Basketball has a long, rich history dating back to the late 19th century when the hoop was first invented. The equipment used to play the sport, including the ball and hoop, has evolved from a crude basket to a technologically advanced rim built for durability and performance.

On average, NCAA Division I men's teams manage 67.875 points in a game. NCAA Division I women's teams score an average of 60.937 points each game. These figures are calculated by adding 16 teams' point totals together on a particular night and dividing that number by 16.

Badminton is the world’s fastest racket sport. It incorporates a lightweight racket and a shuttlecock, or "birdie," that must not touch the ground as it passes between players. The game started around 2,000 years ago and was common in countries such as Greece, China and India.

Taking a look at a basketball court for the first time can leave you confused, with all the lines, circles and hash marks. The basketball court is divided into two equal sides with the same features.

Basketball equipment has evolved in many ways since Dr. James Naismith invented the sport in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts. Originally designed as an indoor game of skill for YMCA athletes, basketball is now one of the top four most popular sports in North America.

From gyms surrounded by metal cages to sprung hardwood floors in indoor stadia, basketball courts have come a long way since the late 1800s. While the rules and exact line layouts have evolved over time, the basic basketball court layout remains the same in 2011 as it was in the 1940s.

High school basketball rules are set by an organization known as the National Federation of State High School Associations. As the name suggests, the NFHS governs the rules for 16 different sports for girls and boys in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

If you're looking for a physical activity to get your child off the couch, basketball is a sport that your boy or girl can start at an early age. Playing basketball helps children learn basic coordination and team-building skills with an added bonus of making new friends along the way.

The standard basketball rim used by NBA professionals, university and senior high players has an 18-inch inside diameter, giving it a radius of 9 inches. Rim measurements in international competitions are slightly different.

College and high school basketball use a possession arrow to determine which team receives the ball after a held ball or other situations, such as when the ball gets stuck between the rim and the backboard or after a double foul in which neither team earns possession.

The game of basketball has come a long way since a peach basket was mounted on a wall or wire-mesh board to provide the object of the game, sinking a ball through the basket. Having evolved from wire to wood to plate glass, the transparent backboard currently in use today was first approved in 1909.

The game of basketball has worldwide appeal. It requires speed, athleticism, skill and the ability to stay calm in the most hectic moments of the game.