Basketball Game, Package, and Method

Abstract

The use of spot locations that are freely movable with respect to one another and that include different uses for each side is an improvement over the prior art. A basketball game includes at least one ball, a playing surface, a support structure, a backboard, a hoop, and a plurality of spot locations, and may further include a timekeeping device. Each spot location has a first surface with a first marking thereon and a second surface, in opposition to the first surface, with a second marking thereon. On at least one spot location, the first marking differs from the second marking. The different markings and the mobility of the spot locations relative to one another allow for a greater number of different, creative sets of rules using fewer spot locations. Additionally, a basketball game package and method of playing a basketball game utilize aspects of the basketball game.

1 . A basketball game comprising:
 at least one ball;   a playing surface;   a support structure mounted on, adjacent to, or above the playing surface;   a backboard mounted on the support structure;   a hoop mounted on the backboard and oriented to receive the at least one ball from at least one player on the playing surface; and   a plurality of spot locations;   wherein each spot location of the plurality of spot locations is disposed on the playing surface and includes a first surface with a first marking thereon and a second surface, in opposition to the first surface, with a second marking thereon, and at least one spot location has the first marking different from the second marking.   
   
   
       2 . The basketball game of  claim 1 , further comprising a timekeeping device, the timekeeping device including a supporting means for attaching the timekeeping device to the support structure. 
   
   
       3 . The basketball game of  claim 2 , wherein the supporting means includes a magnet. 
   
   
       4 . The basketball game of  claim 1 , wherein the first marking on the first surface of each spot location of the plurality of spot locations includes a number ranging from 1 to X, wherein X is equal to the number of spot locations, and wherein the second marking on the second surface of each spot location of the plurality of spot locations includes a number ranging from 1 to Y, wherein Y is a maximum point level used for scoring. 
   
   
       5 . The basketball game of  claim 4 , wherein X equals 7 and Y equals 4. 
   
   
       6 . The basketball game of  claim 1 , wherein at least one surface of at least one spot location of the plurality of spot locations is of a substantially circular shape and has a diameter of approximately eighteen inches. 
   
   
       7 . The basketball game of  claim 1 , wherein at least one spot location of the plurality of spot locations is made from a PVC and vinyl material. 
   
   
       8 . A basketball game package comprising:
 an instruction source; and   a plurality of spot locations;   wherein each spot location of the plurality of spot locations includes a first surface with a first marking thereon and a second surface, in opposition to the first surface, with a second marking thereon, and at least one spot location has the first marking different from the second marking.   
   
   
       9 . The basketball game package of  claim 8 , further comprising a timekeeping device, the timekeeping device including a supporting means for attaching the timekeeping device to a support structure. 
   
   
       10 . The basketball game package of  claim 8 , further comprising a carrying component. 
   
   
       11 . The basketball game package of  claim 8 , wherein the first marking on the first surface of each spot location of the plurality of spot locations includes a number ranging from 1 to X, wherein X equals the number of spot locations, and wherein the second marking on the second surface of each spot location of the plurality of spot locations includes a number ranging from 1 to Y, wherein Y equals a maximum point level used for scoring. 
   
   
       12 . The basketball game package of  claim 8 , wherein at least one spot location of the plurality of spot locations is made from a PVC and vinyl material. 
   
   
       13 . A method of playing a basketball game, the method comprising:
 obtaining a basketball game package having an instruction source and a plurality of spot locations;   providing a playing surface, a support structure mounted on, adjacent to, or above the playing surface, a backboard mounted on the support structure, a hoop mounted on the backboard, and a ball;   disposing the plurality of spot locations on the playing surface;   contacting a spot location of the plurality of spot locations;   attempting to shoot the ball into the hoop while contacting the spot location of the plurality of spot locations;   determining whether the basketball game is complete; and   if the basketball game is not complete when the basketball game involves multiple players, changing a player performing the method if a set of rules used in the basketball game so requires;   wherein each spot location of the plurality of spot locations includes a first surface with a first marking thereon and a second surface, in opposition to the first surface, with a second marking thereon, and at least one spot location has the first marking different from the second marking.   
   
   
       14 . The method of playing a basketball game of  claim 13 , wherein the basketball game further utilizes a timekeeping device including a supporting means for attaching the timekeeping device to the support structure. 
   
