Innovative rules set ABA apart

October 31, 2005 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Southern California Surf News Release


The rule that stands out the most in the ABA is 3-D. This is when a team loses posession of the ball due to violation/foul, before player control is established on the fornt court. Basically, when 3-D is in effect- and you will know; the backboard lights up "3-D" and the announcer tells you- two pointers become three, three pointers become four and four pointers become five! 3-D remains in effect until a team scores, attempts a free throw for a personal foul, the other team gets control of the ball or the period ends.

Another rule that is noticeable is the fact that there a player cannot foul out of a game. Instead, when a player commits his sixth foul (in the NBA, after five fouls you cannot play anymore for that game), he is labeled a "sixth foul player" and the other team gets extra shots. A penalty free throw is given and these fouls count toward the team foul count.

Now that you are up to speed with the new rules, here is a bit of hoops history. Founded in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, the game has evolved from being played with rocks to the first game, played with a soccer ball and two peach baskets used as goals. His goal was to create a game of skill that could be played inside during the cold New England winters. Turn-of-the-century stars the Buffalo Germans and the Original Celtics, were teams that pioneered many tactics in basketball, including the development of the zone defense, were extraordinarily successful professional teams in the early 20th century.

Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.



American Basketball Association Stories from October 31, 2005


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