Basketball is a very popular sport played all around the world, though it is more popular in certain

countries particularly the US where it was invented.

Fun Fact: Based on Online searches, the Philippines ranked second as the most enthusiastic country
when it comes to Basketball, just next to USA.

It is right and just to discover its roots and development through times.

BEED II Presents Brief History of Basketball!

Dr. James Naismith is known world-wide as the inventor of basketball. He was born in 1861 in Ramsay
township, near Almonte, Ontario, Canada. The concept of basketball was born from Naismith's school
days in the area where he played a simple child's game known as duck-on-a-rock outside his one-room
schoolhouse. The game involved attempting to knock a "duck" off the top of a large rock by tossing
another rock at it. 

(Rein act how to play duck-on-a-rock.)

After serving as McGill's Athletic Director, James Naismith moved on to the YMCA Training School in
Springfield, Massachusetts, USA in 1891, where the sport of basketball was born.

“WELCOME TO YMCA, SIR!’

In Springfield, Naismith was faced with the problem of finding a sport that was suitable for play inside
during the Massachusetts winter for the students at the School for Christian Workers.

“Mr Naismith, we have to talk. I need you to come up with an indoor game that offers fewer injuries
than classic American gridiron football.”

“That’s what I’ve been thinking. A game of skill for the students instead of one that relied solely on
strength. We need a game that could be played indoors in a relatively small space.”

“Yes, that’s it!”

“What this generation wanted," wrote Naismith, who at 30 was about the same age as the discontented
students, "was pleasure and thrill rather than physical benefits."

Naismith came up with a 9-on-9 game that involved shooting a ball into a peach basket.

Players were allowed to throw the ball in any direction with one or two hands. The ball could be battled
in any direction as well. Players could not run with the ball, forced to throw it from the spot they caught
it. After brainstorming some new ideas, Naismith developed basketball’s original 13 rules and,
consequently, the game of basketball.   This first contest is believed to have been played on December
21, 1891.

(Re-enacts the game)

But, Naismith noticed one error.

“It’s taking too much of our time especially that we need to get the ball from the basket. I got an idea!”

*Naismith transformed the basket into a hoop.”

“But with this, players find it hard to determine whether they score because there’s no net. “

And that’s how Naismith identified that there is a need for net.

Now, Basketball is one of the most famous sports being played in different competitions and events
such as:

World Cup - The FIBA Basketball World Cup is an international basketball competition for the men's
national teams of the members of the International Basketball Federation

NBA Finals - National Basketball Association Finals held in June each year.

Basketball at the Olympic Games

Basketball at the Commonwealth Games

We have famous Basketball players — including NBA superstars such as Stephen Curry, LeBron
James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant— excel at one of the most demanding and
fast-paced of professional sports.

FACES of some basketball players

December 21 1891
 
 Awit ng Puso ng Ina (Tagalog translation of
Ballad of a Mother’s Heart)
Ang gabi ay madilim,
Dahil sa ang buwan ay bata pa,
At ang mga bituin ay tulog at bihira,
Ang mga ulap ay makapal
Ngunit itong binata ay lumabas,
Upang makita ang kanyang mahal na dilag
Irog,
Ang kanyang pakiusap habang siya ay lumuluhod na lumuluha.
Ang Pag-ibig ko’y totoo.
Bakit mo ako pinaghihintay ng taon?
Tiningnan siya ng dilag.
Na tila hindi magalaw,
At sa mahinhing boses ay bumulong.
Mapilit na binata,
Kailangan mong patunayan sa gawa,
Na ang iyong pag-ibig ay totoo.
Walang ibang bagay na hindi ko gagawin para sa iyo, aking mahal.” Ang sabi niya.
Sige pumunta ka” sabi ng dilag. “sa iyong mahal na ina, At dalhin mo ang kanyang puso
sa akin.”
Walang ibang salita,
Ang binata ay lumisan at pumunta sa inang mahal
Binuksan niya ang dibdib ng ina at kinuha ang puso
Pero hindi lumuha ang binata
Sa pagbalik niya sa mahal niyang dilag,
Tumakbo siyang hindi inalintana ang ulan.
Subalit nadulas ang kanyang paa at siya’y nadapa,
At isang malakas na daing ng sakit ang lumabas sa kanya.
Ngunit nasa kanyang kamay parin ang premyo,
Upang makuha niya ang kamay ng kanyang dilag.
Subalit naisip niya ang kanyang mahal na ina,
Napaka-bait, napaka-tamis, nakakawili.
At saka siya nakarinig ng boses!
Hindi galling sa kanyang bibig pero sa lahat ng dako!
“Bumangon ka” ang wika
“Ikaw ba ay nasaktan Anak?”
Ito pala ang puso ng kanyang ina.