   
       15 . The method of playing a basketball game of  claim 13 , wherein each spot location of the plurality of spot locations is disposed on the playing surface such that the first surface of the spot location is substantially visible to a player on or near the playing surface, and wherein the basketball game is played by at least one player, and wherein each player of the at least one player makes at least one attempt to shoot the ball into the hoop during a turn, the turn taken in an alternating manner with respect to any other players of the at least one player, the player being in contact with one spot location of the plurality of spot locations during each of the at least one attempt, and wherein, upon a successful attempt to shoot the ball into the hoop, the player is permitted to advance to a next spot location of the plurality of spot locations in accordance with a predetermined order of advancement, either during the turn or at a beginning of a next turn of the player, and wherein, upon an unsuccessful attempt to shoot the ball into the hoop, the player is not permitted to advance to the next spot location, and wherein each player of the at least one player attempts to successfully shoot the ball into the hoop from all spot locations of the plurality of spot locations, while advancing through the plurality of spot locations in the predetermined order of advancement, before any other players of the at least one player successfully shoot the ball into the hoop from all spot locations of the plurality of spot locations. 
   
   
       16 . The method of playing a basketball game of  claim 15 , wherein the turn further comprises:
 an allowable number of attempts to shoot the ball into the hoop, the allowable number of attempts to shoot the ball into the hoop determined by one of:   a predetermined allowable number of attempts, regardless of whether each attempt of the predetermined allowable number of attempts is successful or unsuccessful; or   a lesser of:
 a predetermined maximum number of unsuccessful attempts; and 
 a total number of attempts required to successfully shoot the ball into the hoop. 
   
   
   
       17 . The method of playing a basketball game of  claim 15 , wherein the turn further comprises:
 a number of successful attempts to shoot the ball into the hoop that occur before a first unsuccessful attempt to shoot the ball into the hoop, and the first unsuccessful attempt to shoot the ball into the hoop.   
   
   
       18 . The method of playing a basketball game of  claim 17 , wherein, upon the first unsuccessful attempt to shoot the ball into the hoop, the player must further elect one of the following options as part of the turn:
 to terminate the turn without an additional attempt to shoot the ball into the hoop; or   to make an additional attempt to shoot the ball into the hoop while in contact with the same spot location as the player was in contact with at the time of the first unsuccessful attempt to shoot the ball into the hoop, wherein if the additional attempt is successful, the player is permitted to advance to the next spot location, either during the turn or at the beginning of the next player's turn, and wherein if the additional attempt is unsuccessful, the player must begin the next turn in contact with a first spot location in the predetermined order of advancement and must retraverse the plurality of spot locations in the predetermined order of advancement.   
   
   
       19 . The method of playing a basketball game of  claim 16 , wherein, in the event the player reaches the allowable number of attempts upon making an unsuccessful attempt, the player must further elect one of the following options as part of the turn:
 to terminate the turn without an additional attempt to shoot the ball into the hoop; or   to make an additional attempt to shoot the ball into the hoop while in contact with the same spot location as the player was in contact with at the time of the occurrence of the predetermined maximum number of attempts, wherein if the additional attempt is successful, the player is permitted to advance to the next spot location, either during the turn or at the beginning of the next player's turn, and wherein if the additional attempt is unsuccessful, the player must begin the next turn in contact with a first spot location in the predetermined order of advancement and must retraverse the plurality of spot locations in the predetermined order of advancement.   
   
   
       20 . The method of playing a basketball game of  claim 13 , wherein each spot location of the plurality of spot locations is disposed on the playing surface such that the second surface of the spot location is substantially visible to a player on or near the playing surface, and wherein the basketball game is played by at least one player, and wherein each spot location of the plurality of spot locations designates a point level, and wherein spot locations designating high point levels are positioned in areas of the playing surface from which a greater difficulty exists in shooting the ball into the hoop, and wherein each player of the at least one player attempts to accumulate more total points than any other players of the at least one player after a predetermined number of attempts to shoot the ball into the hoop, the player being in contact with one spot location during each attempt, and wherein the player's total points are determined by adding the point level of each spot location from which the player makes a successful attempt to shoot the ball into the hoop.