He was born in 1861 in ramsay township, near almonte, ontario, canada. Of course, minor tweaks have continued to basketball s rule book, and some have impacted the free throw. The game james naismith invented as a winter distraction had turned into a global sport. The biographical history of basketball is a lively, fun and informative look into how the game has moved from a loosely organized, dimlylit past to status as perhaps the worlds most popular sport by one of the nations most prolific and knowledgable sports writers, peter bjarkman. On the nbas biggest stage, these plays and more stand out as the alltime best. James naismith november 6, 1861november 28, 1939 was a canadian sports coach who, in december of 1891, took a soccer ball and a peach basket into the gym at the springfield, massachusetts ymca and invented basketball. But the slogan, which originated in pickup games, brings the reality of a racialized urban playground into mainstream american popular culture. Naismith, an instructor at the ymca training school in springfield, massachusetts, invented the game in the winter of 18911892. The first game was played at the maple leaf gardens, where the toronto huskies hosted the new york knickerbockers. James naismith wrote the sports original rules as part of a december 1891 class assignment at a young men. The first basketball hoops were actually just peach. Baseball and the other modern bat, ball, and running games, cricket and rounders, were developed from folk games in early britain and continental europe. Basketball, one of the most popular sports in the world and played by over 300 million people, was invented by james naismith in order to provide athletic distraction for his students at a young mens christian school in massachusetts.
The exact place where the basketball originated has sparked some confusion. Frank basloe was a promoter of basketball in earlier days of the game. A game that started with eighteen men in a ymca gymnasium in springfield massachusetts has grown into a game that more than 300 million people play worldwide. The game of basketball has evolved a great deal throughout the years. Its origin and development was written by the inventor himself, who was inspired purely by the joy of play. His hopes were the game would help players work on handeye coordination, jumping, running, shooting and ball handling, but not a lot of player contact. Coloring book fresh james naismith coloring page history coloring sheets. The book tells a simple account of the invention of basketball. The pace of the game was slow and its origins humble, but the new pastime spread quickly, and by 1894, basketball was already being played in france, china. Basketball design advanced again, with its traditional four panels changed to eight, and the nba adopted this as its official ball design in 1970. College basketball early 1900s the spread was made possible primarily through two avenues. Over the course of the next decade, he worked to refine the game and its rules and build its popularity.
James naismith november 6, 1861 november 28, 1939 was a canadianamerican physical educator, physician, christian chaplain, sports coach, and innovator. Then some kid had to bring over a ladder and climb up to fish out the ball. The first college basketball game was played on january 18, 1896, when the university of iowa hosted a game with the university of chicago. Those boys simply would not play drop the handkerchief. Nov 16, 2018 basketball came about because a doctor and physical education teacher wanted a sport his students could play indoors during the harsh massachusetts winter. The first baskets had bottoms, and so, after every basket, the ball had to be retrieved with a ladder. Basketball was a yanqui invention where an inflated ball had to drop into a fruit basket nailed 10 feet high from the floor. He was looking for an indoor recreational activity. Bettmanngetty images i called the boys to the gym, divided them up into teams of nine and gave them a little soccer ball, naismith recalled in a 1939 radio interview that aired on woram in new york city. While college basketball was going strong at that point, the free throw was essentially finalized 22 years before the nba would play its first game.
The invention of basket ball basketball 121891 ce in december 1891 canadian sports coach, physician, and innovator, james naismith, invented basketball as an indoor sport to be played in winter by writing thirteen rules for the new sport and posting these rules in. The invention of basketball district of columbia public. The history of basketball history basketball was invented in 1891 by dr. Naismith, the inventor of basketball, pinned the rules of basketball on the gym bulletin board and nailed two peach baskets at the two ends of. The game of basketball was fashioned from fragments of other games, seeking to eliminate flaw. These are the rules published in january 1892 in the school newspaper where he instituted the game. Coaching was prohibited within the game until 1949. Publishes books and journals especially in american history, the american west. This is a readaloud of the childrens book hoop genius by john coy. Theres been some confusion over the precise nature of the official relationship between springfield college and the ymca, as it relates to james naismith and the invention of basketball. The history of basketball is filled with milestones and critical moments. The very first game of basketball was played in the winter.
How a desperate teacher and a rowdy gym class invented basketball, which is nice. The usa men have dominated in olympic basketball, owning a wonloss slate of 1225. Naismith introduced the game when he was an instructor at the young mens christian. The first basketball hoops were actually just peach baskets and the first backboards were made of wire. Jan 20, 2012 as a matter of fact the book i grew up with basketball written by author frank basloe may be a good place to start. In 1891, james naismith, a teacher at a ymca in springfield, massachusetts, is credited with inventing basketball. History of basketball, basketball history and origin and. The man who invented basketball james naismith youtube.
