History of Basketball

Basketball is a competitive sport that is well known and well liked among many people today. The history of basketball goes back a long time to the years of 1891, specifically during the winter and colder months. It all began at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts which was formerly known as the International Y.M.C.A. Training School. Many young men were sent to this school in order to receive a quality education while also working on becoming physically fit. At this school, men were training primarily to become better at the games of football and lacrosse, however, they needed a way to burn off energy, can be able to stay physically fit and in shape. The game of basketball originated from James Naismith taking the challenge of finding a competitive indoor sport that would keep the young men in shape during the winter and colder months that they could not spend playing football or lacrosse outside. James Naismith was challenged by his professor, Luther Halsey Gulick, to invent a new indoor game to keep men physically fit and competitive, even in their off seasons for football and lacrosse (Gems, PAGE NUMBER).

James Naismith is the man responsible for inventing and is widely responsible for getting the game to where it is today. During the beginning stages, Naismith was trying to develop a game that was easy enough for men to want to take part in but still keeping it complex enough to be interesting and have them want to participate. Many restrictions were put on Naismith of what his game had to include. A game where it could be played on any type of ground and within a limited amount of space, but also not being too rough since it would be played in a small space and too much roughness presented the concern of injury. Naismith originally was looking for boxes to staple to the gymnasium balcony, however, all he had access to was peach baskets. He made do with what he had and attached the peach baskets to the gymnasium balcony rails on opposing side for each other. The game of basketball was then in its beginning stages of what it is today. James Naismith gathers groups of young men to play against each other, with the goals of getting the ball into the opposing team's peach basket. Later on, they would have the genius idea of cutting out the bottom of the peach baskets so the ball could come right through opposed to having to retrieve it every time a point was scored. Later Naismith And the men that were playing his game from the start would decide that they needed some form of support and blockage from the back. That was the start of a backboard in basketball which was originally made out of any material that was found laying around typically wood. This would prevent me from being able to score a point from behind the hoops while also helping to make baskets when does so form the proper side. This was the beginning of what is now known as the great sport of basketball (Springfield College, 2018).

Basketball has obviously made great strides since the year 1891 and continues to improve with the changes in rules and regulations. Basketball now also encompasses women into the sport and allowing them to be able to play, stay physically fit, and competitive in the sport. James Naismith is responsible for the start of it all, but in later years there would be many other influential people who would help create the rules, development of making it a team, a do it taking off into being a sport that was played by all. Basketball is a universal sport that is well known and played by a variety of people from all different backgrounds and countries (Springfield College, 2018).

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