Queen of Sports

Sports Date Of The Week: Basketball In The Park

September 29th, 2010 | Posted by Queen of Sports in Basketball,Sports Date of the Week

This weeks edition of our Sports Date of the Week is all about basketball! Training camp began earlier this week, with all the NBA teams hosting media days and the preseason games begin this weekend. Since another summer is behind us, it’s time to get outside and experience the beautiful fall weather while working up a sweat.

This week we want you to grab your man, a basketball and head to your local park. Challenge your guy to a few fun basketball games like:

H-O-R-S-E: The object is to be the last to accrue the five letters, H-O-R-S-E. Often, the shots in H-O-R-S-E are trick shots and/or lucky shots designed to make the other person miss. In H-O-R-S-E, player #1 is allowed to shoot from anywhere on the court. If he makes the shot, then player #2 must duplicate the same shot from the same position. If player #2 misses, he/she receives the first “letter” from the word “horse”, “H”. If player #2 makes the shot, no letter is given to either player, player #2 receives control of the ball, and he/she can select a new shot from anywhere on the court. If player #1 missed his original shot, then player #2 would also be free to shoot from anywhere on the court. In either case where player #2 selects a new shot, the play proceeds as before: if he/she makes it, it forces the next player to try and duplicate his made shots; should he/she miss, the next player has a free shot selection.

Around the World: is a basketball variant played by two or more players, who have all agreed upon a turn order. The game requires a sequence of shooting positions to be decided upon. In theory, these positions are arbitrary; in practice, they are most commonly ordered along the 3-point line in equal intervals starting from one of the sides of the basket and including the straight-on center shot. This 180 degree semi-circular path is the inspiration for the game’s name. The object is to be the first player to make a shot from all positions. Making a shot from a position allows a player to advance to the next position. The rules are very flexible but usually a player keeps advancing until a missed shot. At this point a player may save their position or elect to take a another “chance” shot. If the chance shot is made, the player advances as normal. If it misses, the player’s turn ends and they suffer some penalty, perhaps regressing a position or even starting over. Whatever the specifics of the game, when a player makes a successful shot from the final position, the game enters the final stage. Some play such that this player is declared the winner. Other play such that those players who have yet to act on the turn get a chance to tie, which cancels any advantage of going first.

Fives: Before the game starts, select an order of play. All players (except the one shooting) should remain behind the shooting line, out of the line of play. The first player shoots from the shooting line. If the shot is missed, the player must retrieve the rebound, and shoot from the spot that the rebound was retrieved. The other players are not permitted to interfere with either the ball or the player. The player continues to shoot until a basket is made, to a maximum of 5 shots. When the first player has made the shot, the next player begins shooting, again from the shooting line. This player must make the basket in the same number, or fewer shots than the preceding shooter. The next player then shoots, again from the shooting line and must make the basket in the same number, or fewer shots than the player that immediately preceded incoming player in shooting. If a player takes more shots than the player that immediately preceded the incoming player, a point is added to that player’s score. Additionally, if a player is unable to make a basket in 5 shots or less, another point is added to that player’s score. A player is eliminated from the game upon reaching 5 points. When a player is eliminated from the game, the player immediately following that player has up to 5 shots on the incoming turn.

Plus don’t forget about doing a simple free throw contest or ask your man for some help with your free throws and cozy up! Also make sure to check out the NBA’s preseason schedule and catch a game.