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An indoor basketball hoop needs to be selected after deciding its place of installation. If the hoop is to be installed on a wall then it should be one that has an opaque backboard. The transparent, Plexiglas backboards merge with the wall causing problems for the players. Another feature to be considered is the width of backboards. Wider backboards allow better play because the players can hit a wider array of bank shots.

Attention should also be paid to the way the hoop is attached to the backboard. The hoop can be attached to the backboard with a single piece of metal or it can have a spring-loaded breakaway section. Those players who want to dunk or hang on to the rim should prefer the breakaway model.

The indoor hoop should be installed in a place where a court can be painted. If the space is not enough to paint a full court then at least a half-court or a free throw line should be painted beneath it. An indoor hoop without a throw line has little utility.

An indoor hoop can also be mounted in the center of a hall. Such an arrangement provides more moving space to players, who can run around the pole after dunking or scoring a point. There is less danger of crashing into a wall while throwing a practice ball on the run or leaping to score a point from a position that is close to the hoop.

Both portables and in-ground systems can be considered to mount an indoor hoop. The only problem with an in-ground system is that it becomes a permanent structure. The floor has to be broken, and plastered again if the position of the in-ground system is to be changed. The portable systems, in contrast, do not suffer from this limitation. Their positions can be changed.

One more feature that should be kept in mind is offset. This distance from the pole to the backboard defines the play area underneath the basket. Short offsets can be dangerous, especially in enclosed spaces. It is best to have hoops where the offset ranges from 2 feet to 4 feet.

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The NCAA Basketball Tournament is one of the most watched and awaited sports fixture in the US. It whips up a frenzy that is incredible. Almost the whole nation turns to basketball when the NCAA tournament starts.

The tourney is conducted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which lays down the rules for the 1,200-odd participating colleges and university members. Out of the 1,200 colleges and universities, 1,006 are active members and can participate in the NCAA tournament.

These colleges are organized into three divisions. Division I includes those colleges that sponsor at least seven sports each for men and women, or six for men and eight for women, with two team sports for each gender. Division II colleges are those that sponsor at least four sports each for men and women, with two team sports for each gender. Division III, which makes the bottom of the ladder, sponsors at least five sports each for men and women, with two team sports for each gender. The NCAA also lays down how many basketball matches each member is required to play in its Division.

The Division 1 tournament grabs the maximum public attention because the winners of this tournament qualify for what is known as March Madness. NCAA has laid elaborate rules for the selection of 64 women’s teams and 65 men’s teams that qualify for this grand event.

Thirty-one teams, both in men and women’s division, get an automatic entry, because they are the winners of their respective conferences. A selection committee decides the remaining teams, 34 for men and 33 for women. The whole nation waits with bated breath to learn of the names of these teams that are announced on television.

The field of 64 teams is divided into four geographical regions, and seeded according to their performance in the elimination tournament. The team that is seeded one is the best is its group, while the team that is seeded 16 is considered the weakest in that group. Generally, the teams perform according to their seeding. But sometimes, a low-seeded team may create an upset. Such a team then gets to be known as the tourney Cinderella.

The tourney itself is played over a period of three weeks, beginning usually on the third Thursday of March. The first two days have packed schedules, and as many as 32 teams make an exit. The excitement continues over the next two days when the teams are reduced to Sweet 16. A four-day break ensues for the next round that leaves the top four or the Final Four to battle for the crown.

The winners of this grueling tourney are crowned college basketball champions, and become the toast of the nation.

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ESPN NBA Basketball is the continuation of the NBA 2K series of basketball games, a franchise that was born on the now-defunct Sega Dreamcast. Despite the series’ relative youth, compared to other basketball franchises, the 2K series has always been known for fantastic graphics and excellent simulation-style gameplay. This year, the developers at Visual Concepts have kept all the hallmarks of their earlier games, and they’ve added a new control system called “isomotion.” This system lets you execute juke moves on offense, and it gives you the ability to counter these jukes on defense. The team has also added a unique gameplay mode called 24/7 that is so addictive, it’s likely that many players will spend more time in 24/7 than playing standard games. If you are planning on buying only one basketball game this year, ESPN NBA Basketball is the one to get.

The ESPN NBA Basketball video game is an improvement on NBA 2K series of basketball games. This game not only has great graphics but also has the ESPN class written all over it. There is also a greater infusion of ESPN brand in the game. The opening menu shows the ESPN studio and the text uses the same fonts that are used on ESPN telecasts. Many of the signature tunes too are the same that you hear on ESPN basketball shows. The players can hear the familiar voice of broadcasters Bill Fitzgerald and Tom Tolbert. Clearly, ESPN looks upon the game as a brand building exercise too.

