Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-19
Dr.. J. E. Raycroft Tells Of ORR
gin and Development Of
Popular Sport.
GAME INVENTED IN 1891
WAS VERY SIMPLE
Rapid Growth Due to Qualities
Which Appeal Both to Play
ers and Spectators.
By joseph E. Raycroft.

satisfy the need for team competition
in which large numbers of relatively un-
trained people could take part. Most of
these have had little vitality and have
failed to achieve any great influence or
gain any wide popularity. Most Of our
standard games are the result of evo-
luton, and have developed because they
possessed to a greater or less extent those
qualities that appeal strongly to the play
or the fighting instincts. The demands
for special skill and strategy that are
made upon the players of base ball and
foot ball are great factors in the real
pleasure and interest that attaches to
large measure responsible for their de-
velopment and wide popularity.
Basket ball was invented in 1891 by DIR.
James A. Naismith, now a member Of
the collegiate basket ball rules commit
tee, when he was an instructor at the
Y. NJ. G. A. Training School at Spring
field. Mass. 1t was designed for use In
doors by active sturdy men during the
winter when in this latitude 1t is impos-
sible to play the ordinary outdoor games.
1t jumped into popularity almost at once
at first among the members OF the
Y. NJ. c. AS. and later among the stu
dents in schools for both boys and girls.
Game Simple at First.
In the beginning basket ball was SIM
pie in its plans and it's technique. 1t was
designed to be played by as many as
could occupy the playing space, nine play
'ers and upward on each SIDE The rules
were simple. and in the first rule book,
published in 1892. were only thirteen in
number. Since this game was designed
TO be played indoors, where tackling and
personal contact in general would result
In injury to the players, it was made
illegal to run with the ball, and. there
fore. tackling was unnecessary and was
The ball used was an ordinary associa-
tion foot ball. 1t might be passed or
batted in any direction; 1t might not be
held against the body (this clause is still
a part Of the A. a. u. code), and q score
was made when the ball was thrown into
and stayed in the goal, which in the
early days was peach basket fastened
on the wall or gallery ten feet from the
floor. II either side made three consec-
utive fouls a goal was counted for the
opponent. unless it had made q foul in
the meantime.
Reduce Number of Players.
1t soon became apparent that too
many players in a game hindered the
development OF teamwork, SO very
early the number of players on a team
was reduced to nine-home or center
forward, two other forwards called
right and left wings, center and two
side centers, goalkeeper- and two
guards. A little later, about 1894. the
number Of players on the teams was
determined by the area Of the floor on
which the game was played. On a
floor 1900 square feet or less in area
a foo
square feet or less. seven, and over
$500. nine. After year or so this
nnally was reduced to the present num-
Der OF FIVE.
For the first year or two. in start
ing the game. the men were lined up
1t the opposite ends Of the field and
rushed for the ball when 1T was tossed
into the middle OF the floor by the
Official. This was modified in 1894 so
that the ball was tossed in the middle
OF the field and had to be touched by
center man to make the play legal.
The length Of the halves was the
same as at present, twenty minutes.
The ball went to the first man touch
ing 1t out Of bounds. which is the
same as the present intercollegiate
rule. Instead Of the three foul rule,
free throws were awarded for fouls
committed by tackling or holding an
opponent. The diameter Of the goal
ring was increased from Is to IS
luCncS, anu the Speclnc0t1OnS OF the
ball were made practically the same as
1A the present. codes.
Sport Adapted for Girls.
I'm the meantime. in 1s93-s4, the DOS.
sibilities of the game were seen by Miss
Bronson, the director Of physical train
ing at Smith College. and she intro
duced it as a part Of the gymnasium
work for girls there. 1t was found de-
sirable to make several changes in the
rules In order to adapt the game for
girls use. To eliminate roughness Il
was made Illegal to seize the ball when
1t was In the possession Of another. To
counteract this restriction a player
was allowed to hold the ball not more
than three seconds
1t seems that the girls invented the
~dribble, for they found that under the
above modification Of the original rules il
was possible to make progress toward
the goal by repeatedly bouncing the bal
on the floor. This practice was carried
to, such an extent that it was found nee
essary to limit the number OF consecutive
bounces to three, a restriction that still
exists In modified form in the presen,
A. A. u. code.
In order to lessen the physical strain
which was found to be too severe for girls
playing under the mems rules. the hool
was divided into three sections by lines
iufI1iue dCiOss the ueid at right angles t(
the side lines. The centers uhe girls
teams under these rules, which are es
sentiaily unchanged today, have two cen.
ters). the two guards and the two for.
wards are restricted to their own section
of the floor. so that the players in 8
given section have an opportunity to ge,
. breathing spell when the ball il In
any other part of the field. This device
not only made the game less strenuous
bat also favored the development Of team
play.
Rapid Growth Il Marked.
1t is doubtful IL the history Of game.
contains an example Of more rapid
growth than that shown by basket bal
during the first two or three years Of 1t.
existence. Even the growth of base bal
in the years Immediately following thu
civil war was second to this. II appeared
In Canada and the far west in 1892 q:
and was INTRODUCED into Germany by DR.
Schmidt. who saw It played In tn
Olympic games at the 81. Louis expo
Teams sprang up as II by magic. The,
and 7. n. c. As. In fact, In the lattel
organisations the game became so popu
lar that 1t threatened to monopolise tht
RymnaSiums to the exclusion OF othe
forms Of work. SO that II was foun<
necessary in many places to impose rigit
restrictions upon the game and even I.
forbid II altogether. Many leagues wer'
clubs and town teams. and during tn,
last ten years the game has become popu
lar among the colleges ana universities
Colleges Adopt the Game.
- yrterrcI,esi.te BASKET Hall Asso