Basketball History and Rules

In 1891 a simple game was invented that changed the world. Basketball is a athletic sport usually played on an indoor court where two teams of five each attempt to score by shooting the basketball into one of two baskets at each end of the court. The team who scores the most baskets wins the game. Because of its continuous action and frequent scoring basketball is one of the most popular spectator sports in the world. Basketball can be played outdoors as well, it was invented to serve as an exciting indoor game for the winter months and to be played with less contact than football. It quickly became a spectator sport. Now basketball attracts larger audiences than ever especially in the United States, South America, and Europe.

Basketball has a long, rich history dating back to the late 19th century when the hoop was first invented. Basketball was invented in December 1891 by James Naismith.  He introduced the game when he was a teacher at the Young Men’s Christian Association Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts.  He came up with the game when his “superior” told him to think of a fun game for indoor winter play. The game involved parts of American football, soccer, and hockey, and the first ball used was a soccer ball. Teams had nine players and the goals were wooden peach baskets fixed to the walls. After the peach basket it was replaced by a metal rim and a net but the net was closed at the bottom.  Teams of five became standard by 1897-1898. The game rapidly spread around the United States and Canada it wasn’t until the early 1940s when it reached other parts of the world. U.S. servicemen in World War II popularized the sport in many other countries.

A number of U.S. colleges adopted the game between 1893 and 1895. In 1934 the first college games were staged in New York City’s Madison Square Garden and college basketball began to attract more and more interest. By the 1950s basketball had become a major college sport paving the way for a growth of interest in professional basketball where the BAA basketball association of america was organised in June 1946. The first pro league the National Basketball League was formed in 1898. This league only lasted five years before being shut down its demise spawned a number of lesser organized leagues throughout the United States. Another league that tried to spring up was the ABL american basketball league started by Josepn Carr in 1925. This league ultimately failed leading to the merge of the BAA and NBL creating today’s NBA. In 1949 two different leagues the National Basketball League and the Basketball Association of America merged to create the National Basketball Association. One of the first and greatest pro teams was the Original Celtics organized about 1915 in New York City. They played as many as 150 games a season and dominated basketball until 1936 when more teams entered the league. The Boston Celtics, led by their center Bill Russell dominated the NBA from the late 1950s through the 1960s. Wilt Chamberlain a center for the Los Angeles Lakers was another leading player during the era his battles with Russell were eagerly anticipated by NBA fans around the world. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also a center came into the spotlight during the 1970s. Jabbar perfected his famous “sky hook” shot while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers and dominated the opposition.The Harlem Globetrotters were founded in 1927 as a exhibition team this is a rare non competitive team that specializes in amusin fans and ball handling.

The NBA suffered a drop in popularity during the late 1970s but was resurrected through the growing popularity of its most prominent stars. Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics and Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers are credited with creating excitement and bringing people into the league in the 1980s through their superior skill and decade long rivalry. During the 1980s Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls rose to stardom and the Bulls dominated the NBA during the 1990s. A new generation of basketball stars started to rise including Shaquille O’Neal of the Orlando Magic and Larry Johnson of the Charlotte Hornets helped the NBA’s growth in popularity.

The european basketball league started in 1893 when the first game was played at a YMCA in Paris. European players have changed how the way basketball is played. Toni Kukoc the first established Euro player and one of the best euro players of all time. They have been known to be some of the best shooters in basketball. They are also known as pesky defenders who use their very effective soccer heritage to their advantage. Basketball has become so big in Europe that they have started up their own league called the euro league. It’s possible that the game has become so popular for the fact that it can be played by yourself. A lot of kids in Europe and even adults find themselves alone and they are able to hone their skills by themselves. Basketball is the second most popular team sport in the world but the Europeans have taken to it. They have some of the best teams and players in the world