The designers and animators have worked extra hard in creating the graphics. Most of the players and coaches can be recognized easily. One does not have to look at jersey colors or jersey numbers to identify the player. They look very natural as they dunk a ball or rip a pass. Even the crowd movements are well synchronized. But what is amazing is the research that has gone into creating the video. Jason Kidd is shown blowing his trademark kiss to his son and Karl Malone flips the ball in his hands, exactly the way as he does on the court. The sound quality makes the game come alive. You can hear the squeaks of sneakers, player chatter and crowd noise.

But it is isomotion that sets this game apart from its predecessor, and other basketball games available in the market. This is ESPN’s reply to NBA Live’s freestyle technology, and can be considered almost as good. Isomotion not only helps you conduct defensive play but can also simulate real life play as you go on the offensive.

The game offers you a whole range of features that include full-length seasons, fantasy drafts, trades, and a point cap for all teams. You can even decide how your team will play. It truly is an exciting game, and should be considered by all basketball fans that want to simulate NBA basketball on their screens.

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A Coaches note first.
Founded in 1981, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association promotes women’s basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport of women’s basketball and to foster and promote the development of the game of basketball as an amateur sport for women and girls.

Women’s college basketball dates back to a game played at Smith College for girls in 1893 between freshmen against the sophomores. However, the first official women’s basketball match was played between Stanford and Berkley in April 1896. This match was played behind locked doors and men were not allowed to watch women prancing on the basketball court.

The first rules governing women’s basketball were written in 1901. However, these rules continued to be modified as the game evolved. The early years also saw some freak playing rules. For instance, the basket was sewn, and it was left to the umpire to retrieve the ball every time a basket was scored. Not only this, some games were played on grass courts!

It was only in 1975 that the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women conducted the first national basketball tournament for women, and in 1975, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association selected their first All-America Team. The American Basketball League (ABL) was founded in 1996 and the WNBA in 1997. These associations came up to stop American basketball players from moving to foreign leagues.

The college basketball, however, continues to be supervised by NCAAA, which has set up three divisions to filter the best players. Division I is the most prominent and popular league. Those colleges that sponsor at least 7 sports for women players play it. They are required to play all but two of their games against other women basketball teams in Division 1.

Division II includes those colleges that organize at least four sports each for women. These basketball teams are required to play at least half of their games against Division I or Division II teams. Division III includes those colleges that organize at least five sports with two teams.

The winners of 31 conferences automatically qualify for NCAA’s annual women’s basketball championship. The remaining 34 are chosen by a selection committee to make it a field of 64. These teams are then organized in four pools, with each pool seeded from one to 16.

The tourney starts on the third Thursday of March with the most hectic action-taking place in the first two days, when 32 teams make their exit. The next two days see another 16 teams making a bow. The competition heats up for the Final Four position, and then for the ultimate winner.

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Everyone wants to have a basketball court but very few know how to build a basketball court. The first step is to identify the area. There is no difficulty with a concrete area. It is smooth, firm and ready to play. However, surfaces that are uneven may need to be leveled. Such surfaces may either need concreting or else lying of an artificial basketball surface. Both these are expensive options.

The second step involves selecting the equipment. Should it be a portable system or an in-ground system? Both have their advantages and disadvantages. The portable systems are good for casual players. They are convenient to install and can be wheeled away when the court is no longer needed. The portable systems include a base with wheels, backboard, pole, and rim.

However, they do not offer the stability that in-ground systems provide. These systems require the pole to be installed in concrete. This is a time-consuming and laborious process. First, the spot where the pole is to be installed is dug up. Then, the pole is secured in a cement base that is allowed to harden over 30 hours.

A few manufacturers also provide bolt on in-ground systems. In this system, it is the anchor, and not the pole, that is set in concrete. The pole is bolted to the anchor. You may need professional help to secure in-ground systems because not everyone knows how to set concrete.

You can even consider a wall-mounted basketball system. These systems can be attached to the side of your house, garage, or roof. They normally include backboard, rim, net, and mounting kit. Some even come with an extension arm that allows the rim and net to extend outwards.

The next step is to check the shapes and sizes of the basket ball equipment, and decide which ones suit your requirements. The backboard, for instance, comes in two shapes – fan-shaped and regular. Which one should you go for? If you are looking for bank shots then you must buy the rectangular backboard. A similar question arises when selecting the basket. Should you buy a basket with fixed rims or a breakaway system? The breakaway system is more suitable for players who hang onto the baskets.

Finally, you have to mark the court. For this you use chalk, paint or HoopLines Basketball Half Court Boundary System. Chalk obviously is a temporary marking method. Courts using chalk have to be lined again and again. Paint is a more permanent solution, but you should be careful while painting the lines. The HoopLines are the best, but they will cost more.

Once the boundaries are marked you are all set to leap and dunk.

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