1. The ball may be thrown in any direction using one or two hands.
2. The ball may be batted in any direction but not with the fist.
3. A player cannot run with the ball but must throw it from the spot where he catches it.
4. The ball must be held in or between the hands, not with the arms or body.
5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking of an opponent.
6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, and violations of rules 3, 4 and 5.
7. If any side makes three consecutive fouls, it counts as a goal for the opponents.

Dr James Naismith invented the original American basketball game in 1891. He wanted to create a non-contact sport that could be played indoors. In January 1892, he published the rules in The Triangle, the school newspaper of Springfield College.

Although other rule...