How Was Basket Ball Invented?
How Was Basket Ball Invented? Basketball was invented in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, a teacher while working at the YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. Dr. Naismith wanted to create an exciting game that could be played indoors during the winter months.
With a two-week deadline, Dr. Naismith decided to invent a game of skill, finesse and accuracy, rather than one that relied on pure strength. He was inspired by a game he had played as a child called “duck on a rock,” in which players lob a small rock at a “duck” placed on top of a large rock in an attempt to knock the “duck” off.
Using a soccer ball, he nailed two peach baskets to balconies at opposite ends of the gymnasium, and divided his students into two teams. The rules and methods of play were very similar to modern basketball, except that play had to be interrupted after a basket was made – to get the ball out again. Today, basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world.