Under orders from Dr. Luther Gulick , head of Springfield YMCA Physical Education , Naismith was given 14 days to create an indoor game that would provide an `` athletic distraction '' : Gulick demanded that it would not take up much room , could help its track athletes to keep in shape and explicitly emphasized to `` make it fair for all players and not too rough . ''
Dr. Luther Gulick , leader of the Springfield YMCA Physical Education , told Naismith to make up a game that could be played inside which would be a good `` athletic distraction '' in 14 days .