The equipment used in basketball has pretty much been the same forever. The ball is round with a leather casing. The ball is about 75cm around and weighs around 20oz. The home team is responsible for these things the clock, time-out watch, device for displaying to players and spectators how much time is left on the 30-seconds rule known as the shot clock, an official score sheet, scoreboard visible to spectators and players, markers displaying the numbers 1 to 5 for use by the scorer to indicate how many fouls a player commits, and two team-foul markers which are red and placed on the scorers table to indicate a seventh-player foul by a team. The clothing has changed over time but has also stayed the same at the same time. Players of each team should wear the same outfits which must not blend with the opposing team. Each player needs wear a numbered shirt and no players on the same team should wear the same number. Players numbers vary but are never above 50. Loose-fitting shorts for mobility, and sleeveless jerseys are the standard clothing. Basketball shoes should be rubber-soled and with protected ankle supports although these are not necessary. Back when the NBA first started the jerseys were sleeveless and the shorts were short, very short. As time passed the team names changed along with the jerseys. The shorts became longer and are now about knee length and most of the jerseys are the same except some now have sleeves. Sleeved jerseys are not the most popular in the NBA with stars like Lebron James who ripped his sleeves off mid game because they were in the way. With things how they are now i think this is how things will stay for good. The rules of the game are simple but there are some things that can complicated. Professional, college, and high school games are similar except in length. Professional games are 48 minutes long, divided into quarters, college games are 40 minutes, played in halves and high school games are 32 minutes, broken into quarters. If the game is tied at the end or regulation the game goes into overtime which usually lasts 3 to 5 minutes. The ball is moved down the court toward the basket by passing or dribbling. The team with the ball is called the offense. The team without the ball is called the defense. They try to steal the ball, contest shots, steal and deflect passes, and get rebounds. When a team makes a basket they score two points if it is behind the three point line it is worth three points and the ball goes to the other team. A free throw is worth one point free throws are awarded to a team after a certain number of fouls have been committed in a half and/or the type of foul committed. Fouling a shooter always results in two free throws being awarded the shooter but depends upon where he was when he shot. If he was beyond the three-point line then the shooter gets three shots. Other types of fouls do not result in free throws being awarded until a certain number have accumulated during a half. Once that number is reached, then the player who was fouled is awarded a ‘1-and-1’ opportunity. If he makes his first free throw, he gets to attempt a second. If he misses the first shot, the ball is live on the rebound. Fouls are a big and important part of the game personal fouls include things like “Hitting,Pushing,Slapping,Holding, or Illegal pick/screen”(unknown) this is  when an offensive player is moving. When an offensive player sticks out a limb and makes physical contact with a defender in an attempt to block the path of the defender. If a person is fouled when shooting the ball they will be given two free throws. If they are fouled shooting a three point shot they will be given three free throws. If the team has committed more than seven foules you will be awarded a one and one at the free throw line. A one and one is where if you make the first free throw then you shoot a second free throw but if you miss the first you do not get to shoot the second one. There are also foules like charging and blocking as will as the worst ones, technical and flagrant fouls. Violations on offence are things like travelling, carrying, double dribble, and backcourt violation. On offence there are five people on the court at a time for one team the positions are guard, forward, and center. The guards hare usually little and handle the ball. The forwards stay on the wing and shoot the are usually a little bigger and physical. Then the centers are the big boys who stay down low and get rebounds and blocks, they are some of the tallest and most talented players in the world. From 1891 to now the game has changed quite a bit but it will continue to be one of the most popular sports in the world.

Works Cited

The rules of basketball.Breakthroughbasketball.com.Web.2017.10 Feb.2017.

Chambers, Callum.European Basketball:A Developing History.BleacherReport.com.18 June

2009.Web.10 Feb.2017.

History of basketball.www.customessaymeister.com.web.2017.10 Feb.2017.

Eitel, Joseph.The Basketball Hoop:A history.livestrong.com.Web.10 Feb.2017.

History of Basketball Leagues.allaboutbasketball.us.2011.Web.10 Feb.2017.

Hiskey, Daven.The Origin Of Basketball.todayifoundout.com.20 Jan 2012.Web.10 Feb.2017.

NBA History.NBAhoopsonline.com.2017.Web.10 Feb.2017.

1. In 1891 a simple game was created that changed the world.
2. What basketball is.

1. How it is played
2. Popularity
3. Why it’s played

III. The history of basketball

1. When it was invented
2. Who invented it
3. Why it was invented
4. First pro team
5. History of the BAA
6. History of the NBA

IV. Rules

1. How long games are
2. How big the courts are
3. How is it played

V. Equipment and Clothing

1. The ball
2. Shoes
3. Uniforms
4. Compression sleeves