Munchausen Syndrome Essay Example

Munchausen Syndrome Essay Munchausen Syndrome 1 Running head: Munchausen Syndrome Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy 5 References Author: Ibrahim Abdulhamid, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Wayne State University; Director of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Clinical Director of Pediatric Sleep Laboratory, Childrens Hospital of Michigan Coauthor(s): Patricia T Siegel, PhD, Assistant Professor, Departments of Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine Contributor Information and Disclosures Updated: Mar 26, 2008 Mary E. Muscari, PhD, CPNP, APRN-BC Experts And Viewpoint,  Medscape Nurses,  April  2008 Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy 2 Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy I chose to write my paper on Munchausen Syndrome by proxy because I find it very fascinating and disturbing that people could actually harm their children or themselves for attention. Munchausen syndrome is a condition in which a person intentionally fakes, simulates, worsens, or self-induces an injury or illness for the main purpose of  being treated like a medical patient. The term Munchausen syndrome is often used interchangeably with factitious disorder. Factitious disorder refers to any illness that is intentionally produced for the main purpose of assuming the sick role,  although that purpose is unknown  to the sick person. Munchausen syndrome most appropriately describes persons who have a chronic variant of a factitious disorder with mostly physical signs and symptoms, although there are reports regarding psychological Munchausen syndrome, meaning that the simulated symptoms are psychiatric. We will write a custom essay sample on Munchausen Syndrome specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Munchausen Syndrome specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Munchausen Syndrome specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Persons with Munchausen syndrome intentionally cause signs and symptoms of an illness or injury by inflicting medical harm to their body, often to the point of having to be hospitalized. They may lie about or fake symptoms. They are sometimes eager to undergo invasive medical interventions. They are also known to move from doctor to doctor, hospital to hospital, or town to town to find a new audience once they have exhausted the workup and treatment options available in a given medical setting. Persons with Munchausen syndrome  may also make false claims about their accomplishments, credentials. A related condition, called Munchausen by proxy syndrome, refers to a caregiver who fakes symptoms by causing injury to someone else, often a child, and then wants to be with that person in a hospital or similar medical setting. Victims are equally divided between male and female, and children most at risk are those aged 15 months to 72 months. Older children subjected to Munchausen syndrome by proxy often collude with their mothers by confirming even the most unlikely stories about their medical histories, sometimes out of fear of contradicting their mothers and other times because of their mothers persuasion over time. Some of these children believe that they are ill with a mysterious disorder that the physicians Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy 3 cannot figure out. In other cases, the child is aware that the mothers explanation is improbable but fails to speak, fearing the mothers revenge or that no one will believe him or her. In mild Munchausen by proxy, affected individuals fabricate medical histories for their children and lie about their children being sick rather than actively causing sickness. Their motivation is the emotional gratification they receive from medical attention. In intense Munchausen syndrome by proxy, the person resorts to measures such as inducing vomiting, poisoning, removing blood from the child, and suffocation. The individual is able to induce severe illness in his or her own child, yet remain cooperative, concerned, and compassionate in the presence of healthcare providers. Perpetrators of MSBP may be help-seekers who search for medical attention for their children to communicate their own exhaustion, anxiety, or depression. Others may be active inducers who create their childs illnesses through dramatic measures. These parents are typically anxious, depressed, or paranoid. Finally, some may be doctor addicts who are obsessed with getting treatment for their childrens nonexistent illnesses. Perpetrators are frequently described as caring, attentive, and devoted individuals. Some can be hostile, emotionally labile, and obviously dishonest. Although they have no obvious psychopathology, perpetrators can be deceiving and manipulative. Their