"A game played with an inflated ball between two teams of five players each on a rectangular court, usually indoors. Each team tries tries to score by tossing the ball through the opponent's goal, an elevated, horizontally mounted hoop and net called a basket" says the dictionary, accurately enough. But the description does nothing to convey the fast-paced, highly-skilled action of modern basketball - the fastest growing spectator sport in the UK. The following is a quick look around the game but there's no substitute for the real thing - try a game at the Northgate Arena and we reckon you'll be hooked..

  history - peach baskets and cagers - a short trip through the last 107 years

  players - what makes up a starting five?

  rules - travelling, charging and all that stuff

  hand jive - what do the ref's signals mean?

  jargon - would you know a bunny from a sky-hook?

  movies - can you add to the list?