Its origin and development was written by the inventor himself. Naismith was inducted into the basketball hall of fame in 1959. The history of basketball is relatively short, and not much more than a century old. Some people wanted to call basketball the naismith game. Basketball laces went by the wayside in 1948, with the new molded construction and a smaller circumference of 30 inches becoming official in 1949. James naismith, stands in a field carrying a ball and a basket. James naismith invented basketball in 1891 and started the university of.
Doctor james naismith is credited with the invention of a game mainly to be used as a form of relaxation for businessmen. Players used to be removed permanently from the game if they were substituted, by reentry was allowed in 1921. Millions of people love the sport of basketball in the united states and around the world. The first game of basket ball was played in december 1891. It only amazes me how history itself seems to change with peoples interpretation. The biggest events in nba and basketball history are. May 15, 2019 james naismith november 6, 1861november 28, 1939 was a canadian sports coach who, in december of 1891, took a soccer ball and a peach basket into the gym at the springfield, massachusetts ymca and invented basketball. Interesting facts and sports stories sports trivia. James naismiths students asked to play the first basketball game. The confusion stems in part from changes in the schools name in its early history. The gym they played in was pretty small at 50 x 35 ft. Aug, 2016 the man who invented basketball james naismith reading street. Basketball is the only major american sport with a clearly identifiable inventor. This book was important to my project because it told me more about james naismith and the lives of several basketball.
James naismith is known worldwide as the inventor of basketball. The inventor of the game was a canadian clergyman, james naismith joseph morse, 1973. One evening he worked out the fundamentals of a game that would quickly catch on. Like the football, its hard to attribute its invention to one person, especially considering that in those heady, mustachioed, pre. James naismith in december 1891 in springfield, massachusetts to condition young athletes during cold months. The effect of the invention of basketball on american society for those who do not consider themselves basketball fans, the sports significance may seem irrelevant or of very little. A brief history of americas obsession with sneakers. History of basketball news newspapers books scholar jstor december 2016 learn how and when to remove this template. The game of basketball was invented by james naismith in springfield, mass. James naismith kansapedia kansas historical society.
He invented the game of basketball in 1891, and he is also credited with designing the first football. James naismith for his invention of the game, we should all thank him for the major contributions he made and paths he paved for this country. History of basketball in early december 1891, canadian american dr. Following this, the united states won every olympic basketball championship until 1972. Since the inception of the game changes have occurred at almost every level and peter bjarkman has put together once of the most complete books on those changes. A nice book written by the originator of basket ball. His original basketball rules were fewer than 600 words. Since the inception of the game changes have occurred at almost every level and peter bjarkman has put together once of the most complete books. Apr 01, 2016 pro basketball player rasheed wallace often exclaimed the pragmatic truth ball dont lie. Basketball was invented in december 1891 by the canadian clergyman, educator, and physician james naismith.
It was luther halsey gulick, naismiths supervisor and the colleges first physical education director, who challenged naismith to invent a new indoor game for the schools students to play during the long new england winter. The following is an excerpt from the e book the crossover. Two peach halfbushel baskets gave the name to the brand new sport in late 1891. The history of basketball began with its invention in 1891 in springfield, massachusetts by canadian physical education instructor james naismith as a less injuryprone sport than football. This book, originally published in 1941, carries a new introduction by william j.
The advent of basketball in 1891, for example, had students and ymca. Naismith later went on to coach basketball at the university of kansas. The invention of basket ball basketball 121891 ce in december 1891 canadian sports coach, physician, and innovator, james naismith, invented basketball as an indoor sport to be played in winter by writing thirteen rules for the new sport and posting these rules in the springfield, massachusetts ymca gym. James naismith was a canadianamerican sports coach and innovator. 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. The history of basketball began with its invention in 1891 in springfield, massachusetts by. Ossie schectman made the first basket in nba history. Naismith, born in northern ontario in 1861, gave up. S and canada founded the basketball association of america, or nba. What is the purpose of the basketball invention answers. The game was invented by springfield college instructor and graduate student james naismith in 1891. The game of basketball has come a long way since its invention, but it still holds onto some of its roots. Bettmanngetty images i called the boys to the gym, divided them up into teams of nine and gave them a little soccer ball, naismith recalled in a. Aug 22, 2018 basketball is the only major american sport with a clearly identifiable inventor.