ability to convince others should not be underestimated. Their abuse is premeditated, calculated, and unprovoked and they are often fascinated with the medical field. Signs and symptoms that MSBP could be present includes pattern of illness and recurrent infections without physiologic explanations, bleeding from anticoagulants and poisons: use of the caretaker’s own blood, vomiting precipitated by ipecac administration, giving them laxatives to induce diarrhea or salt administration, applying caustic substances to cause rashes on the their skin, Hematuria or rectal bleeding from trauma, CNS depression caused by drug administration. Their illness is multisystemic, prolonged, unusual, or rare; they are also inappropriate or incongruent, the symptoms seem to disappear when the caretaker is absent, one parent is usually absent during the child’s Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy 4 hospitalization, parent is overly attached to the child, they seem to have medical knowledge/background, the child has a poor tolerance of the treatment, parent encourage doctors to perform numerous test. The causes of Munchausen syndrome are unknown. Some experts suggest that it is a defense mechanism against sexual and aggressive impulses. Others believe it may be a form of self-punishment. Determining an exact cause is difficult because persons with Munchausen syndrome are not open and honest about their condition, making research on them nearly impossible. With MSBP a diagnosis cannot be made quickly, this syndrome is difficult to detect and confirm. In some cases video surveillance in the hospital room has been recommended to capture a parents misbehavior when physical abuse of the child is suspected. In cases where symptoms have been exaggerated, hidden cameras may confirm that these symptoms do not exist. Conversely, video surveillance can also exonerate a suspected caregiver when the disease does, in fact, exist. Cameras may be used in highly suspicious circumstances, but should only be used in conjunction with carefully developed protocols that delineate the roles of child protective agencies, police, and hospital security in coordinating the use of covert surveillance systems As a health care orker I will be more able to identify the signs and symptoms,  determine the necessity and benefits of the medical care. During the assessment I will be able ask if the child’s medical condition is consistent with the mother’s description. Does the objective diagnostic evidence support the child’s reported medical condition? Has anyone witnessed the symptoms? Do the negative findings reassure the mother? Is the treatment being provided to the child primarily becaus e of the mother’s persistent demands? With this knowledge I will hopefully be able to recognize this syndrome and be a better nurse.

James Naismith essays

James Naismith essays James Naismith, better known as the Father of Basketball, was born in Ramsay, a town near Almonte, Ontario on November 6, 1861, where he was the eldest son of Scottish immigrants John and Margaret Naismith. Ever since he was a young lad he had a passion for sports. Although he wasnt the head of his class in academics, he was a leader among his peers in all-physical activities and showed signs of becoming a fine athlete. Ever since he was a young child, he lived a rough life. In 1869, at the age of eight, James moved with his family to Grand Calumet where his father began work as a sawhand. Orphaned at age ten, when his parents contracted typhoid fever while working in the milling community, James and his brother and sister spent the next two years in Bennie's Corners living with their maternal grandmother. Where he attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse. James was known in the neighborhood as a strong and skillful boy, but at school his monthly report cards showed poor grades. Mr. Thomas B. Caswell, James' grade school teacher, instructed him in reading, writing, arithmetic, advanced mathematics, Latin grammar and other subjects.(Glenn Dickey) When their grandmother died in 1873, the Naismith children, Annie, James and Robbie, were left under the care of their authoritarian uncle, Peter Young. Before and after school hours, Jim was assigned chores around the farm and worked in the w oods. James learned to chop trees, saw logs, and drive horses. As well, James learned many lessons in honesty, initiative, independence, and ruggedness. When James was sent into the field or the woods with a team of horses, he was expected to do the assigned job without asking for help. If trouble arose, he was depended upon to take care of it himself. Despite the burden of farm duties, there was time for play. In Bennie's Corners the blacksmith shop was the gathering spot for the children of the area. Here ...

