Basketball History: Origin of the Sport

In contrast to other sports, basketball has a clear origin. It is not the evolution from an ancient game or
another sport and the inventor is well known: Dr. James Naismith.

Naismith was born in 1861 in Ramsay township, Ontario, Canada. He graduated as a physician at McGill
University in Montreal and was primarily interested in sports physiology.

In 1891, while working as a physical education teacher at the YMCA International Training School (today,
Springfield College) in the United States, Naismith was faced with the problem of finding in 14 days an
indoor game to provide "athletic distraction" for the students at the School for Christian Workers
(Naismith was also a Presbyterian minister).

After discarding the idea of adapting outdoor games

like soccer and lacrosse, Naismith recalled the
concept of a game of his school days known as duck-
on-a-rock that involved accuracy attempting to
knock a "duck" off the top of a large rock by tossing
another rock at it.

Starting from there, Naismith developed a set of 13

rules that gave origin to the game of
basketball.

Of course it was not exactly as we know it today.

The first game was played with a soccer ball and
two peach baskets nailed 10-feet high used as goals, on a court just half the size of a present-day court.
The baskets retained their bottoms so balls scored into the basket had to be poked out with a long dowel
each time and dribbling (bouncing of the ball up and down while moving) was not part of the original
game.

The sport was an instant success and thanks to the initial impulse received by the YMCA movement,
basketball's popularity quickly grew nationwide and was introduced in many nations. Although Naismith
never saw the game develop into the spectacular game we know these days, he had the honor to
witness basketball become an Olympic sport at the 1936 Games held in Berlin.

These are James Naismith original thirteen rules of basketball:

1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.

2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands, but never with the fist.

3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he
catches it, allowance to be made for a man running at good speed.

4. The ball must be held in or between the hands. The arms or body must not be used for
holding it.

5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, striking or tripping in any way of an opponent. The first
infringement of this rule by any person shall count as a foul; the second shall disqualify him until the
next goal is made or, if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game. No
substitution shall be allowed.

6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violations of Rules 3 and 4 and such as described
in Rule 5.

7. If either side make three consecutive fouls it shall count as a goal for the opponents
(consecutive means without the opponents in the meantime making a foul).

8. Goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the ground into the basket and
stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the
edge and the opponents move the basket, it shall count as a goal.

9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field and played by the first
person touching it. In case of dispute the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in is
allowed five seconds. If he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the
game, the umpire shall call a foul on them.

10. The umpire shall be judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when
three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have the power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.

11. The referee shall be the judge of the ball and decide when it is in play in bounds, to which
side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made and keep account of
the goals with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.

12. The time shall be two 15-minute halves with five minutes' rest between.

13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winners.

1. Centre-generally the tallest player who is positioned near the basket as he must be able to get up as
high as possible for rebounds. He is also required to be more physically domineering with more physical
strength and overall athleticism.

Offensive -- The centre's goal is to get open for a pass and to shoot. They are required to block defenders,
and to open other players up for driving to the basket for a goal. Centres are expected to get some
offensive rebounds and put-backs.

The centre should be good at making quick jump shots, hook shots, and using the backboard on his
shots.

Defensive -- On defense, the centre's main responsibility is to keep opponents from shooting by blocking
shots and passes in the key area. They also are expected to get more rebounds because they're taller.

2. Power forward- usually the next tallest players in the team, who are closest to the centre in physical
attributes and playing style, but with more speed. A forward may play under the hoop or are expected to
operate in the wings and corner areas.

They must be strong and comfortable with a lot of physical play and must be an effective rebounder and
effective inside shooter like the centre. The power forward is also expected to shoot from further
distances than the centre.
3. Small forward- usually the shorter of the two forwards on the team. However, the small forward must
have enough height and ability to play inside, and on top of that, play like the centres and power
forwards, but also be able to guard.

also the second or third best shooters from distance of the five positions as they also play defensive
roles.

4. Shooting guard-potentially the shortest player in the team. However, he has to be good at dribbling
fast, passing and having court vision by seeing the court. He is responsible for bringing the ball down the
court and setting up offensive plays.

The shooting guard is also the player who takes the most shots. He needs to be an accurate shooter from
three-point range.

The shooting guard is potentially the shortest player in the team. However, he has to be good at
dribbling fast, passing and having court vision by seeing the court. He is responsible for bringing the ball
down the court and setting up offensive plays. In terms of height, shooting guards are taller than point
guards.

5. Point guard-needs to be the best ball handler, dribbler and passer as he handles the ball the most out
of all the players on the team. He needs to bring the ball down the court and initiate offensive plays.

Point guards can also be the shortest player on the team as they use their intelligence and court vision to
coordinate all his teammates on offense.

Point guards need to have a good long distance shooting, though it's not quite as crucial as for shooting
guards. However, some point guards take as many shots as shooting guards.

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