Hello,

I was wondering if anyone can tell me the rules/scoring of the basketball game of twenty-one. I have not been able to find anything on the web so far - I've found rules for other basketball games but not twenty-one. Thanks for any help.

OK. The way we used to play this when I was playing (and coaching) was that the coach would split the team into two lines, each one with the head at the "elbow" of the free throw line.

Each team would shoot a shot which would count 2 points if made. 1 Rebound could be put back, as long as it did not touch the ground. Rebounds counted 1 point, and successful shots could also be rebounded and put back (counting 3 points in total).

I don't know if this is the game you were refering to. But I hope that I have helped.

Thanks for your quick response ... your descriptions sounds a little different. Actually, here's how I remember twenty-one:

To start the game one person shoots from the free throw line, if the shot is made, it's worth 3 points but if missed then the second person gets the rebound and shoots from where he/she grabs the rebound - if they miss, then the first person grabs the rebound but if the shot is made, it's worth 2 points and they go to the free throw line and keeps shooting until they miss (each "made" shot counting 1 point) at which point the first player grabs the rebound. There's a catch as players accumulate points - if a player reaches 20 points and fails to get 21 points with the next shot, they go back down to 15 points.

Basically rebound shots are worth 2 points and after a successful rebound shot, the shots from the free throw line are worth 1 point. However, my rules were challenged recently. It was pointed out that rebound shots were worth 1 point and subsequent shots from the free throw line were worth 2 points. Using this scoring system, it was possible to have 20 points and have the next shot (from the free throw line) give them 22 points ... this was never possible under the scoring rules that I remembered. To me, if the game is called twenty-one, having the possiblity of 22 points under their scoring rules is just wrong.

Sorry about the long winded post, but can you or anyone verify the rules. Once again thanks for any help.

I played 33.
 

Like any game, there is always regional considerations. I lived most of my life in Illinois. When I spent some time in Texas (Dallas, Richardson area), we played 33. The rules were different and some of the mores based on the game.

It is kind of like playing pool, some will require you to call the shots, others want you to call just the 8 ball. You might have to ask the people you are playing in your area to really know.

But then again, there are places trying to ban dodge ball. What is this world coming too? :)

Peace

The version I used to play in High School would have a shooter score one point for every free throw made and he shot until he missed, then it was one against all to try and score two points for a made basket. This was back before the three point line. I think they use three points to count towards that now. If we scored 22 points we went back to 16 and we had to work our way up from there. There are no out of bonds and there are no fouls.

We play the version where the free throw shooter
can only be on the line for three shots. If he makes all three, take it out at the top of the key. If he scores, back to the line for more free throws.
If you go over 21 you goback to 11.

This is the way we played here in the northeast. We also had a put back option in that if you got a rebound while in the air and the put back went in, you got the two points and the shooter was reset back to zero.
EG

That couldn't happen in our version because
you have to "take it back" (clear the top of the key)
before you can shoot.

This is the way we play it in Kansas and Missouri. The person with the ball is against everyone else. If the A1 caused the ball to go OOB, then it is a scrum for the ball. The only person who cannot recover the ball is the person who caused it to go oob. There are no fouls. If you get whack then toooo bad. However, it was considered weak to foul intentionally. We would always go for the ball.

Thanks for all the responses guys ...
 

I didn't realize there was all this variation on twenty-one. It all sounds different from the way I used to remember. Thanks again.

In Missouri we always called the game War. You could shoot a rebound without taking it behind the line only if the shot was an airball.

Our rules:

1. Play by twos and threes.
2. If you make, you get to shoot FT but a max of three.
3. Go over 21, drop back to 11
4. You have to take it back behind the 3-point line on all change of possessions.
5. If the ball goes OOB, the person guarding gets the ball.
6. We call our own fouls and violations.

The rules we used
 

Similar to one on one (or two, three, four, etc.) If you hit you get two or three points depending on where the shot was taken from. You then get a max of three free throws, if you miss the players can rebound and if they tip the ball in without brining it down you go back to zero points unless you already have 13 (15 or 17). If you hit all three you get the ball but have to take it back out and it starts all over.

StormRider this question is for you.
 