Performance measurement system Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Performance measurement system - Research Paper Example (Franceschini, Galetto, & Maisano, 2007) A statistical model needs to be developed to get results of performance and a full picture can never be measured directly and sometimes observation is the only way of coming to a conclusion about performance and you do not get figures to assess with. The main aim behind a performance management system is to better the performance of an organization. Communicating better in an organization and having a trustful relationship with your peers and bosses is not something that is directly linked to bettering performance than perhaps training individuals but they are indirect measures that will in the long run help to get to the final purpose of the organization. Some reasons to use PMS are to assess how an organization is performing; for this the managers in an organization need to determine what the organization was supposed to achieve. This means that the mission and vision statement of the organization should be clear. For this performance also, data is obtained from not only the observable performance but also the environmental hazards and also looking at the companies the organization had benchmarked itself against and seeing them as a comparative database. Ideally, the organization needs to be using the best practice which is the most efficient and cost effective process even in regards of health, safety and environment. Benchmark could also be the same organizations past and present performance with the same or different processes used. PMS also helps to keep the organization’s functions under control by making sure that managers and subordinates are doing what they are supposed to be doing. Managers do not have the hierarchical control that they used to have before however, taking space into account, they still use certain measures to control their business. Everyone must comply with these

Public Finance in the Health Care System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Public Finance in the Health Care System - Essay Example Progressive reports show that the number of then uninsured in Vermont has been going down. There were 8.4 percent uninsured persons in Vermont in 2000 and 6.8 percent uninsured persons in 2012. Eighty percent of the uninsured Vermonters cited the cost of health insurance as a major reason why they did not take insurance covers. In 2012 it was found that most uninsured Vermonters were unmarried, male, poor, young, working and without a college degree. According to 2012 statistics, there are more Vermonters who are working but are uninsured (75 %) than Vermonters who are working and are insured (65%). The median annual income of uninsured Vermonters was in 2012 was 201% of the federal poverty line (Smith et. al., 2013). In 2010, the Kaiser Family Foundation surveyed the Medicaid Payment per enrolled. The survey showed that Vermont spent $10,550 per every aged person covered under Medicaid. It was also found that the spending per every disabled Medicaid enrollee in Vermont was $17,936. Every adult Medicaid enrollee cost Vermont $3,437 in 2010 whereas the state spent $3,667 on every child Medicaid enrollee. In the same year, Vermont spent $5,099 on every Medicaid medically needy enrollee (Cuckle et. al., 2011). Vermont raises over 95% of its revenue from taxes. The statewide property tax is estimated at $1,035.7 million in Vermont’s state fiscal year 2015 and as such, it is the state’s largest source of revenue. Personal income tax makes up one-third of non-property-tax revenue in Vermont. The sale and use tax is the third largest source of income, followed by rooms and meals taxes. Federal funds represent approximately one-third of Vermont’s funding for state programs. In January 2014, it was estimated that available general fund in Vermont was 76%, available transportation fund was 14% and available education fund was estimated at 10% (Snyder et. al., 2012). In 2010, there were 15.2% Vermonter adults in

Meaning of life Essay Example for Free

Meaning of life Essay The meaning of life is a philosophical question concerning the significance of life or existence in general. It can also be expressed in different forms, such as Why are we here?, What is life all about?, and What is the purpose of existence? It has been the subject of much philosophical, scientific, and theological speculation throughout history. There have been a large number of proposed answers to these questions from many different cultural and ideological backgrounds. The meaning of life is in the philosophical and religious conceptions of existence, social ties, consciousness, and happiness, and borders on many other issues, such as symbolic meaning, ontology, value, purpose, ethics, good and evil, free will, the existence of one or multiple Gods, conceptions of God, the soul, and the afterlife. Scientific contributions focus primarily on describing related empirical facts about the universe, exploring the context and parameters concerning the how of life. Science also studies and can provide recommendations for the pursuit of well-being and a related conception of morality. An alternative, humanistic approach poses the question What is the meaning of my life? The value of the question pertaining to the purpose of life may coincide with the achievement of ultimate