Who Invented Basketball

With sub-state games last week and state games all this week all of us in the sports department have seen or will see our fair share of all levels of basketball competition in the past and next few days.

So last Thursday night while I was at the Dodge City Civic Center watching girls foul every possession my mind started wondering as it often does. Things about the game came into my mind. Things such as fouls, (only because the girls were in the bonus in the second quarter) rules, regulations. The aspects of what makes the game run correctly.

As I thought things like "Why did they make a rule that says you can't run with the ball unless you dribble it?" and "You can't pick the ball up after a dribble and then dribble it again?" otherwise known as the traveling and double dribble rules. I also wondered why only 5 players could play at a time.

Then I thought every time I asked myself a question like that I always said, "Why did THEY... " Who is they? The inventor? So I laughed because I realized I really don't know the history of the game.

So prepare yourself for a load of information..... Here We Go!

A Canadian by the name of James Naismith invented the game of basketball in 1891 when he was employed at the YMCA College at Springfield, Massachusetts. The 1st official basketball game was played at the Springfield, Massachusetts YMCA Training School.

The first intercollegiate match took place in 1895 when Minnesota State School of Agriculture played and beat the Porkers of Hamline College, 9-3.

The first 5 player college match was in 1896 against Iowa and the University of Chicago. Chicago won 15-12.

Basketball became an Olympic sport in 1936 at the Berlin Games.

The first men's college basketball championship was held in 1939.The University of Oregon beat Ohio State 46-33.

The first televised college games were in 1940. Pittsburgh defeated Fordham, 57-to-37, and New York University beat Georgetown, 50-to-27, at Madison Square Garden.

And the most watched college basketball game is the 1979 NCAA Championship game against Michigan State and Indiana State. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird played in that game.

So there is some of the History but that doesn't really answer my questions.... Although I don't think my questions have been answered after this next bit of research either... It was just fun to look up the rules.

The Original 13 Rules of Basketball

1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with 1 or both hands.
2. The ball may be batted in any direction with 1 or both hands, but not with the fist.
3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it
4. The ball must be held in or between the hands. The arms or body must not be used for holding the ball.
5. No shouldering, pushing, holding, striking or tripping an opponent.
6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist.
7. If a side makes 3 consecutive fouls it counts as a goal for the opposing team.
8. A goal shall be scored when the ball is thrown or batted from the ground into the basket and stays there.
9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field and played by the first person who touches it.
10. The umpire shall be judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when 3 consecutive fouls have been made.
11. The referee shall be the judge of the ball and decide when it is in play in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall be the timekeeper.
12. The time shall be 2 fifteen minute halves with 5 minutes' rest between.
13.The team scoring the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner.


Some have changed... Some remain the same.... Just a bit of information if anyone was wondering. Now you're all set for March Madness! Enjoy