my e-mail addresses; it will be deleted without a response.)

I will leave my most recent questions archive posted, at least for now. The questions are sorted into four categories, which are in separate files to speed up your downloading.

The number of questions I have received over the 8 years I ran Ask Ace numbered in the thousands. Perhaps one day, I will get around to compiling a Q & A reference of sorts (but I would have to update all the answers for current rule changes, so don't bet large sums of money on it). Expect that these pages will go away someday.

And now, the most frequently asked question:

Q: I want to make a court on my driveway, etc.. How high should the hoop be? How far away is the free throw line? Three point line? etc.

A: By the numbers:

 

 FIBA NBA WNBA NCAA/NF

Three point line
(measured from the centre of the ring)

 6.25 m 23'9" arc at the top, intersecting with lines parallel to each sideline that are 22' away at their closest point 20'6.25"
(6.25 m)		 19'9" (NCAA Women, NF)
20'9" (NCAA Men)

Width of lane (a.k.a. key, restricted area)

 6 m along the baseline, 3.6 m at the free throw line 16' 16' 12'

Free throw line
(measured from the backboard)

 4.6 m 15' 15' 15'

Height of ring

 3.05 m 10' 10' 10'

Size of backboard (newer style)

 1.80 m wide by
1.05 m tall 		6' wide by
3.5' tall 		6' wide by
3.5' tall		 6' wide by
3.5' tall

Legacy backboard size

 1.80 by 1.20 m
(non-FIBA competitions only) 		not allowed not allowed 6' by 4' or fan-shaped