ABENOJA, IAN KYLE J.

BSME – 2ME

SUMMARY OF HISTORY OF BASKETBALL

NATURE OF THE GAME

 Basketball, game played between two teams of five players each on a rectangular court, usually
indoors.
 Each team tries to score by tossing the ball through the opponent's goal, an elevated horizontal
hoop and net called a basket.
 The only major sport strictly of U.S. origin, basketball was invented by James Naismith (1861–
1939) on or about December 1, 1891, at the International Young Men's Christian Association
(YMCA) Training School (now Springfield College), Springfield, Massachusetts, where Naismith
was an instructor in physical education.
 For that first game of basketball in 1891, Naismith used as goals two half-bushel peach baskets,
which gave the sport its name.
 After much running and shooting, William R. Chase made a midcourt shot—the only score in
that historic contest.
 Word spread about the newly invented game, and numerous associations wrote Naismith for a
copy of the rules, which were published in the January 15, 1892, issue of the Triangle, the YMCA
Training School's campus paper.
 Jay Archer, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, introduced "biddy" basketball in 1950 for boys and girls
who are under 12 years of age, the court and equipment being adjusted for size.

THE EARLY YEARS

 In 1894 teams began to play with five on a side when the playing area was less than 1,800
square feet (167.2 square meters); the number rose to seven when the gymnasium measured
from 1,800 to 3,600 square feet (334.5 square meters) and up to nine when the playing area
exceeded that.
 Basketball was introduced in France in 1893, in England in 1894, in Australia, China, and India
soon thereafter, and in Japan in 1900.
 In the Philippines, basketball was introduced by the American colonizers as part of the revisions
they made to the official Philippine school system as a women's sport in 1898 and was played in
inter scholastic meets in 1911-1933.
 The first college to play the game was either Geneva College (Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania) or the
University of Iowa.
 The first college basketball game with five on a side was played between the University of
Chicago and the University of Iowa in Iowa City on January 18, 1896.
 In the 1950s and '60s a shooting style evolved from Luisetti's push-off one hander to a jump
shot, which is released at the top of the jump.
 Through its first 50 years the NBA did not have an official system of player development or a true
minor league system for bringing up young and inexperienced players such as exists in major
league baseball.
  In 2005 the NBA instituted a rule stipulating that domestic players must be at least age 19 and
have been out of high school for one year to be eligible for the draft, which in effect required
players to spend at least one year in college or on an international professional team before
coming to the NBA.
 Women's basketball was introduced in 1893 by Sendra Berenson, a gymnastic instructor at Smith
College Northampton, MA.
 The first intercollegiate women's game was played between Stanford and California in 1896.

 In 1938, the three court sections were reduced to two, with two stationary guards, two
stationary forwards, and two "rovers" that could more around the entire court.
 Clara Baer, who introduced basketball at the H. Sophie Newcomb College for Women in New
Orleans, influenced the women's style of play with her set of women's rules, published in 1895.
 FIBA held the first world championship in 1969.
 In 1971, when women's rules were changed to reduce the number on a team from six players to
five and women were freed from the limits imposed by the half-court game, the level of
individual skills and competition quickly rose.
 In the early 1980s control of the women's college game was shifted from the Association for
Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) to the NCAA, a move that not only streamlined the
operation and made it more efficient but also added to the visibility of women's basketball.
 The women's NCAA championship tournament runs concurrently with the men's, and many of
the games are nationally televised.
 Women's basketball became an Olympic sport in 1976.
 Louisiana Tech won the first NCAA championship in 1982.
 Perhaps the most important even to occur in women's basketball, as well as women's sports was
the enactment of Title IX in 1972, equalizing men's and women's sports.

Ball

 A soccer ball (football) was used for the first two years.
 In the late 1890s, Spalding took over as the official ball maker.
 In 1905, the choice of basketballs was left up to the teams.
 In 1942, molded basketballs that maintained constant shape and size replaced the stitched balls.
 In 1967, the American Basketball Association played with a red and blue basketball.

Baskets

 Obviously, the peach baskets and boxes slowed the game down since the ball has to be retrieved
after every goal either by someone on the running track or by ladder.
 In 1892, the peach baskets were replaced first by heavy woven rims.
 Open ended nylon nets were adopted in 1912–13 which was a major milestone for basketball
because the free falling ball after a goal is made increased the tempo and the scoring of the
game.
 The idea was that the game could be played by any number of players.

Backboards
  Wooden backboards replaced the easily dented wire mesh backboards in 1904.
 Plate glass backboards were legalized by the professionals in 1908–09 and by colleges in 1909–
10.
 Fan-shaped backboards were made legal in 1940–41.

Courts

 These often were of irregular shape with occasional obstructions such as pillars, stairways, or
offices that interfered with play.

Boundary Lines

 In 1903 it was established that all boundary lines must be straight.

Team Size

 The idea was that the game could be played by any number of players.

Uniforms

 Originally, players wore one of three styles of uniforms: knee-length football trousers; jersey
tights, as commonly worn by wrestlers; or short padded pants, forerunners of today’s uniforms,
plus knee guards.

Scoring

 In 1895–96 the points for making a basket (goal, or field goal) were reduced from three to two,
and the points for making a free throw (shot uncontested from a line in front of the basket after
a foul had been committed) were reduced from three to one.
 In 1967, the three-point shot was introduced into International Baskeball by FIBA.

Timing

 First games were played in two fifteen minutes.

