INSIGHTS
James Naismith invented basketball in the winter of 1891-1892, and the first match occurred on 1891-12-21.
Naismith created basketball through adaptations of then-current games, including American and English rugby, lacrosse, soccer, and an Ontario game called duck on a rock.
Though originally thought to have been created at the YMCA, basketball was created by Naismithat a building owned and operated by the School for Christian Workers; the organization that would eventually become Springfield College.
James Naismith invented the sport of basketball during the winter of 1891-1892 in Springfield, Massachusetts as a gymnasium instructor for (what would eventually become) Springfield College. The first game of basketball took place on 1891-12-21, and the sport became officially recognized by 1905. While there have been some adjustments to Naismith’s original parameters and 13 rules, the modern game of basketball remains essentially unchanged.
James Naismith invented basketball in the winter of 1891-1892, and the first match occurred on 1891-12-21.
Naismith created basketball through adaptations of then-current games, including American and English rugby, lacrosse, soccer, and an Ontario game called duck on a rock.
Though originally thought to have been created at the YMCA, basketball was created by Naismith
James Naismith invented the sport of basketball during the winter of 1891-1892 in Springfield, Massachusetts as a gymnasium instructor for (what would eventually become) Springfield College. The first game of basketball took place on 1891-12-21, and the sport became officially recognized by 1905. While there have been some adjustments to Naismith’s original parameters and 13 rules, the modern game of basketball remains essentially unchanged.
BASKETBALL
The history of basketball, its origins and reason for being, are fairly undisputed. The time was the winter of 1891-1892, and the place was Springfield, Massachusetts. The inventor was James Naismith, who at the time was a 31-year-old graduate student and instructor of a gymnasium class at the International YMCA Training School (which would eventually become Springfield College). The course was mandatory, and all who attended were required to participate in indoor activities. Unfortunately, the only available activities at the time were marching, calisthenics, and apparatus work (i.e., weight machines and the like).
These methods were considered insufficient to burn off the students’ excess energy so they could focus on their required work. The faculty met in the fall of 1891 to devise an activity that would meet this objective. Naismith, the third man to attempt to solve the problem, needed to create an activity that was easy toassimilate but interesting; something that could be played indoors on any sort of ground in artificial lighting by many concurrent players, and that would provide plenty of exercise without the threat of bruises or broken bones.
Naismith’s experimental iterations of basketball utilized adaptations of the then current games (e.g., American and English rugby, lacrosse, soccer, and an Ontario game called duck on a rock). The result was a sport that combined all the features of the then current games (e.g., passing, jump ball, a goal, size and shape of the play ball, and tossing the ball into a goal instead of throwing it). The final elements were the now famous peach baskets (in place of Naismith’s originally planned 18 inch square boxes) nailed 10 feet above the ground to the lower rail at each end of the gymnasium balcony.
Interestingly, the locus of any real debate concerning basketball’s origins is the exact organization responsible. The traditional interpretation has been that the YMCA created the sport due to a small sign on the building where Naismith invented basketball. The sign identified the building as the “Armory Hill Young Men’s Christian Association.” However, researchers discovered historical documents from both the YMCA and Springfield College in 2010. These documents firmly place Naismith’s basketball project in a building owned and operated by the School for Christian Workers; the organization that would eventually become Springfield College.
According to one source, the first game of basketball took place on 1891-12-21. The game became an officially recognized winter sport by 1905. While there have been some adjustments, basketball’s rules have remained essentially unchanged. For example, Naismith’s original parameters were 18 inch diameter goals elevated 10 feet above the court. These are the same measurements used today, but with the addition of a backboard measuring six feet wide and 42 inches tall. Another example of a change is that the original game was played with nine a side: three centers, three forwards, and three guards. Currently the game is played with five players on each side. A closer look at the original 13 rules further shows that not much has changed.
The first rule concerned the throwing of the ball in any direction using one or both hands. This rule is still current, though the ball cannot be passed back behind themidcourt line after crossing.
The second rule allowed for the batting or tipping of the ball in any direction with the hands but never the fists. This rule is still current.
The third rule specified that a player could not run with the ball. The rule made an allowance for running players that catch the ball if they attempted to stop. The current version of this rule is that any player who catches the ball must either pass or dribble. Additionally, the allowance no longer applies.
The fourth rule specified that the ball could not be held using the arms or body. This rule is still current.
The fifth rule specified what was considered a foul and the resulting punishments. Originally, the first infringement counted as a foul, the second disqualified the playeruntil the next goal, and flagrant violations resulted in a full-game disqualification with no substitution allowed. Currently, the fouls still exist as defined, though five to six fouls result in disqualification from the game, with flagrant violations holding the potential for automatic ejection and suspension.
The sixth rule defined striking the ball with a fist as a foul. This rule is still current.
The seventh rule specified that any team that committed three consecutive fouls would give their opponent a goal. Currently, a team is awarded bonus free throws after the offending team commits a specified number of fouls.
The eighth rule specified what constituted a goal and defined player interference with scoring. The rule also specified that any ball on the basket edge disturbed by the opponent would be considered a goal. The current version of the rule specifies that the ball has to go through the basket to be considered a goal.Though defense and offensive basket interference rules still apply, the FIBA specifies that either team can touch the ball once it has touched the rim.
