Meet The Inventor of Basketball

Dr. James Naismith is regarded world-wide as the inventor of basketball. He was born in the township of
Ramsay, near Almonte, Ontario, Canada, in 1861.

The beginning of a brief history of basketball

Basketball was inspired by his early school days, when he used to play a simple game called duck-on-a-
rock outside his schoolhouse. Attempting to knock a 'duck' off the top of a giant rock by tossing another
rock at it was the goal of the game. That is how it all started. In 1891, Naismith worked at the YMCA
Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. This is where the sport of basketball was founded.
Naismith was faced with the task of developing a sport suited for students to play indoors during the
winter. Naismith sought to build a skill game that could be played in a compact space indoors. A soccer
ball and two peach baskets were utilized as goals in the very first game of basketball. The history of
basketball begins right here.

James Naismith devised a set rules for these early games as

follows:
With one or both hands, the ball can be tossed in any direction.

A player cannot run with the ball, but instead the player must toss it from the position on which he
catches it.

The ball must be held in or between the hands, not any other body parts.

It is forbidden to shoulder, grip, push, strike, or trip an opponent in any way. Any person who violates
this rule once will be considered a foul, and if he violates it again, he will be disqualified until the next
goal is scored.

If any team commits three consecutive fouls, the opponents will score a goal (consecutive in these rules
means without the opponents in the meantime making a foul of their own).

A goal is scored when the ball is launched from the ground into the basket and stays there. It counts as a
goal if the ball rests on the edge of the basket and the opponents move the basket.

When the ball falls out of bounds, it must be tossed back into play by the first person to touch it.

The umpire will act as a judge and will have the authority to dismiss or foul players as necessary.

The referee shall be the ball's judge, determining whether it is in play in bounds, which side it belongs
to, and keeping time.

The time will be split into two 15-minute halves, with a five-minute break in between.

The team that scores the most goals in that amount of time is proclaimed the winner.
Thanks to Dr. Naismith, basketball has developed to become one of the most popular sports in the
world.

BASIC SKILLS IN BASKETBALL

Dribbling- All basketball players need to know how to dribble. You'll be able to go up and down the
court, get past defenders, and complete plays with this skill. Ball-handling skills and understanding of
how to spread your fingers for ball control are required for proper dribbling. It's also advantageous if
you can dribble with both hands equally effectively.

Shooting- Shooting the ball into the hoop is how you score points in basketball. This necessitates the
ability to handle the ball properly and toss it into the air toward the hoop while avoiding defenders. A
proper shot involves precise aiming, arm extension, and leg lift. Jump shots, layups, and free throws are
just a few of the shots you'll need to master.

Running- Running is a key component in basketball. You'll find yourself rushing back and forth in a full-
court battle as the game suddenly switches from offensive to defense. Running helps you escape
defenders and get to the hoop faster when you have the ball. On defense, you'll frequently have to
chase down your opponent, especially during rapid breakouts.

Passing- Another technique that, once learned, will help you develop into a complete basketball player is
passing. Basketball is a team sport in which players must locate a teammate who is available for a shot.
Passing the ball to this player could mean the difference between scoring and not scoring. Great passers
are a crucial element of a basketball team and are often the ones that set up scoring opportunities.

Jumping- Another talent that can determine how excellent a basketball player is is jumping. On offense,
jumping is used in the early stages of the jump ball, when shooting shots, and occasionally while
attempting to grab a pass. When trying to block a shot or a pass on defense, you'll need to be able to
jump. It's also crucial to be able to out-jump your opponent for a rebound.

BASKETBALL COURT