Early History of Basketball
The history of basketball began with its invention in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts by Canadian physical education instructor James Naismith
as a less injury-prone sport than football. The game became established
fairly quickly, very popular as the 20th century progressed, first in
America and then throughout the world. After basketball became
established in American colleges, the professional game followed; the
American National Basketball Association
(NBA), established in 1949, grew to a multibillion-dollar enterprise by
the end of the century, and basketball became an integral part of
American culture
Basketball is a team sport. Two teams of five players each try to score by shooting a ball through a hoop elevated 10 feet above the ground. The game is played on a rectangular floor called the court, and there is a hoop at each end. The court is divided into two main sections by the mid-court line.
Basketball Terms-
Baseline- The line at either end of the court that runs parallel to the backboard.
Center- Usually the tallest player on a team.
Fast Break- An offensive strategy in which a team advances the ball quickly up the court to score an easy basket.
Field Goal- A successful attempt at a shot.
Free Throw- A 15-foot shot taken from the foul line.
Free-Throw Line- A line 15 feet from the basket behind which players shoot free throws.
Man-To-Man- Each player is assigned the responsibility of playing against one specific player from the other team.
Point Guard- Primary ballhandler in the offense.
Zone- When players are assigned a certain area to play instead of a certain player to defend.
