See Also

James Naismith

James Naismith, M.A., M.D., D.D Doctor of Divinity

Doctor of Divinity is an academic degree [i] in divinity [i]. ... 

, was the Canadian Canada

Canada is the world's second-largest [i] country by total area, occupying most ... 

  inventor of the sport of basketball Basketball

Basketball is a sport [i] in which two teams of five players each try to score points on one another by ... 

 and the first to introduce the use of a helmet Helmet

A helmet is a form of protective clothing [i] worn on the head [i] and usually made of metal [i] or ... 

 in American football American football

American football, known in the United States [i] and Canada [i] simply as football, is a competit ... 

. He was also the first basketball coach assembling a team of 5 players. He was born in Almonte Almonte, Ontario

The former town of Almonte, in Ontario [i], Canada [i], is now a ward of the town of Mississippi Mills [i] ... 

, Ontario Ontario

Ontario is the most populous and second-largest in area of Canada [i]'s ten provinces [i] ... 

, Canada Canada

Canada is the world's second-largest [i] country by total area, occupying most ... 

, the eldest son of Scottish Scotland

Scotland is a nation [i] in northwest Europe [i] and one of the constituent [i] countries [i] ... 

 immigrants who had arrived in the area in 1851 and worked in the mining industry.

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Timeline

1861   Born

1891   Winter Winter

Winter is one of the four season [i]s of temperate [i] zones. ... 

 - James Naismith invents Basketball Basketball

Basketball is a sport [i] in which two teams of five players each try to score points on one another by ... 

1892   James Naismith publishes the rules for basketball Basketball

Basketball is a sport [i] in which two teams of five players each try to score points on one another by ... 

.

1939   Died

1961   The U.S. government issues a stamp honoring the 100th birthday of James Naismith.



Encyclopedia

James Naismith, M.A., M.D., D.D Doctor of Divinity

Doctor of Divinity is an academic degree [i] in divinity [i]. ... 

, was the Canadian Canada

Canada is the world's second-largest [i] country by total area, occupying most ... 

  inventor of the sport of basketball Basketball

Basketball is a sport [i] in which two teams of five players each try to score points on one another by ... 

 and the first to introduce the use of a helmet Helmet

A helmet is a form of protective clothing [i] worn on the head [i] and usually made of metal [i] or ... 

 in American football American football

American football, known in the United States [i] and Canada [i] simply as football, is a competit ... 

. He was also the first basketball coach assembling a team of 5 players.

He was born in Almonte Almonte, Ontario

The former town of Almonte, in Ontario [i], Canada [i], is now a ward of the town of Mississippi Mills [i] ... 

, Ontario Ontario

Ontario is the most populous and second-largest in area of Canada [i]'s ten provinces [i] ... 

, Canada Canada

Canada is the world's second-largest [i] country by total area, occupying most ... 

, the eldest son of Scottish Scotland

Scotland is a nation [i] in northwest Europe [i] and one of the constituent [i] countries [i] ... 

 immigrants who had arrived in the area in 1851 and worked in the mining industry.


Invention of basketball

In 1891, while working as a physical education Physical education

In most educational systems, physical education, also called physical training in less progressive... 

 teacher Teacher

In education [i], teachers are those who help student [i]s or pupils learn [i], often in a school [i]. ... 

 at the YMCA International Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts Springfield, Massachusetts

Springfield is a city [i] in Massachusetts [i]. ... 

, and coaching american football American football

American football, known in the United States [i] and Canada [i] simply as football, is a competit ... 

 at McGill University, Naismith was asked to look for a way to relieve his students' boredom during indoor winter gym classes.

Inspired mostly by a Canadian game he played as a child in Ontario, Canada Canada

Canada is the world's second-largest [i] country by total area, occupying most ... 

 called Duck-on-a-Rock, Naismith's basketball started December 15, 1891 with thirteen rules, modified versions of twelve of those are still used today, a peach Peach

The Peach is a tree [i] native to China [i] that bears a juicy fruit of the same name.
... 

 basket nailed to either end of the school's gymnasium, and two teams of nine players. On January 15, 1892 Naismith published the rules for basketball Basketball

Basketball is a sport [i] in which two teams of five players each try to score points on one another by ... 

. The original rules did not include what we know today as the dribble Dribbling

In sport [i]s such as football [i], basketball [i] and water polo [i], dribbling refers to the maneuveri ... 

. They initially only allowed the ball to be moved up the court via a pass. Following each "goal" a jump ball was taken in the middle of the court. Although it wasn't a rule, players would commonly use the dust of coal to cover the palms of their hands, allowing them to get a better grip on the ball. The coal palm was used up until the early 1930s when the Depression hit, making the raw materials very pricey. Also interesting was the rule surrounding balls out of bounds - the first player to retrieve the ball received possession.

Basketball became a popular men's sport in the United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 and Canada Canada

Canada is the world's second-largest [i] country by total area, occupying most ... 

  very quickly, and spread to other countries International Basketball Federation

The International Basketball Federation, more commonly known by the French acronym FIBA, is an ass... 

 as well. Additionally, there were several efforts to establish a women's version; this met with great resistance in some circles and was consequently far slower to become truly widespread.

The men's sport was officially added to the Olympic Games Olympic Games

The Olympic Games, or Olympics, are an international multi-sport event [i] taking place every four ... 

 program at the 1936 Summer Olympics 1936 Summer Olympics

The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, were held in 1936 [i] ... 

 in Berlin Berlin

Berlin is the capital [i] city and a state [i] of Germany [i]. ... 

