HISTORY OF BASKETBALL
The history of basketball began with its invention in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts by Canadian physical
education instructor James Naismith as a less injury-prone sport than football. Naismith was a 31-year old
graduate student when he created the indoor sport to keep athletes indoors during the winters. The game
became established fairly quickly and grew very popular as the 20th century progressed, first in America and
then in other parts of the world. After basketball became established in American colleges, the professional game
followed. The American National Basketball Association (NBA), established in 1946, grew to a multibillion-dollar
enterprise by the end of the century, and basketball became an integral part of American culture.
James Naismith invented basketball in 1891 at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts
Invention of the game
The game of basketball as it is known today was created by Dr. James Naismith in December 1891 in
Springfield, Massachusetts, to condition young athletes during cold months. Naismith was a physical education
instructor at YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) International Training School (now known as Springfield
College) in Springfield, Massachusetts. Upon the request of his boss, Naismith was tasked to create an indoor
sports game to help athletes keep in shape in cold weather. It consisted of peach baskets and a soccer style ball.
He published 13 rules for the new game. He divided his class of eighteen into two teams of nine players each
and set about to teach them the basics of his new game. The objective of the game was to throw the basketball
into the fruit baskets nailed to the lower railing of the gym balcony. Every time a point was scored, the game was
halted so the janitor could bring out a ladder and retrieve the ball. After a while, the bottoms of the fruit baskets
were removed. The first public basketball game was played in Springfield, Massachusetts, on March 11, 1892.
Naismith's original rules
An illustration of a basketball game that accompanied Naismith's article from The Triangle in 1892 listing his 13 rules.
There were only 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.
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 who catches the ball when 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, tripping or striking in any way the person of an opponent shall be
allowed. 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 substitute.
6. A foul is striking the ball with the fist, violation of rules 3 and 4, and such as described in rule 5.
7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls it shall count a goal for opponents.
8. A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from grounds into the basket and stays there. If
the ball rests on the edge and the opponent moves 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 person first touching
it. In case of a 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 the judge of the men and shall note the fouls, and notify the referee when three
consecutive fouls have been made.
11. The referee shall be the judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in-bounds, and 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 fifteen-minute halves, with five-minute rests between.
13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner. In the case of a draw, the game
may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is made.
The first basketball game
The first basketball court: Springfield College
On December 21, 1891, Naismith published rules for a new game using five basic ideas and thirteen rules. That
day, he asked his class to play a match in the Armoury Street court: 9 versus 9, using a soccer ball and two
peach baskets. Frank Mahan, one of his students, wasn't so happy. He just said: "Harrumph. Another new
game". Someone proposed to call it "Naismith Game", but he suggested "We have a ball and a basket: why don’t
we call it basketball?" The eighteen players were John G. Thompson, Eugene S. Libby, Edwin P. Ruggles,
William R. Chase, T. Duncan Patton, Frank Mahan, Finlay G. MacDonald, William H. Davis and Lyman Archibald,
who defeated George Weller, Wilbert Carey, Ernest Hildner, Raymond Kaighn, Genzabaro Ishikawa, Benjamin S.
French, Franklin Barnes, George Day and Henry Gelan 1–0. The goal was scored by Chase. There were other
differences between Naismith's first idea and the game played today. The peach baskets were closed, and balls
had to be retrieved manually, until a small hole was put in the bottom of the peach basket to poke the ball out
using a stick. Only in 1906 were metal hoops, nets and backboards introduced. Moreover, earlier the soccer ball
was replaced by a Spalding ball, similar to the one used today.
DIMENSIONS OF THE COURT
In basketball, the basketball court is the playing surface, consisting of a rectangular floor, with baskets at each
end. In professional or organized basketball, especially when played indoors, it is usually made out of a wood,
often maple, and highly polished and completed with a 10 foot rim. Outdoor surfaces are generally made from
standard paving materials such as concrete or asphalt.