Basketball in kansas kansapedia kansas historical society. Basketball rule books have gained considerable heft since naismith. While he was attending the international ymca training school school for christian workers in springfield, massachusetts, he was challenged by the head of physical education at the school to create an indoor game to distract students and keep them occupied during the extremely cold. The objective was to throw the basketball into fruit baskets strapped to the railing of the gym. James naismith in december 1891 in springfield, massachusetts, to condition young athletes during cold months. The effect of the invention of basketball on american society.
He wrote the original basketball rule book and founded the university of kansas basketball program. James naismith, the inventor of basketball, was an instructor in physical education at the college. Doctor james naismith is credited with the invention of a game mainly to be. The history of basketball began with its invention in 1891 springfield, massachusetts by canadian physical instructor james naismith as a less injury prone sport than football. Naismith introduced the game when he was an instructor at the young mens christian association training school now springfield college in springfield, massachusetts. Naismith lived to see basketball adopted as an olympic demonstration sport in 1904 and as an official event at the 1936 summer olympics in berlin, as well as the birth of the national i. This is especially due to the failure to establish any relation between the springfield college and the ymcaboth of which directly relate to invention of basketball. James naismith was a canadianamerican physical educator, physician, christian chaplain, sports coach, and innovator. The article is about the life of the inventor of basketball, james naismith. In the foreword to naismiths book, published in 1941, two years after his death, in conjunction with the fiftieth anniversary of basketball s invention, legendary coach clair bee wrote, the fiftieth anniversary of the invention of basketball finds the game recognized as the worlds most popular sport. James naismith was born in massachusetts, in the united states. Myth, genealogy, and invention in the cultures of basketball by yago colas. Whereas the histories of most popular sports today begin in the middle ages or earlier with fuzzy origins such as hockey, boxing, or american football, the history of basketball has its clear origins in late 19th century massachusetts, and even ties in to the development of volleyball shortly afterwards. James naismith was the canadianborn physical education instructor who, inspired by a teaching assignment and his own childhood, invented basketball in.
The games were played outdoors on a converted tennis court, and the 1936 championship game was played during a rainstorm with 1,000 standing fans. It was luther halsey gulick, naismiths supervisor and the colleges first physical education director, who challenged naismith to invent a new indoor game for the. Naismith, an instructor at the school, responded to the need for an indoor winter recreational activity that could be easily learned and played in teams. For those who do not consider themselves basketball fans, the sports significance may seem irrelevant or of very little. Biography of james naismith, inventor of basketball. The game of basketball was fashioned from fragments of other games, seeking to. Basketball is built into the fabric of springfield college. Basketball took the world by storm and was a major college sport and therefore leading the way into a more professional stage. There are probably enough to fill a whole book and definitely too many to list here, but lets take a look at a timeline of how basketball has evolved over the years. The basketball hall of fame is now called the naismith memorial hall of fame. Apr 02, 2017 this is a readaloud of the childrens book hoop genius by john coy. The biographical history of basketball gives readers a muchneeded antidote. Basketball history had a mile stone when the first college games took place in new yorks madison square garden stadium and this is when college level basketball started to get high levels of interest. The man who invented basketball james naismith reading street.
The naismith memorial basketball hall of fame history of the. The concept of basketball was born from naismiths school days in the area where he played a simple childs game known as duckonarock outside his oneroom schoolhouse. His voice is quaint and the book contains many stories anyone with an interest in the game andor history. The question of the origins of baseball has been the subject of debate and controversy for more than a century. May 29, 2019 invention of basketball basketball was invented in 1891 by james naismith at the ymca international training school now springfield college in springfield, massachusetts.
Written by one of americas preeminent labor historians, this book is the definitive account of one of the most spectacular, captivating, complex and strangely neglected stories in western historythe emergence of migratory farmworkers and the development of california agriculture. James naismith wrote the sports original rules as part of a. The same year he left canada for springfield, massachusetts, he invented the game of basketball. Senda berenson abbott introduced basketball to women at smith college in 1892. The game of basketball as it is known today was created by dr.
For the first olympic basketball game, naismith tossed the ball for the tipoff. A brief history of basketball and race, from james naismith to lebron james. James naismith was the creator of basketball and allen iverson, kevin garnett and carmelo anthony were just some of the greats to ever play the sport. Dec 17, 2019 since 1900, 5on5 basketball has become the standard. James naismith wrote the sports original rules as part of a december 1891 class assignment at a young mens christian association ymca training school in springfield, massachusetts.
Naismith, born in northern ontario in 1861, gave up the ministry to preach clean living through sport. Apr 16, 2017 basketball is an original american game invented by dr. James naismith for his invention of the game, we should all thank him for the major contributions he made and paths. After the championship game, he presented the medals to the players. This was the last major change made to freethrow shooting. Hoop genius readaloud invention of basketball youtube. Baker, a professor of history at the university of maine, orono.
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