November 6th is National Basketball Day! Okay, this isn’t an official holiday, but it was o
, Naismith was a Phys Ed teacher at a YMCA in Massachusetts with bored students who needed an indoor athletic distraction during the winter.
Naismith nailed two peach baskets to the balcony at both ends of a gymnasium. He divided his students into teams and they attempted to toss a ball into the baskets…and basketball was born. According to notes kept by Naismith about the first "Basket Ball" game, the game was played with nine players on each team using a soccer ball.
Today, even though the rules and equipment have changed slightly, basketball as it was ever known is played by more than 300-million people worldwide, making it one of the most popular team sports.
(Courtesy of Dr. Dave's Ultimate Prep)
