Basketball (Amateur)

Curtis Fogel

A Canadian Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) instructor in the state of Massachusetts named Dr. James Naismith developed the sport of basketball in 1891. Naismith created the game to allow for competitive sport to take place indoors during harsh winter months—it began as a game to keep young athletes in shape during the winter when they were unable to perform outdoor sports. The original ball used was a soccer ball, and the original hoops were peach baskets attached to gymnasium walls. The use of these baskets gave rise to the name basketball. Peach baskets continued to be used until 1906, when they were replaced by metal-rimmed hoops attached to a wooden backboard. From these early beginnings, basketball has turned into a global sport played around the world by men and women, both young and old. Unlike many other activities that were seen as unwomanly in the late 1800s, basketball was ...

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