I would like to know where you found some of the other games, as you said in message one. I am interested in seeing some other games that you could play with a teamat the end of practice, but i would like to know the proper rules... I have heard of "bump" which is a good game to play but would like ot see if i could find the official rules... Thankyou

This is how we played, too. EG's "zero" variation was a totally different game around here. (If you made a successful putback, it was required to yell "ZERO!!!" in the original shooter's face :D )

Chuck

Other basketball games
 

Hi, I seemed have lost a lot of links ... this is the only one I still have saved in my bookmarks:

http://www.warp.org/tiphorse.html

Thank you
 

Thank you Stormrider for your link. It is too bad that you have lost the other ones. IF anybody else has any links please come forward with them in the board. StormRIder, do you remeber what search enginge you used and what u used to search i have searched for what felt like an eternity but havent found a single trace of anything about the game... THx anyways!

One more basketball game
 

Hi again,

This is the only other basketball game I used to play after school growing up:

http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-...sson-5880.html

It was that game, twenty-one and horse that I remember playing.

Searching for basketball games ...
 

Sorry for the bombardment of replies, the search engine I normally use is google.com

Not sure what good keywords to use to find these games ... maybe try something like "basketball practice game". Hope that helps.

Thx for everything
 

Thx for your search query and the new website, I can't beleive you never played "bump" when you were growing up, i used to play it all the time! THankyou for everything and i hope that some other people on the board can help with websites!

NO Luck
 

Had no luck with the search query and found the game to much like a drill to be a game :( thank you anyways!

Rules for 21
 

The game of 21 is simple. Follow these base rules and if you wish have some fun by mixing them up.

1. Foulshots are worth 1 point each
2. After a rebound a basket is worth 2 points
3. If a player makes 3 consecutive foulshots he must check the ball to another player and try to score against him. This shot if made will be worth 2 points and foulshots will continue.
4. A rule called "dynamite" or some call "eraseies" permits a player to erase antoher players score by rebounding and scoring without your feet on the ground. Its a quick put back of the ball after a missed shot.(optnl)
5. If a player gets 22 because of the way in which they've scored, the score gets pushed back to 11 0r 15 (optnl)
6. There are also specific rules about free throws and with the last shot after a player has reached 21(will discuss later). With free throws if an airball is shot the player shooting gets the ball back until he hits the rim or makes the shot. Sometimes if a player wishes to miss on purpose he tries to hit the rim hard with the ball to avoid a re-shot.
7. If a player reaches 21 a final shot if requierd to seal the victory. The shot is from the top of the 3 point line of from a longer distance then the foul shot. you can use dynamite or erasies on this shot against the shooter. That means the same rules about the return of an air-ball are in effect. The player must hit rim or make the shot. If a player misses the shot off the rim he will be returned to a score of 11 or 15 (optnl). Finally if 21 if reached by a pleyer 3 times he wins the game (optnl)

Enjoy this game and email me with any questions- HAVE FUN!!!

In Nevada, we play 21 for $, but our rules are a bit different. :D

[Edited by Nevadaref on Jul 2nd, 2003 at 04:50 AM]

I grew up in the northeast, and lived in Hawaii for 20+ years (where we got lots of visiting NBA and NFL players post season) and we played the top version in both places.
Added variations: no OOB for anyone. You could even shoot from OOB. Scoring was like "real" hoop 3's, 2's, and 1's (FT). If you miss a FT for 21 you go back to 11, if you mahe a three at 19 and go over 21, back to 11.

I'm out west now and they sometimes play the "tip in" go
back to zero rule, but your "safe" after you reach 12. Also,
they have another 21 game: shoot a three and a layup (layup is shot off the "three" rebound or makes). Made "threes" count as 2, layups as 1. Consecutive made shots go into the pot. If you miss you get whatever is in that pot for that type of shot. When you get to 21 you lose. So, lets say three players all make their "threes" and layups. "On top" 3x2=6, down low (layups) 3x1=3. 4th shooter misses his three, but makes his layup: he gets the 6 from "on top". On top is set again to zero, and down low now has 4 in the pot. The next player misses his layup so he gets the 4 "down low". A little confusing? Yeah, and usually played as a cool down game, so keeping score can be tricky if you're tired.