Author: Rob Willemse

Basketball (or “basket ball” as it was originally named) came out of a need to get college-age students something safer to play instead of American Football. Also, there was a gap when summer sports ended as there wasn’t yet a group sporting activity that was playable indoors and out of season to keep younger people entertained.

 A Brief History Of Basketball Game

Naismith is THE father of basketball GAME and he Invented THE basketball game on December 21, 1891.

Why Basketball Was Invented?

Unlike the protections afforded American football players today with excessive padding, better quality protective helmets, and better medical procedures for impact and concussive injuries, little of that existed in the late 1880s. This was a post-Western era where the California Gold Rush had passed, the age of the railroad was upon us and even Penicillin hadn’t been discovered yet.

To avoid students getting seriously hurt playing football, James Naismith who was a teacher at Springfield College (as it’s known today) was tasked with coming up with a different sporting activity that the college kids could play in the gymnasium.

In the pre-TV, pre-smartphone age, creativity, and inventiveness were the order of the day. Back then, people came up with ideas even if they weren’t technically known as scientists or inventors.

Naismith had a group of young men who needed guidance. While the gymnasium of the time supported such activities as Calisthenics, band marching, and working with the gym equipment available, none of this was engaging enough for a youthful bunch of students who needed something to burn through the energy they had.

It didn’t help that the traditional football season was over and had been for a few weeks with the youth visually restless.

Even the game of Lacrosse, also a staple at the time as it is today, didn’t help because both American football and Lacrosse tend to only be played outdoors and in the warmth of summer through to the Indian summer as the natural light and heat of the summer sun faded into the fall.

Basketball was invented to fill this void.

Where & When Was Basketball Invented?

There’s some confusion about where basketball was first created. This is mainly due to the passage of time where the facts tend to either get muddled or lost to history.

However, it’s also not helped that the college where basketball came into being was renamed multiple times over the years and had an association with a larger organization that still exists today as well.

This has sowed the seeds of confusion over the correct facts. Recently though, a long-forgotten recording by the inventor himself, James Naismith, has surfaced which has served to confirm some facts and clarify still others too.

Exactly where basketball was invented was steeped in confusion until fairly recently. The educational establishment where it happened originally was named the School for Christian Workers.

The school was around in the late 1800s but went through some name changes along the way. An association or linkage was formed with the YMCA organization which eventually led to the school being renamed as the YMCA Training School.

Following that, the school broadened its approach by changing its name again to the International YMCA Training School. And as if that wasn’t enough, it morphed into the International YMCA College. Later, in 1954, it came to be renamed a final time to Springfield College which had been its unofficial title within its halls for many years already but got formalized at that time.

While it had variously been named after the YMCA through an ongoing co-operation with the YMCA, working with youth, and a strong focus on exercise, such as the looseness of ties back in those days that the then college was never actually part of the YMCA organization.

Outside of the building where basketball came to be invented, there was a sign that was barely noticeable which pointed to the Armory Hill Young Men’s Christian Association (i.e., the YMCA). It’s to be found in black and white photos of the era near the building and mistakenly people have felt that the building was owned and operated by the YMCA which is incorrect.

The situation was clarified in 2010 with papers both from Springfield College and the YMCA. The papers confirmed that basketball was invented in the School for Christian Workers, not the YMCA referred to in the street sign.

The building had dorms for students, classrooms, and offices. There was also space where the Armory Hill YMCA had leased out and the sign outside the building was to encourage new members where to find the local branch.

Basketball – The Early Years

Basketball, where there was a stand with a pole and a woven basket held at the top of it, was a later iterative design to be tried. The early ideas were revised to eventually use a basketball hoop and netting that is seen today on basketball courts.

Shortly after the game was invented and possibly due to a branch of the YMCA being in the building already, other students learned about the game fairly quickly. Young people at other YMCA branches started to produce their own basketball equipment so they too could try out this new sport.

A college magazine that was produced internally at the YMCA for distribution throughout their network published the early rules of this new game to make it clearer how to play.

What became known as Springfield College had a strong international student attendance, so when students went home, they took basketball with them. Soon after, young people in countries around the world were keen to give this new affordable sport a try.

By 1905, basketball had become such a mainstay of physical education and indoor sports in the U.S. that it was acknowledged as a winter sport and given a stamp of approval.

