On this day (Dec. 15) in 1891, while working as a physical education
teacher at the YMCA International Training School in Springfield,
Massachusetts, James Naismith was asked to make a game that would not
take up much room, was not too rough, and at the same time, could be
played indoors. He had no idea he would invent what would become the
most popular indoor sport in the United States.
Inspired by a game he played as a child in Canada called "Duck on a
Rock," Naismith's game started with thirteen rules (modified versions
of twelve of those are still used today), a peach basket nailed to
either end of the school's gymnasium, and two teams of nine players.
On January 15, 1892 Naismith published the rules for basketball.
Here are the original 13 rules as written by James Naismith:
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 by 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 makes three consecutive fouls it shall count as a
goal for the opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the
meantime making a foul).
8. A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the
grounds into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the
goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edges,
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 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 the judge of the men and shall note the fouls
and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He
shall have power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.
11. The referee shall be judge of the ball and shall decide when the
ball 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 fifteen-minute halves, with five minutes
rest between.
13. The side making the most goals in that time is declared the
winner.
Happy 116th birthday basketball!
Regards,
////
(o o)
-oOO--(_)--OOo-
"Some people claim that marriage interferes with romance. There's no
doubt about it. Anytime you have a romance, your wife is bound to
interfere."
---Graucho Marx
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Steve
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