Dr. James Naismith is world-widely known as the inventor of basketball. He was born in 1861. He went to school at McGill University where
he was faced with a problem of finding a game that could be played inside during winter months for the students at School
for Christian Workers. He wanted to create a game of skill instead of a game that required soley strength. The first game
was played with a soccer ball and two peach baskets used as goals. Naismith then devised a set of rules. Here are the original
thirteen.
1.The ball 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 in or between 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 make three consecutive fouls it shall
count as a goal for the opponents (consecutive
means without the opponents in the meantime
making a foul).
8.Goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or
batted from the ground into the basket and stays
there, providing those defending the goal do not
edge and the opponents move 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 judge of the men and shall
note the fouls and notify the referee when three
consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have
the power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.
11.The referee shall be the judge of the ball and
decide when it 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 15-minute halves with five
minutes' rest between.
13.The side making the most goals in that time shall
be declared the winners.