The ninth rule specified what happened to out-of-bounds balls. In the original version, the ball was thrown back to the court by the first person touching it. The player would have five seconds to throw the ball back in. Holding the ball longer than five seconds would result in ball transfer to the opponent, and any side delaying the game would receive a foul. Currently, any ball out-of-bounds goes to the opposite team of the last player touching it. Though the five-second rule is still current, shot clocks have replaced delay of game fouls.
The tenth rule specified that a single umpire would determine and track the number of fouls; after three fouls the umpire would notify the referee. Currently, a two to three person officiating crewnow handles the duties of the umpire. As was mentioned above, the new limit to personal fouls is five or six.
The eleventh rule described the duties of the referee. However, official scorers, timers, and other court officials now handle many of those duties.
The twelfth rule specified that the game would consist of two, 15-minute intervals and a five-minute break. Currently, the length of the game, the number of periods, and half-time periods vary according to level.
James Naismith invented the game of basketball in 1891-1892 in Springfield, Massachusetts as an instructor for (what would eventually become) Springfield College. The first game of basketball took place on 1891-12-21, and the sport became officially recognized by 1905. While there have been some adjustments to Naismith’s original parameters, the game of basketball remains essentially unchanged.
The history of basketball, its origins and reason for being, are fairly undisputed. The time was the winter of 1891-1892, and the place was Springfield, Massachusetts. The inventor was James Naismith, who at the time was a 31-year-old graduate student and instructor of a gymnasium class at the International YMCA Training School (which would eventually become Springfield College). The course was mandatory, and all who attended were required to participate in indoor activities. Unfortunately, the only available activities at the time were marching, calisthenics, and apparatus work (i.e., weight machines and the like).
These methods were considered insufficient to burn off the students’ excess energy so they could focus on their required work. The faculty met in the fall of 1891 to devise an activity that would meet this objective. Naismith, the third man to attempt to solve the problem, needed to create an activity that was easy to
Interestingly, the locus of any real debate concerning basketball’s origins is the exact organization responsible. The traditional interpretation has been that the YMCA created the sport due to a small sign on the building where Naismith invented basketball. The sign identified the building as the “Armory Hill Young Men’s Christian Association.” However, researchers discovered historical documents from both the YMCA and Springfield College in 2010. These documents firmly place Naismith’s basketball project in a building owned and operated by the School for Christian Workers; the organization that would eventually become Springfield College.
According to one source, the first game of basketball took place on 1891-12-21. The game became an officially recognized winter sport by 1905. While there have been some adjustments, basketball’s rules have remained essentially unchanged. For example, Naismith’s original parameters were 18 inch diameter goals elevated 10 feet above the court. These are the same measurements used today, but with the addition of a backboard measuring six feet wide and 42 inches tall. Another example of a change is that the original game was played with nine a side: three centers, three forwards, and three guards. Currently the game is played with five players on each side. A closer look at the original 13 rules further shows that not much has changed.
The first rule concerned the throwing of the ball in any direction using one or both hands. This rule is still current, though the ball cannot be passed back behind the
The second rule allowed for the batting or tipping of the ball in any direction with the hands but never the fists. This rule is still current.
The third rule specified that a player could not run with the ball. The rule made an allowance for running players that catch the ball if they attempted to stop. The current version of this rule is that any player who catches the ball must either pass or dribble. Additionally, the allowance no longer applies.
The fourth rule specified that the ball could not be held using the arms or body. This rule is still current.
The fifth rule specified what was considered a foul and the resulting punishments. Originally, the first infringement counted as a foul, the second disqualified the player
The sixth rule defined striking the ball with a fist as a foul. This rule is still current.
The eighth rule specified what constituted a goal and defined player interference with scoring. The rule also specified that any ball on the basket edge disturbed by the opponent would be considered a goal. The current version of the rule specifies that the ball has to go through the basket to be considered a goal.
The ninth rule specified what happened to out-of-bounds balls. In the original version, the ball was thrown back to the court by the first person touching it. The player would have five seconds to throw the ball back in. Holding the ball longer than five seconds would result in ball transfer to the opponent, and any side delaying the game would receive a foul. Currently, any ball out-of-bounds goes to the opposite team of the last player touching it. Though the five-second rule is still current, shot clocks have replaced delay of game fouls.
The tenth rule specified that a single umpire would determine and track the number of fouls; after three fouls the umpire would notify the referee. Currently, a two to three person officiating crew
The eleventh rule described the duties of the referee. However, official scorers, timers, and other court officials now handle many of those duties.
The twelfth rule specified that the game would consist of two, 15-minute intervals and a five-minute break. Currently, the length of the game, the number of periods, and half-time periods vary according to level.
James Naismith invented the game of basketball in 1891-1892 in Springfield, Massachusetts as an instructor for (what would eventually become) Springfield College. The first game of basketball took place on 1891-12-21, and the sport became officially recognized by 1905. While there have been some adjustments to Naismith’s original parameters, the game of basketball remains essentially unchanged.