While the ‘Thirteen Rules’ was written up by Naismith himself and pinned to the notice board at Springfield College remains fairly true, it’s seen a few adjustments over the years.

Nevertheless, the game is largely the same as it was more than 120 years ago.

James Naismith and What Really Happened

James Naismith who was 31 at the time was a graduate of the Presbyterian College in Canada. He held a theology degree, yet his passion was for athletics. He duly headed to what became known as Springfield College to become better educated in physical education.

This was in the late 1880s, a relatively new concept where the idea of exercise or sports where lifespans were quite a bit shorter than they are today, was a novel concept.

Luther Halsey Gulick, who later became known as the father of physical education in America, was the superintendent at the time at Springfield. Naismith was a graduate student in his 30s in his second year.

He had already been added to the faculty as a teacher too. Gulick wanted to have the students get involved in more play for their restless souls, but he wanted something to engage their minds too.

The focus of a new game to be created was on one that could be played indoors, away from natural light, would be enjoyable for players, engaging mentally, and quick to learn.

With the sporting season wound down and students not keen to run through the usual uninteresting gym workouts, Naismith wanted to meet the challenge to come up with a new activity. None of the faculty or students had been able to come up with useful ideas up until this point yet Naismith was undeterred.

A Combination of Different Ideas

The idea was to create a group sport that could be enjoyed indoors and by a sizable number of players. This would keep students engaged and those on the sidelines entertained in equal measure.

There was the intention to avoid the roughhousing typical of football which sometimes caused players serious injuries. It would get students exercising without them realizing they were doing it.

It took considerable thought, throwing out new ideas along with some trial and error before Naismith came up with an idea that stuck. What he was looking for was a combination of elements.

He liked the movement and passing involved in rugby, the jumping with English rugby, was fond of an unusual game called Duck on a Rock which included the use of a goal and a ball, and the idea of using a different ball shape and size appealed too. He also wanted a goal where a player couldn’t slam – or throw or kick too fast – presumably to avoid possible injury.

Initially, two boxes were sought but the janitor at the college could only find baskets for storing peaches. These were each secured to a balcony at the gymnasium. The balcony was 10 feet above the ground where a basket was affixed at both ends.

A participant was stationed at the balcony at either end to retrieve any balls that went into the basket (no one had thought to create a hole for them to fall through yet) and throw them back down to be reused. It took a few years before someone had the bright idea to cut some holes in the baskets!

Naismith produced his 13 rules of basketball and his secretary produced a typed version. This is what went up on the noticeboard and was distributed within the YMCA at a later time. He then taught his students how to play basketball and threw the first ball to get the game started

Steps to Install In Ground Basketball Hoop

Installing an in-ground basketball hoop is something that you don’t want to do more than once if you can avoid it. Some people choose to hire a handy person or a builder to prepare for it.

Tips to Install an In-Ground Basketball Hoop

The first step is to call 811 or other offices responsible for the utilities in the neighborhood to check whether digging a hole is going to hit any important lines buried in the ground which will knock out essential services.

Once you’ve checked that you’re all clear from a local utility standpoint, you need to check if there’s any restriction from your housing association or other parties as to what can be installed in your front yard (or backyard for that matter).

Something that might be considered obstruction or blocking the view may contravene a rule and have to come out post-purchase and post-installation, so it’s best the verify that you’re good to go ahead.

It also never hurts to notify both your neighbors about your plans, so they know when they’ll be some work going on outside and can plan around it. They also can raise any meaningful objections at that time and not feel slighted.

Next, if you’re doing it yourself, you’ll need to pull together the tools that you’ll require.

This includes items like some nails and a hammer, a wheelbarrow, a post hole digger would certainly be essential, a shovel, some stakes, a measuring tape, a level checker to ensure the backboard is level with the ground, and enough concrete mix (with a place to mix it).

Consider the measurements that you’ll need for clearance to install the hoop and to have enough space to play too. Make sure to follow the instructions from the manufacturer clearly and fully as each model will have different information provided in many cases.

For instance, getting the right cement consistency is important otherwise it won’t be strong enough to hold the pole and heavy backboard in place.

Dig a hole deep enough for the length of the pole that will go into the ground. As different models have different pole lengths, check the instructions clearly before proceeding. The most common depth is 24 inches, but it does vary.

Once the concrete is filled inside the hole, the pole can be inserted. Bear in mind, that shortly after the pole is inserted, it will set and cannot be removed at all.

Some in-ground basketball hoops come with an anchor kit. Sometimes these setups require a 48-inch depth; it all depends on the make and model. The number of bags of cement and the pounds of ready cement to pour depends entirely on the instructions and shouldn’t be bought or prepared until this is determined correctly.

The cement can be prepared inside the wheelbarrow and then shoveled inside the hole in the ground at the appropriate time.

Cement takes 24-72 hours to set fully. Follow the instructions completely here because otherwise, you could have a backboard falling over and breaking, possibly on top of a player. If the cement requires 3 days to be 100% secure, give it the full three days with no corner-cutting.

Related Post

• • Best Basketball Racks
  • Best Basketball Mouthguards
  • Best Basketball Air Pump

Running the regular offense will work just fine. Why make specific changes to accommodate the three-point shot? Why focus on specific fundamental skills to take advantage of the 3-point shot better? After all, the three are only one part of the basketball game!

If it takes a little convincing to see the need to integrate the 3-point shot into your regular offense and develop players who can take advantage of 3-point shot opportunities, consider the following eight concepts:

• Score in big surges
• To a point, you are never out of a game
• Create an opportunity to catch up in a hurry
• Open up the offense
• Create driving opportunities
• Change how teams defend you
• Creates a fun style of play for the players
• Creates a fun atmosphere for the fans

Score in Big Surges

Basketball is a game of momentum. The 3-point shot can play a significant role in shifting or creating momentum. For example, if the opponent scores six points by making three consecutive 2-point goals, this can create some momentum.

If your team responds with a pair of consecutive 3-point goals, not only has the six points been matched, but how it was accomplished can negate the opponent’s momentum and transfer it to your team.

Because three points are rewarded for a made 3-point field goal, making three or four 3-point shots in a short period scores more points than a comparable number of made 2-point shots. The extra points from the 3-point field goals create a surge in scoring that can snowball into unanswered points.

To a Point, You Are Never Out of a Game

There is a point where a team is so far behind it becomes unlikely the team will be able to score enough points to catch up and take the lead. With the 3-point shot, the number of points a team can fall behind and catch up on becomes greater.

The ability to create momentum, surges, and long unanswered runs by using the 3-point shot makes it possible for teams to stay in games longer and make a comeback even after falling behind by a considerable margin. To put it a different way, significant leads are no longer safe.

Create an Opportunity to Catch up in a Hurry

When trailing in a game, time is always the enemy. The 3-point shot allows more points to be scored for the same number of shots taken from 2-point field goal range, increasing the speed with which a deficit can be overcome.

Combining the increased scoring from the 3-point range with the surges and runs, the 3-point shot can create a significant number of points that can be scored quickly.

Open Up the Offense

With proper spacing, which is always a key component of good offensive play, the 3-point shot will open up the offense, creating more scoring opportunities for post players, penetration, and generally balanced scoring opportunities for all players.

Create Driving Opportunities

The 3-point shot, when combined with good offensive spacing, forces the defense to extend further from the goal than many defensive teams would like, creating more significant gaps in the defense and increasing the distance defenders must travel to provide help against penetration.

The effect of spreading the defense, increasing the distance between defenders, creates more extensive attack lanes for offensive players to dribble penetrate to score or create scoring opportunities for teammates.

Change How Teams Defend You

Teams will be forced to alter their usual strategy and tactics in defending an excellent 3-point offensive team. Teams who usually prefer to play a “pack” style of man-to-man defense, clogging the lane and making post-play difficult, will be forced to extend their defense, opening the lane and making post-defense more difficult.

Teams who prefer a “push” style of aggressive denial man-to-man defense will have to dial back their pressure or be overly vulnerable to dribble penetration. Zone defense teams may have to play man-to-man defense due to the significant gaps now created in the zone defense.

Creates a Fun Style of Play for the Players

The 3-point shot is a fun part of the game. It encourages players to develop their skills to take advantage of the shot. Players who can shoot the three-point shot must develop the ability to penetrate, score, and pass.

Post players must not only be able to score inside but now be able to find and pass to open perimeter shooters. The increased scoring opportunities, often combined with an up-tempo pace, make the game exciting and fun!