Basketball courts come in different sizes. In the National Basketball Association (NBA), the court is 94 by 50 feet
(28.7 by 15.2 m). Under International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules, the court is slightly smaller, measuring
28 by 15 meters (91.9 by 49.2 ft). In amateur basketball, court sizes vary widely. The baskets are always 10 feet
(3.05 m) above the floor (except possibly in youth competition). Basketball courts have a three-point arc at both
baskets. A basket made from behind this arc is worth three points; a basket made from within this line, or with a
player's foot touching the line, is worth 2 points. The free-throw line, where one stands while taking a foul shot, is
located within the three-point arc at 15 feet from the plane of the backboard. A foul shot is worth 1 point, but if a
shot is made from the foul line while in play it is still worth 2 points.
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Basketball (ball)
A typical basketball
A basketball is a spherical ball used in basketball games. Basketballs usually range in size from
very small promotional items that are only a few inches (some centimeters) in diameter to extra-
large balls nearly 2 feet (60 cm) in diameter used in training exercises. For example, a youth
basketball could be 27 inches (69 cm) in circumference, while a National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA) men's ball would be a maximum of 30 inches (76 cm) and an NCAA women's
ball would be a maximum of 29 inches (74 cm). The standard for a basketball in the National
Basketball Association (NBA) is 29.5 inches (75 cm) in circumference and for the Women's
National Basketball Association (WNBA), a maximum circumference of 29 inches (74 cm). High
school and junior leagues normally use NCAA, NBA or WNBA sized balls.
Characteristics
Nearly all basketballs have an inflatable inner rubber bladder, generally wrapped in layers of fiber
and then covered with a surface made either from leather (traditional), rubber, or a synthetic
composite. As in most inflatable balls, there is a small opening that allows the pressure to be
increased or decreased.
The surface of the ball is nearly always divided by "ribs" that are recessed below the surface of the
ball in a variety of configurations and are generally a contrasting color. An orangish surface
with black ribs and a possible logo is the traditional color scheme of basketballs but they are sold in
various colors. Most famous of these variations, a red/white/blue basketball, was used for
the American Basketball Association, the Harlem Globetrotters, and as the "money ball" in the
NBA All-Star Weekend's Three Point Contest.
Balls are generally designated for indoor (generally made of leather or absorbent composites), or
all-surface use (generally made of rubber or durable composites, also known as indoor/outdoor
balls). Indoor balls tend to be more expensive than all-surface balls due to the cost of materials. In
addition, brand new all-leather indoor balls must be "broken in" first to achieve optimal grip before
use in competition. The abrasiveness of asphalt and the dirt and moisture present in an outdoor
setting will usually ruin an indoor ball within a very short period of time, which is why an
indoor/outdoor ball is recommended for recreational players. Outdoor balls are usually
called outdoor rubber basketballs & they are commonly made from rubber to cope with rougher
conditions, and they need to be filled with more air to retain a suitable level of air pressure in colder
weather.
Sizes
Different sizes are used for different age groups. The common standards are:
Size Type Circumference Weight Notes on basketball
22 oz
29.5 in (75 cm) (620 g)
Men and boys ages 15 and up. This is the official size for
7 Men [749–780 mm [567–
men's high school, college, and professional.
29.5–30.7 in] 650 g
20–23 oz]
20 oz
28.5 in (72 cm) (570 g) Boys ages 12-14. Women and girls ages 12 and up. This is
6 Women [724–737 mm [510– the official size for women’s high school, college, and
28.5–29.0 in] 567 g professional.
18–20 oz]
17 oz
Youth (North 27.5 in (70 cm) (480 g)
Boys and girls ages 9-11 years old. This is the standard
5 America)[4] [690–710 mm [470–
youth basketball.
Mini (FIBA)[5] 27.2–28.0 in] 500 g
17–18 oz]
Youth (North 14 oz
4 25.5 in (65 cm) Boys and girls ages 5-8 years old.
America)[4] (400 g)
Mini (North 10 oz Boys and girls ages 4-8 years old. Also known as “mini”
3 22.0 in (56 cm)
America)[4] (280 g) basketball.
Note that the ball used for all competitions (men's, women's, and mixed) in the formalized half-court
game of 3x3 combines characteristics of the size 6 and size 7 balls. Its circumference is that of a
size 6 ball, but its weight is that of a size 7.