reality, or a feeling of oneness, or even a feeling of sacredness. governs the universe. Closeness with the God of Israel is through study of His Torah, and adherence to its mitzvot (divine laws). In traditional Judaism, God established a special covenant with a people, the people of Israel, at Mount Sinai, giving the Jewish commandments. Torah comprises the written Pentateuch and the transcribed oral tradition, further developed through the generations. The Jewish people are intended as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation[69] and a light to the Nations, influencing the other peoples to keep their own religio-ethical Seven Laws of Noah. The messianic era is seen as the perfection of this dual path to God. Jewish observances involve ethical and ritual, affirmative and prohibative injunctions. Modern Jewish denominations differ over the nature, relevance and emphases of mitzvot. Jewish philosophy emphasises that God is not affected or benefited, but the individual and society benefit by drawing close to God. The rationalist Maimonides sees the ethical and ritual divine commandments as a necessary, but insufficient preparation for philosophical  understanding of God, with its love and awe.[70] Among fundamental values in the Torah are pursuit of justice, compassion, peace, kindness, hard work, prosperity, humility, and education.[71][72] The world to come,[73] prepared in the present, elevates man to an everlasting connection with God.[74] Simeon the Righteous says, the world stands on three things: on Torah, on worship, and on acts of loving kindness. The prayer book relates, blessed is our God who created us for his honorand planted within us everlasting life. Of this context, the Talmud states, everything that God does is for the good, including suffering. The Jewish mystical Kabbalah gives complimentary esoteric meanings of life. As well as Judaism providing an immanent relationship with God (personal theism), in Kabbalah the spiritual and physical creation is a paradoxical manifest ation of the immanent aspects of Gods Being (panentheism), related to the Shekhinah (Divine feminine). Jewish observance unites the sephirot (Divine attributes) on high, restoring harmony to creation. In Lurianic Kabbalah, the meaning of life is the messianic rectification of the shattered sparks of Gods persona, exiled in physical existence (the Kelipot shells), through the actions of Jewish observance.[75] Through this, in Hasidic Judaism the ultimate essential desire of God is the revelation of the Omnipresent Divine essence through materiality, achieved by man from within his limited physical realm, when the body will give life to the soul. Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy named after its prophet Zoroaster, which is believed to have influenced the beliefs of Judaism and its descendant religions.[77] Zoroastrians believe in a universe created by a transcendental God, Ahura Mazda, to whom all worship is ultimately directed. Ahura Mazdas creation is asha, truth and order, and it is in conflict with its antithesis, druj, falsehood and disorder. (See also Zoroastrian eschatology). Since humanity possesses free will, people must be responsible for their moral choices. By using free will, people must take an active role in the universal conflict, with good thoughts, good words and good deeds to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay.

backstreet boys :: essays research papers

Backstreet Boys   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In a world full of imitations, the Backstreet Boys are definitely not just another fabricated, bubblegum-pop boy-band, but are a multi-talented group of real musicians. With each Backstreet Boy having his own unique experiences in such areas as: acting, singing, modeling, and playing instruments, it is obvious that it would add flavor to their phenomenal voices, and lead them to fame and fortune. â€Å"Honestly, looking at them for the first time with their country, down to earth, all American boy image, I thought they were out of their heads. Eventually, their vocal abilities and their passion for music changed my mind,† stated their former manager, Johnny Wright on VH1 Music Television. Although it may seem as if success was easily handed over to them, these five regular guys from Orlando, Florida experienced many struggles on their bumpy road to the top.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"They are liked and have such a huge following because of the diverse group of boys represented,† Kayla Jones stated in a personal interview. Despite their success in being number one in thirty-eight different countries, each member had his fair share of struggles before reaching his status in the Backstreet Boys (Gold Collector’s Series Entertainment Magazine). Leaving their mark on the world was not as easy as it may seem. Each member comes from a different background with influences ranging from Latin to even Blackfoot Indian (Krulik, 11). What brings such a young and talented group of guys together is their love and passion for music and the stage. Ashufta 2 Nicholas Gene Carter, better known as Nick from the Backstreet Boys, was born in Jamestown, New York on January 28, 1980 (Golden 61). Being born in the same hospital as Lucille Ball, it was inevitable that he was destined for a career in show business. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to a dream house in Orlando, Florida. It was there that Nick truly developed his skills and desires for the entertainment world. He experienced the different aspects of show business including: singing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers halftime shows, acting in Phantom of the Opera, winning talent shows, and even working for Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel (Golden 64). Despite of his accomplishments, he was still unsatisfied and was determined to discover his ideal job in the spotlight. The rebel of the Backstreet Boys, Alexander James (A.J.) McLean was born on January 9, 1978 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Basketball Essay

