How To Play 21 (Basketball): 12 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

21 is a variation of basketball played with 2 or more players. It’s a popular version of basketball at public courts because it only requires one hoop, and players can join and leave the game as they please. The goal of the game is always to be the first player to score 21 points. There are no teams in 21, and every player is competing with one another. In general, every bucket scored inside of the 3-point line is worth 1 point. If you are playing with a 3-point line, anyone who scores outside of that line is awarded 2 points. When a player scores, they go to the free throw line. Each made free throw is worth 1 point, and after 3 consecutive makes, they take the ball back out past the 3-point line and attempt to score again. Whenever a player misses, if the ball hits the rim, the rebounding player must take the ball out past the 3-point line to “clear it” before they can attempt to score. If the ball doesn’t hit the rim, the rebounding player is allowed to score right away. Keep in mind, there is typically a series of unspoken rules in 21. In many variations, only one player plays defense outside of the paint; this role is typically assumed by the last player to miss, but other players will often step in to block shots if a player attempts to drive to the rim. Another common variation of the game involves your score going back to 11 points if you accidentally score more than 21 points, although some variations simply require you to win by 2 points. There are no fouls or boundary lines in most games, although players typically abide by normal street ball rules where fouls are to be called by the fouled player if they perceive an obvious foul. For more advice, like how to make the game more difficult with extra rules, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo