Basketball w
as invented in Springfield, Mass. A man named
James Naismith invented basketball. He was a high school gym teacher. He had a problem
because all his students were getting bored. During the spring all the students would go
outside and play games like soccer and rugby. However after the games many students would
come back with bloody knees and big bruises. During the fall when it turned cold outside
the kids would play boring games like steal the bacon. Therefore Naismith wanted to create
a game that 18 people could play indoors without blood being spilled.
At first Naismith didn’t know how to create such a game. There had to be a way for the ball to get from one side to another but, when people run with the ball most people think to tackle that person like in rugby. Then he figured it out. Being passed from one person to another would move the ball. Also it could be moved by bouncing the ball on the ground. There were other problems involved. Naismith also had to figure out what kind of ball would be used. The first suggestion was to use a soccer ball, but he thought that students would be to tempted to kick the ball and there was to be no kicking in the game. He finally settled on a ball that was similar to a soccer ball but thicker so it is hard to kick. Then there was the question of scoring. What kind of goals would be used? He thought that lacrosse goals could be used but decided against it. Someone suggested baskets to him. He thought that the baskets would be in a high place and the students would have to throw the ball into the basket. Naismith had the idea finished, now he had to get things ready.
On a Monday morning, before his classes arrived, Naismith visited the janitor’s office. He entered and asked the janitor if he had any round baskets available. He said he only had peach baskets that were ready to go in the trash. Basketballs first goals were peach baskets. See MORE HISTORY.