Creates a Fun Atmosphere for the Fans

Basketball is a spectator sport. Large, vocal crowds make the game fun for players, fans, and coaches. The 3-point shot, with its ability to create surges in scoring, momentum changes, and the possibility that the team behind can always come back, makes the game more interesting and entertaining for the fans.

The shot itself is exciting when a player scores from such a distance from the goal, and when combined with other plays in the game of basketball, such as the give and go, a fast break, or the dunk, it is one more component of the game that makes it so fan friendly.

Free throws and lay-ups win games. It is that simple. Three have their role, dunks are crowd pleasers and two’s from the low post and mid-range add up. But free throws and lay-ups decide the outcome of games.

It’s not just the points from the free throws, mind you, that impact the outcome of the game. The impact of the fouls that create the free throw opportunities plays a large role in the outcome of the game.

Good offense, both zone attack and man-to-man, includes a plan to draw fouls.

Fouls negatively impact a TEAM by:

1. Allowing the opponent to score with the clock stopped.
2. Allow the opponent to substitute.
3. Allow the opponent to set up a pressing defense without fear of a quick transition off the free throw.
4. Can reduce the playing time of a key player due to personal foul totals.
5. Can limit the aggressiveness of a TEAM due to total TEAM fouls.
6. Can limit the aggressiveness of an individual player due to personal foul totals.
7. Can allow the opponent to protect a lead.
8. Can increase a made basket with a foul by one point.

Given all of the benefits of getting an opposing TEAM and individual opponents to foul, it is well worth the time and emphasis to teach players how to draw fouls.

While a free throw is not awarded, the best strategic foul that can be drawn is a charge. A quick rundown on why includes the following reasons:

1. Drawing a charge negates a basket.
2. The TEAM who drew the charge is awarded the ball.
3. The individual who committed the charge is assessed a personal foul.
4. The TEAM that committed the charge receives an additional foul for the TEAM foul total.
5. TEAMS that consistently draw charges successfully can intimidate and physically negate great penetrating TEAMs and players with excellent penetration skills.

Ways to draw fouls other than drawing a charge include:

1. Use of the shot fake.
2. Penetration into the lane/to the rim.
3. Establishing a position first and holding it legally.
4. Entering the ball into the post.
5. Obtaining an offensive rebound.

One of the most underutilized dills on offense is the shot fake and pass fake. Shot fakes should only be two inches of ball movement with no uncoiling of the legs.

The offensive player must “sell the fake” with his/her eyes and wait until the defender leaves the ground before initiating the shot. If possible, the offensive player should initiate physical contact to draw the foul.

However, understand this could lead to an offensive foul being called on the shooter. If the defender is vertical in all aspects no contact should be made. If the defender is off the vertical plane, particularly his/her arms, in any way, contact should be made as the official will call a foul on the defensive player.

Penetration to the lane forces the defense to collapse. Simply increasing the number of bodies in a fixed and limited space will increase the likelihood of physical contact. Penetrating to the rim with defense present will nearly always draw a foul.

The rim is the most important area on the court defensively and will draw a crowd in a hurry. The ability of a player to get to the rim and score a lay-up not only results in a two-point goal, but it creates opportunities to pass the ball for three-point shot attempts and post-scoring opportunities.

All of these reasons place pressure on the defense to prevent penetration to the rim area, increasing the likelihood of a foul being committed.

position first and holding it allows the offense to receive a pass and often forces the defense to make contact to attempt to deflect the pass or defend after the ball’s arrival.

Establishing position first and holding it allows the offense to receive a pass and often forces the defense to make contact to attempt to deflect the pass or defend after the ball’s arrival.

Entering the ball into the post combines two earlier concepts, penetration into the lane (via a pass) and establishing position first and holding it. The offensive low post is a high-percentage scoring area and the defense will go to great lengths to protect it.

Once the ball is in the low post the defense must crowd the low post player, increasing the number of players in a fixed limited area. Holding an established position puts the defense at a disadvantage.

Finally, using the shot fake for a low post shot almost always ensures a foul will be called if the post player is a skilled scorer.

Obtaining an offensive rebound combined with a shot fake will almost always draw a foul. The defense is in a very poor position and most offensive rebounds are obtained in a high percentage area of the court in terms of shooting.

Teams who consistently practice foul discipline and have low TEAM foul totals and run an offensive system that emphasizes drawing fouls have a significant advantage in every game.