Pickup basketball at Hopkins: More than just a sport
The Ralph S. O'Connor Recreation Center is one of the most popular destinations on campus. Every day, hundreds of students, faculty, staff, alum and other Hopkins affiliates make a stop at the Rec Center. Some go for running, cardio exercising, weight lifting, while others attend fitness classes, go rock climbing, swim and participate in the sports available at the gymnasium. Though there are many activities going on at once, pickup basketball on the courts is arguably one of the most popular activities among gym-goers.
Pickup basketball games can occur at any time of the day, but all the courts are usually packed at around 5-7 p.m. Games are generally five-on-five during prime game hours, though they may vary at other times. Smaller game are usually half-court games, while the larger ones are full-court.
Most of the people playing pickup basketball at the Rec Center are undergraduates (about 75 percent). Graduate students, staff and other affiliates comprise the rest. It is not unusual to see a range of ages within a game. Players often shoot around and practice before a real game assembles. Team assignments for the games vary depending on the situation. Sometimes, friends or familiar players prefer to play in a team against others, while other times, the teams are assigned through free-throw shootouts or through size parity.
Basketball at the Rec Center is played no differently than it is anywhere else, as the game has a rigid set of rules. Games usually go up to 16 points, although sometimes they are shortened to 13 if there are a lot of people waiting to get in a game. Treys are worth two points and everything inside the three-point arc is worth one point.
Fouls are called by the players on offense and the game is restarted with the ball being checked at the foul line. Sometimes, foul calls lead to intense outbursts by players on the court. Luckily, no serious fights have been reported over disputed calls in pickup basketball.
Injuries frequently occur on the court, as basketball is a very physical sport. Jammed fingers, sprained ankles, cuts, scrapes and bruises are common occurrences, and HERU has been called to deal with more serious injuries.
Pickup basketball games can occur at any time of the day, but all the courts are usually packed at around 5-7 p.m. Games are generally five-on-five during prime game hours, though they may vary at other times. Smaller game are usually half-court games, while the larger ones are full-court.
Most of the people playing pickup basketball at the Rec Center are undergraduates (about 75 percent). Graduate students, staff and other affiliates comprise the rest. It is not unusual to see a range of ages within a game. Players often shoot around and practice before a real game assembles. Team assignments for the games vary depending on the situation. Sometimes, friends or familiar players prefer to play in a team against others, while other times, the teams are assigned through free-throw shootouts or through size parity.
Basketball at the Rec Center is played no differently than it is anywhere else, as the game has a rigid set of rules. Games usually go up to 16 points, although sometimes they are shortened to 13 if there are a lot of people waiting to get in a game. Treys are worth two points and everything inside the three-point arc is worth one point.
Fouls are called by the players on offense and the game is restarted with the ball being checked at the foul line. Sometimes, foul calls lead to intense outbursts by players on the court. Luckily, no serious fights have been reported over disputed calls in pickup basketball.
Injuries frequently occur on the court, as basketball is a very physical sport. Jammed fingers, sprained ankles, cuts, scrapes and bruises are common occurrences, and HERU has been called to deal with more serious injuries.
Be the first to comment on this story