The history of basketball began with its

invention in 1891 in Springfield,

Massachusetts by Canadian physical
education instructor James Naismith as a
less injury-prone sport than football. Naismith
was a 31-year old graduate student when he
created the indoor sport to keep athletes
indoors during the winters. [1] 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. After basketball became
established in American colleges, the professional game followed. The
American National Basketball Association (NBA), established in 1946, grew to a
multibillion-dollar enterprise by the end of the century, and basketball became an
integral part of American culture. The game basketball was created by Dr. James
Naismith in December 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts, to condition young
athletes during cold months. Naismith was a physical education instructor at YMCA
International Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. Upon the request of his
boss, Naismith was tasked to create an indoor sports game to help athletes keep in
shape in cold weather.[2] It consisted of peach baskets and a soccer style ball. He
published 13 rules for the new game. He divided his class of eighteen into two teams
of nine players each and set about to teach them the basics of his new game. The
objective of the game was to throw the basketball into the fruit baskets nailed to the
lower railing of the gym balcony. Every time a point was scored, the game was
halted so the janitor could bring out a ladder and retrieve the ball. After a while, the
bottoms of the fruit baskets were removed. The first public basketball game was
played in Springfield, Massachusetts, on March 11, 1892. [3]

The first basketball game

Is on December 21, 1891, James Naismith published rules for a new game using five basic ideas
and thirteen rules.[5] That day, he asked his class to play a match in the Armory Street court: 9 versus
9, using a soccer ball and two peach baskets. Frank Mahan, one of his students, wasn’t so happy.
He just said: "Harrumph. Another new game". [6] However, Naismith was the inventor of the new
game. Someone proposed to call it "Naismith Game", but he suggested "We have a ball and a
basket: why don’t we call it basketball?" [7] The eighteen players were John G. Thompson, Eugene S.
Libby, Edwin P. Ruggles, William R. Chase, T. Duncan Patton, Frank Mahan, Finlay G. MacDonald,
William H. Davis and Lyman Archibald, who defeated George Weller, Wilbert Carey, Ernest Hildner,
Raymond Kaighn, Genzabaro Ishikawa, Benjamin S. French, Franklin Barnes, George Day and
Henry Gelan 1–0.[8] The goal was scored by Chase. [9] There were other differences between
Naismith’s first idea and the game played today. The peach baskets were closed, and balls had to
be retrieved manually, until a small hole was put in the bottom of the peach basket to poke the ball
out using a stick. Only in 1906 were metal hoops, nets and backboards introduced. Moreover, earlier
the soccer ball was replaced by a Spalding ball, similar to the one used today. [10][11]
Rules, Regulations
and Mechanics in
Basketball has come a long way since
its creation in 1891 by Dr. James
Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts.
It has become a global phenomenon
with millions of individuals playing the
game at the professional, collegiate,
high school and recreational levels.
Before trying your hand at basketball,
take the time to learn about its rules,
regulations and mechanics.
Teams and Positions
Five players are assigned to opposing
teams, with each team made up of a
point guard, shooting guard, small
forward, power forward and center.
Point guards are generally the smallest
and quickest players on the floor and
are the primary ball handlers and
facilitators in the offense. Shooting
guards and small forwards are average-
sized players and are commonly
referred to as "wings." They do a bit of
everything, such as scoring from the
inside and outside, distributing, ball
handling and rebounding. Power
forwards and centers are the "big men"
on the court who primarily score from
the interior and are responsible for
grabbing the majority of the rebounds.
Regulation Length and
Shot Clock
In the National Basketball Association
(NBA), regulation lasts for four 12-
minute quarters. In high school
basketball, each quarter lasts for eight
minutes, and in college basketball,
basketball
teams play for two 20-minute halves. If
the score is tied at the end of
regulations, continuous overtime periods
are played until a winner can be
determined. NBA and college basketball
use five-minute overtime periods, while
overtime lasts for four minutes in high
school basketball. Lastly, there is no
shot clock in high school. In the NBA,
teams are given 24 seconds to shoot,
and in college basketball, they are given
35 seconds.
Court Dimensions
Overall, the court is 94 feet long and 50
feet wide. The NBA three-point line is 23
feet, 9 inches away at the top of the key
and 22 feet away at the corners. In
men's college basketball, this line
moves in to 20 feet, 9 inches away all
the way around. In women's college
basketball and in high school basketball,
this line is 19 feet, 9 inches away. And
at all levels, the free-throw line is 15 feet
away from the basket.
Fouls
Personal fouls occur when defenders
make illegal contact with their
opponents. If an opponent is in the act
of shooting, free-throws are awarded. In
high school and college, five personal
fouls warrant an ejection, while
professionals may commit six fouls
before being disqualified. Technical
fouls generally occur when a player
behaves with unsportsmanlike conduct.
In the NBA and college, the opposing
team is awarded one free throw and
possession of the ball. If a player draws violation, while dribbling again will result
two technical fouls, they will be ejected. in a double dribble. The consequence of
Finally, two types of flagrant fouls exist. each offense is that the opposing team
Type 1 is for either exceptional or will be awarded possession.
excessive contact. Type 2 is when the
contact is both exceptional and Shooting Mechanics
excessive. In both cases, the opposition
receives two free throws and
To properly shoot a basketball, have
possession afterward. Disqualification
your feet shoulder-width apart and
occurs after two type-1 fouls or one
pointing directly toward the basket. Your
type-2 foul in the NBA.
shoulders should be squared to the
basket as well. Your lead foot should be
Scoring just in front of the other and in line with
the basket. The elbow of your lead hand
Each basket made in front of the should be in line with this foot as you
three-point line is awarded two raise the ball to shoot. This will help
points. Baskets from behind this line assure that the ball will follow the
are awarded three points. You also direction of your foot and elbow, which
receive one point for each made should both be directly in line with the
basket. Place your weak hand on the
free-throw -- taken without
side of the ball during your shooting
interference from the free-throw line. motion for greater stability prior to your
If you are fouled in the act of release.
shooting from the two-point range,
you will receive two free-throws. If
you were fouled when shooting
beyond the three-point line, you will
receive three free-throws. If you
make the basket while being fouled
simultaneously, that basket will count
and you will receive one free-throw.

Dribbling Mechanics
The proper mechanics for dribbling a
basketball require that you keep the ball
low and close to your body in order to
make it as difficult as possible for the
defender to steal the ball. Spread your
fingers out wide and attempt to dribble
with just your fingertips for greater
control. Once you pick up your dribble,
you are allowed two steps and are not
allowed to dribble again. Taking more
than two steps will result in a traveling