Basketball is a very popular sport worldwide.Basketball is now the second most popular sport in the world. Women’s basketball is also a popular sport, even though it does not receive nearly as much attention as men’s basketball. Basketball has been played in the Summer Olympic Games since 1936. HISTORY In early December 1891, James Naismith, a Canadian physical education teacher at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts invented an indoor game called basketball. He invented the sport to keep his students from becoming bored during the winter.Naismith wrote the basic rules and then nailed a peach basket onto a 10-foot tall pole. Unlike modern basketball hoops, the bottom of the peach-basket was still there, so after a point was scored, somebody had to get the ball out of the basket with a long stick. Over time, people made a hole at the bottom of the basket so the ball could go through more easily. The score of the first game of basketball ever played was 1 – 0. There is a sculpture in Springfield, where the first game was played. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is also in Springfield. RULES AND THE GAME The aim of basketball is to score more points than your opponents. Baskets can be worth 1, 2, or 3 points. You get points by shooting the ball into the opponents’ basket. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins. Equipment The court, where the game is played, is a rectangle shape, and at both endlines there is a goal called a â€Å"hoop† in the shape of a circular basket with the bottom cut out. In each game of basketball these things are required: Basketball Basketball court Basketball hoop and backboard Players Referee Teams Basketball is played with two teams, with 5 players from each team on the court at one time. The players that are not on the court can sit on the bench; the maximum number of players on the bench differs by league. In international play, a maximum of 7 players are allowed on the bench, resulting in a roster of 12 players. The NBA has 13-player rosters; college and high school teams usually have 15-player rosters. When a player wants to substitute for another player on the court they let the score bench know. The referees will signal for the player waiting to come onto the court. The player that went into the game is now playing and the player that was playing is sitting on the bench. Each team is allowed to have a coach and can have an assistant coach if they want. On the bench with the substitutes, a team is allowed to have up to five team followers, such as a manager, a doctor and an interpreter. Playing Regulations A game of basketball is made up of four quarters, each ten (or in the National Basketball Association 12,) minutes long. At the start of every game the referee throws the basketball up in the air, and one player from each team tries to hit it to their teammates, that is called a â€Å"jump ball.† At the start of each quarter the team who has the possession arrow pointing towards their hoop gets the ball. Then the arrow is switched, and the next team gets the ball next quarter. After four quarters, the team who scores the most points wins. If the two teams score the same number of points, there is a five-minute â€Å"overtime† to see who can score more points. â€Å"Overtime† can be played over and over until one team finally scores more points. While playing the game, players on one team try to stop players on the other team from scoring. Each normal score is worth two points; however, if a player throws the ball into the hoop from behind the large arced line on the court, called the â€Å"3-point line,† the score is worth three points. If you do something illegal in the game, it is called a â€Å"foul.† If you foul someone on the other team while he is shooting the basketball, the player who was fouled gets to shoot â€Å"free throws† from the â€Å"foul line†. A free throw is a shot that no one is allowed to try to block. Each successful free throw is worth one point. If you foul a player who is not shooting, the other team gets the ball, and can throw it â€Å"in bounds† from the â€Å"sideline.