. There, Naismith handed out the medals to three North American teams; United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

, for the Gold Medal, in a game that was played outdoors in rain with Naismith's native country of Canada Canada

Canada is the world's second-largest [i] country by total area, occupying most ... 

, for the Silver Medal, and Mexico Mexico

The United Mexican States, generally known as Mexico is a country [i] located in North America [i] ... 

, for their Bronze medal win. Women's basketball finally became an Olympic event in Montreal Montreal

Montreal, or Montral in French [i], is the second largest city [i] ... 

 during the 1976 Summer Olympics 1976 Summer Olympics

The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, were held in 1976 [i] ... 

. Previously, there had been a men's basketball competition, in connection with the 1904 Games 1904 Summer Olympics

The 1904 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the III Olympiad, were held in St. Louis, Missouri [i] ... 

 at St. Louis, USA St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis , sometimes written Saint Louis, encompasses an independent city [i] in the U.S. state [i] ... 

.

Coaching career

Naismith moved to the University of Kansas University of Kansas

The University of Kansas is an institution of higher learning located in Lawrence, Kansas [i]. ... 

, in 1898, following his studies in Denver, becoming a professor Professor

The meaning of the word professor varies.... 

, and the school's first basketball coach. University of Kansas went on to develop one of the nation's most storied college basketball programs.

Naismith is the only Kansas coach to have a losing record during his tenure at the school. Nevertheless, Naismith has one of the greatest coaching legacies in basketball history. Naismith coached Forrest "Phog" Allen, who then became one of the coaches with the most wins in U.S. college basketball history, and his eventual successor at Kansas. Phog Allen was the college basketball coach of Dean Smith Dean Smith

Dean Edwards Smith is a former basketball [i] player and coach [i]. ... 

 and Adolph Rupp Adolph Rupp

Adolph Friedrich Rupp was one of the most successful coaches in the history of [[United States|American]... 

, who are the two winningest of men's college basketball and won a combined total of six NCAA championships. Adolph Rupp Adolph Rupp

Adolph Friedrich Rupp was one of the most successful coaches in the history of [[United States|American]... 

 was the college basketball coach of Pat Riley Pat Riley

Patrick James "Pat" Riley is an American National Basketball Association [i] head coach for the Miami Heat [i] ... 

 who is one of the winningest coaches in NBA National Basketball Association

The National Basketball Association is the world's premier men's professional basketball [i] league and ... 

 history and six NBA championships. Dean Smith Dean Smith

Dean Edwards Smith is a former basketball [i] player and coach [i]. ... 

 went on to be the college basketball coach of hall of fame coach Larry Brown, current North Carolina coach Roy Williams , and basketball great Michael Jordan Michael Jordan

Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a retired American [i] professional basketball [i] player. ... 

.

In the late 1930s 1930s

... 

 Naismith played a role in the formation of the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball, which later became the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics traces its roots to the National Association of... 

.

In August 1936, while attending the Berlin Olympics 1936 Summer Olympics

The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, were held in 1936 [i] ... 

, he was named honorary President of the International Basketball Federation International Basketball Federation

The International Basketball Federation, more commonly known by the French acronym FIBA, is an ass... 

.

Personal life

Naismith married Maude Sherman in 1894. They had five children. Naismith was also a Presbyterian Minister. Naismith became a naturalized Naturalization

In law [i], naturalization is the act whereby a person voluntarily and actively acquires a nationality [i] ... 

 American citizen Citizenship

Citizenship is membership in a political community and carries with it rights [i] to political partici ... 

 on May 4, 1925. In 1939 he was awarded his Doctor of Divinity Doctor of Divinity

Doctor of Divinity is an academic degree [i] in divinity [i]. ... 

 from The Presbyterian College, Montreal. After Maude's death in 1937, he married Florence Kincade on June 11 1939, less than six months before his own death, in Lawrence, Kansas, of a cerebral hemorrhage. He is buried there alongside his first wife in Lawrence, the hometown of the University of Kansas where he was a professor and men's basketball coach.

He has been honored extensively in his native country Canada Canada

Canada is the world's second-largest [i] country by total area, occupying most ... 

 and also in other nations. He was the founding inductee when on February 17, 1968 the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, named in his honor, opened in Springfield, Massachusetts Springfield, Massachusetts

Springfield is a city [i] in Massachusetts [i]. ... 

.

In 2005 James Naismith's grandson, Ian Naismith, planned on selling the original copy of the basketball rule book. The rules were passed down on Naismith's death to his youngest son, James Naismith, who was Ian's father. James lived in Corpus Christi, Texas.

13 Rules of Basketball - Written by James Naismith


  1. The ball Ball

    Balls are usually hollow and spherical [i] but can be other shapes, such as ovoid [i] or solid . ... 

     may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.
  2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands, but never with the fist.
  3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man running at good speed.
  4. The ball must be held by the hands. The arms or body must not be used for holding it.
  5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, striking or tripping in any way of an opponent. The first infringement of this rule by any person shall count as a foul; the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made or, if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game. No substitution shall be allowed.
  6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violations of Rules 3 and 4 and such as described in Rule 5.
  7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls it shall count as a goal for the opponents .
  8. A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do no touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edges, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.
  9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field and played by the first person touching it. In case of dispute the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in is allowed five seconds. If he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on them.
  10. The umpire shall be the judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.
  11. The referee shall be judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made and keep account of the goals, with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.
  12. The time shall be two fifteen-minute halves, with five minutes rest between.
  13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner.

External links and references

  • History of basketball in Canada