21 is a popular variation of street basketball. It is played most often with 3-9 players on a half court and is a "one against all" game with much looser rules than even streetball. Rules are fluid and are often different regionally and/or court specific. It is popular because it allows an odd number of people to play which is not possible in regular street basketball and it is very challenging because it is one player against the world.
The General Rules
Scoring is recorded differently than regular basketball. In 21, field goals count as two points (rather than one in normal streetball) after which the player must shoot free throws for 1 point apiece. If a free throw is missed the rebound is in play, much like a "1 and 1" situation in regular basketball. If a player makes his free throw he continues shooting for the possibility of 3 free throws. If all the free throws are made he receives the ball back from the defense as a "check" and is able to attempt another field goal against the defense.
The game is won by the first person to score 21 points exactly. If there is no "win by two" rule (see below) on that court or in that game then the first party to score 21 exactly without going over is the winner. If the first party reaches 22 then this is called a bust or marky and the first party goes back to a score of 1 or 0. (In many games a bust sends the player to 13 rather than 1 or 0. This is often a regional or court specific difference).
Because there is no opportunity to pass the ball away the travelling, carrying, and out of bounds rules are often relaxed or eliminated. Thus if a player makes an attempt and the ball goes out of bounds the first player to get the ball takes it into play. If a player dribbles out of bounds there is no penalty. The player simply brings the ball back in bounds. Often the ball is "checked" after an out of bounds by giving the ball to a defender who then gives it back to the ball handler. This gives the defense a chance to ready themselves. Carries and travels are not often called as long as the ball carrier is making a good faith attempt to maintain a semblance of basketball dribbling rules and not gaining advantage through circumventing the rules. This often allows a player who has lost their dribble in an awkward place and become surrounded to continue dribbling to get out of the situation and attempt a shot. This does not allow a player to trick opposing players by losing his dribble and suddenly regaining it or other such trickery. That will cause a fight faster than you can blink, so don't try it. Rather, the rules are fluid to allow for situations which are not covered by normal basketball rules.
Fouls are often not called unless they are particularly brutal or obvious. The player with the ball often never calls the foul as a point of pride. Therefore, all fouls are conceded by the defense. On many courts it is expected that after a rebound the player must dribble out beyond the three point line or free throw line extended before attacking (called "checking the ball". Sometimes the defensive team has to touch the ball before it can be played again) but it is just as often the case that rebounds can be immediately put back.
Regional Variations
The win by two rule is not as common as straight "21" but it is played in some areas. "Win by two" comes into play if the game is tied at 20. After that, one team or the other can only win if they are ahead by 2 points. It is possible, then, to play forever, though usually the game will end at some point by agreement if the players get tired of playing.
On some courts freethrow rules are "all day" in which the shooter continues shooting freethrows until he misses and play continues on the rebound. Often all baskets are counted as two points regardless of if they are made from behind the three point line or not. This is often decided before the game and also depends on if the outdoor court has a three point line or not.
Many times the option of playing "tips" or "tip in's" is discussed at the beginning of the game of 21. In these rules if a player tips in another players shot (Jumping and tipping the rebound into the basket while in the air as in an "Alley Oop") the player who's shot was tipped goes to a score of zero. Often this is not done as the game is significantly lengthened. "Tips" seems to be a more recent phenomenon and more popular with young teenage players (written 2005). It changes the tactics of the game as medium range jumpers are dangerous due to short rebounds and thus more chance for tips. This puts more emphasis on drives to the hoop (and higher percentage shots) or long three point shots which often bounce further from the rim and thus diminish the possibility of tip in's.
See also
Links
Last updated: 05-09-2005 20:09:51