† Players can do three things with the ball: â€Å"dribble† (bounce) the ball,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"pass† the ball to a teammate, or â€Å"shoot† the ball at the hoop. The player with the ball tries to keep the ball and not let the other team get it. Once a player commits five fouls, he is no longer allowed to play in the game, and player on the bench must go in the game immediately. OFFICIALS In a game of basketball there are a number of people who are not from either team, that are there to help. They are called officials. Officials are very important because without them the game would not run as efficiently. Here is a list of some of these people: Umpire There are either one or two umpires in a game of basketball. It is the umpires’ job to make the game more fair by enforcing the rules of the game. The umpires take into consideration the spirit and intent of the player before making any call. In the NBA and WNBA, the term â€Å"umpire† is not used; the person who has this role is called the referee. Referee The use of this term varies between rule sets. Under the rules of FIBA (the worldwide governing body for the sport), the NCAA (U.S. college basketball), and NFHS (U.S. high schools), there is one referee in a game of basketball. He is the â€Å"head† umpire. The referee has all the jobs of the umpires along with a couple more responsibilities. He is also the one that makes the final decision for most problems and is the one who throws the ball up for the tip off the start of the match. Time Keeper There is one timekeeper whose job is to keep track of the time and to tell the umpires when time for each quarter has run out. He is also in control of adding the scores onto the scoreboard. Scorekeeper There is one scorekeeper whose job is to keep track of and record all points scored, shots attempted, fouls made and timeouts called. Assistant Scorekeeper There is one assistant scorekeeper in a game of basketball. his job is to assist the scorekeeper, by telling him the players who score points, and to hold up a number for each foul called, showing everyone the number of fouls the specified player has for the game. Shot Clock Operator There is one shot clock operator and his job in to keep resetting and holding the device when needed or told to by an umpire. This person needs to have good reflexes and quickness, as he has to quickly reset the timer when the game resumes. It should also be noted that fans and media in North America will often use â€Å"referee† to  describe all on-court officials, whether their formal titles are â€Å"referee†, â€Å"umpire†, or â€Å"crew chief†. BASKETBALL TERMS There are some basketball terms which players have to understand when playing the game. Here are some terms: Free throw is a basketball throw from the free-throw line from either personal, technical, unsportsmanlike or disqualifying fouls. Each free-throw made is worth one point. The amount of free-throws attempted are determined by the following: missed field goal and a drawn foul will result in 2 free throws made field goal and a drawn foul will result in 1 free throw missed 3-point attempt and a drawn foul will result in 3 free throws made 3-point attempt and a drawn foul will result in 1 free throw unsportsmanlike foul will result in 2 free throws and the same team’s possession. (In the NBA and WNBA, this foul is called a â€Å"flagrant foul†, with the same penalty.) technical foul will result in 2 free throws and the same team’s possession. (In the NBA and WNBA, technical fouls result in 1 free throw instead of 2.) Field goal is any made shot in normal play. Field goals are worth 2 points, unless the shooter was outside the three-point line, in which case it is worth 3 points. Personal foul is any contact, committed by a player of the other team, thought, by the umpires, to have caused a disadvantage. Technical foul is a violation of certain basketball rules. They include: fighting or threatening to fight with another person  entering the basketball court when it is not a substitution time a player being out of bounds (away from the court) to gain an advantage having too many players play on the court  refusing to sit on the bench  returning to play when a player is disqualified (loses his privileges to play) yelling and/or swearing at another player or an official Rebound is the act of catching the basketball after a shot has been attempted, but missed. Assist is to pass a teammate the ball, which then the teammate immediately shoots into the basketball ring successfully. 2-3 dribbles are allowed after catching the ball for assist to be counted. Steal is to take the ball away from a person who is dribbling, shooting or passing without physically touching the person (committing a foul). Turnover is when  the team that controls the ball loses control and the other team gains control. Walkover is the automatic victory of a team if the opposing team withdraws, is disqualified or there is not any competition at all. Substitution is the act of replacing a player from the court to an another player sitting on the bench. Double dribble is when a player dribbles the ball and picks it up and then dribbles it again without having shot or passed it. Dribbling the ball with two hands is also a double dribble. If a player double dribbles, the ball is automatically given to the other team. Carry is when a player physically turns the ball over with their hands whilst dribbling it. Travel is when a player in possession of the ball moves both feet without dribbling the ball. If a player travels, the ball is automatically given to the opposing team. Shot clock is a clock designed to limit the time a team has to shoot a basketball. The shot clock is different in different leagues, but it is usually between 24 seconds and 35 seconds. After time runs out, the ball is automatically given to the opposing team unless they shot, before the clock runs out, and hit the rim or the ball enters the basket. Substitute (subs) is when a player on the bench swaps