 There was no provision in extending the game if the score was tied.
 In fact, the first game ever played ended in 2-2 tie.
 However, as leagues started to be formed, ties needed to be broken.
 The first tie breakers were "sudden death" with the first team to score a point either a field goal
or free throw, winning the game.
 Thus games were decided without one team having a single ball possession.
 In 1960s, in order to provide each team with an equal chance, Sudden Death was replaced by
overtime periods

Shotclock

 In 1954, NBA instituted a 24-second shot clock.

 This eliminated the common stalling tactics that were being deployed sometimes as early as
third period, by teams ahead in the game because there was no way for the team behind to
catch up other than foul.
  The shot clock curtailed the end of the game fouling and ensuing parade of free throws which
made a dull game.
 In 1956, a 30-second shot clock was deployed internationally by FIBA and in 1985 after a USC vs
UCLA game and a Missouri vc Kansas game where players actually sat down during the game.
 The NCAA 45-second shot clock was further reduced to 35 seconds in 1993.
 Women have used a 30-second shot clock since going to a full court game in 1971.

Free Throws

 In 1894, free throw line was introduced at twenty one feet away from the basket.
 A year later, the free throw line was moved closer to fifteen feet from the basket.
 In 1924, the free throw rule was amended which required the player who was fouled to shoot
the free throws

Fouls

 When a player committed two fouls, they were disqualified for the whole game.
 When a team committed three consecutive fouls, without the opponent committing foul, the
opponent was awarded a goal -this is a predecessor to today's bonus rules.
 In 1911, player fouls for disqualification was increased from two to four and increased again in
1945 to five fouls.

Passing

 Passing rules have not changed over time.

 Rules 1 and 2 of the original rules relating to passing the ball are still in effect today.

Dribbling

 In the original rules, players could not bounce the ball.

 In 1902, the rule was enacted permitting players to bounce the ball.
 However, players were required to pass the ball and could not shoot after bouncing it.
 In 1909, continuous dribbling and shots off dribble were instituted.
 Being able to shoot off the dribble transformed the dribble from a defensive maneuver to get
out of trouble into a potent offensive weapon.

Out of Bounds

 The original rule regarding out of bounds situations turned out to be disastrous.
 Ball possession was awarded to the first payer to touch the ball after it went out of bounds.
 It was even worse when the ball ended up in the balconies, with all players making a mad dash
to be the first up the stairs which created logs, jams and fights.
 Teams resorted to forming wedges to block their opponents from going up the stairs.
 Team even tried to bypass the stairs by hoisting the players up the balcony in an effort to be the
first to touch the ball first.
 In 1913, the out of bounds rule was changed to the current rule of the team causing or touching
the ball when it goes out of bounds loses possession of the ball.

Midcourt Line
  Adding the midcourt line aided the defensive team by cutting the area to defend to just the half
court.
 In 1933, a rule requiring a team to advance the ball past the midcourt line in less than two
seconds was enacted.
 In 2000, FIBA and NBA reduced the 10-second rule to eight seconds.
 College women's rules do not have a 10-second rule.

Center Jump

 In 1937, a center jump followed each successful basket.

 Teams with a good jumper had an advantage.
 But having a jump ball situation also slowed the game down considerably.
 Recent rule changes have been instituted to curtail or neutralize the dominance of exceptionally
gifted, tall players.

Three Second Area

 In 1936, the three second area was created to prevent the offensive players from camping
around the basket, and to eliminate the ensuing rough play which commonly took place.
 The three second area was 6 feet wide.

Goal Tending

 In 1944, the goal tending was adopted making it illegal for a defensive player to touch the ball
on its downward flight.

Offensive Basket Interference

 Note: In International basketball, once the ball strikes the rim, offensive basket interference and
goal tending rules do not apply.

Dunking- "Alcindor" Rule

 From 1967 to 1977, a no dunking rule was enacted in college basketball.

 However, it was specifically aimed at stopping Lew Alcindor.

Game Coaching

 In 1949, coaching during the game was officially allowed.

 Prior to this time, believe it or not, no coaching was allowed during the game or even during a
timeout.
 However, coaching was allowed during a halftime.

Substitutions

 Initially, players were not allowed to re-enter the game.

COMMON TERMS USED IN BASKETBALL

Blocking
  Any illegal personal contact that impedes the progress of an opponent who does not have the
ball.

Dribble

 Ball movement by bouncing the ball.

 A dribble ends when a player touches the ball with both hands simultaneously or does not
continue his dribble.

Held ball

 Called when two opponents have one or two hands so firmly upon the ball that neither can gain
possession without undue roughness.
 It also is called when a player in the frontcourt is so closely guarded that he cannot pass or try
for a goal or is obviously withholding the ball from play.

Jump ball

A method of putting the ball into play.

 The jump ball is used to begin games and, in the professional game, when the ball is possessed
by two opposing players at the same time.

Pass

 Throwing, batting, or rolling the ball to another player.

Pivot

 A movement in which a player with the ball steps once or more in any direction with the same
foot while the other foot (pivot foot) is kept at its point of contact with the floor.

Pivot Player

 He may begin the offensive set from a position just above the free throw line.

Rebounding

 Both teams attempting to gain possession of the ball after any try for a basket that is
unsuccessful, but the ball does not go out-of-bounds and remains in play.

Screen, or pick

 Legal action of a player who, without causing more than incidental contact, delays or prevents
an opponent from reaching his desired position.

Shots from the field

 Away from the basket, players use a one-hand push shot from a stride, jump, or standing
position and a hook shot, which is overhead.
 Some players can dunk or slam-dunk the ball, jamming the ball down into the basket.

Traveling
  (walking with the ball) Progressing in any direction in excess of the prescribed limits, normally
two steps, while holding the ball.

Turnover

 Loss of possession of the ball by a team through error or a rule violation