for a player on the court. The player on the bench is allowed to play and the player sits on the bench. Jump ball happens at the start of every game. This is where the ball gets thrown up from the centre circle and one person from each team jumps for it, aiming to hit it to one of his team mates. Alternating possession At the start of the game there is a jump ball. Whichever team â€Å"wins† the jump ball gets the arrow pointed towards their goal. Each time the rules mention it the ball gets given to the team who is trying to score in the direction of the arrow and the arrow gets turned. Clutch is a shot made at a difficult moment in the game, usually when the shot clock is about to run out or the team, losing by 1 or 2 points, suddenly wins the game, because of the clutch shot. Backcourt violation is when a player crosses the half-court line and walks backwards over the line while in possession of the ball, or passes to another player who is behind the half-court line. Note that this rule does not apply if a defensive player taps the ball, and it goes beyond the half-court line, and the offensive player retrieves it in the â€Å"backcourt†. 3 second violation is when a player stands in the lane (an area marked by the big square in front of the basket) for more than 3 seconds. The offensive team that commits a 3  second violation will lose the possession of the ball. The defensive team that commits a 3 second violation will receive a technical foul. 8 or 10 second violation is when the team with the ball fails to advance the ball past the center line within the allowed time. The offensive team will lose possession. The allowed time is 8 seconds in international play, the NBA, and WNBA, and 10 seconds in men’s college basketball and high school play for both boys and girls. This violation does not exist in women’s college basketball. Positions in basketball In professional basketball teams, each player has a position. A position is a job or role that a player has to take part in to play the game. If everyone is doing their job correctly, the team is usually successful. Point guard (PG) (1) – point guards are responsible for leading the team on offense. They have to take the ball out (to dribble the ball halfway across their team’s court side into the opposing team’s court side) and plan an â€Å"attack† or â€Å"play† – to pass the ball to a player and he passes on to another player and so on till a player shoots the basketball. Point guards can be small, but they have to be very fast and possess good ball-handling. But the most important thing for the PG is a wide view. PG should control the game when on offense. That’s why PG is called ‘the coach on the court’. Shooting guard (SG) (2) – shooting guards generally are a little bit taller and slower than point guards. They have to make good shots from far distances (like three-point lines). Small forward (SF) (3) – small forwards are generally taller than both point guards and shooting guards. They are the team’s most versatile player, doing everything from rebounding and assisting to scoring. Power forward (PF) (4) – power forwards are usually one of the strongest players who play inside the 3 point line. Their job is to receive rebounds from under the basket and score in the opposing team’s basket, although it is unusual for a power forward to score most points for the team. Center (C) (5) – Centers will usually be the tallest player on the team. They score close to the basket, rebound and block shots on the defensive end. They also start the game in the tip off. Other positions, more usual in professional basketball teams, are used in basketball. Swingman – a basketball player who can play both small forward and shooting guard positions. Cornerman – a basketball player who can play both power forward and small forward  positions. Point forward – a basketball player who can play both point guard and forward (either small forward or power forward) positions. Forward-center – a basketball player who can play both forward (usually power forward) and center positions. THE BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME IN SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS If a basketball player becomes extremely good at the sport and well known for playing, coaching, or helping the game of basketball somehow, he or she is â€Å"elected† to be in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. This is the goal for the greatest basketball players in the world, like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Hakeem Olajuwon, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Brian Scalabrine (The White Mamba), and Magic Johnson, and coaches like Phil Jackson, Mike Krzyzewski, Bob Knight, and Pat Summitt. If you are â€Å"enshrined† in Springfield, it is the greatest honor a basketball player, coach, official (referee), or contributor can have. It means you are the best of the best at basketball. VARIATIONS There are many types of basketball. Some are for people with disabilities, others are played more by a specific group. The most common type is able body basketball and that is the one that has been described in this article. Wheelchair basketball In this variation the players are all seated in a wheelchair. This is often played by people who cannot walk or are unable to play able body basketball properly. The rules are altered slightly but the game follows the same general concepts.