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~ Basketball =How and When Introduced

By T. Duncan Patton
(Member of first team—1891)

N NOVEMBER 6th, 1861, a child—afterwards
to be known as James Naismith—first opened
his eyes on the light of day. Both parents passed
away when he was eight years of age and he was
brought up by an uncle and aunt who lived on a
farm. To them he was greatly indebted for wise
guidance. The place was the charming little village
of Almonte, Ontario, situated about forty miles
west of Ottawa, Canada. He attended the public
school, and subsequently the high school, from
which he was graduated. Attendance at these
schools necessitated a walk of two and one-half
miles each way. In his early days he decided to
prepare for the ministry. In due course he was
admitted to McGill University in Montreal where
he made a high standing. Not only was he brilliant
in studies but he was prominent in football, la-
crosse and other sports. Having won several medals
as a leader, he was placed in charge of Barjuni’s
Gymnasium from 1887 to 1890. Graduating from
the University, he entered the Presbyterian Theolog-
ical College, where his record secured for him
the silver medal. At this stage Naismith decided
to go to Springfield College.

In the fall of 1890 Dr. James Naismith regis-
tered at the Training School of The Y. M. C. A.
College at Springfield and thus was brought into
close association with Dr. Luther Gulick, the head
of the Physical Education Department. Dr. Gulick
was never satisfied with following systems but was
always exploring the possibilities of something bet-
ter. He decided that more recreative sports were
necessary, especially to fill in the time when out-
door games could not be played. In those days the
number of games suitable for gymnasium work were
few. He believed that suitable games would give
splendid recreative work together with suppleness
and the cultivation of team spirit. About the early
part of December, 1891, the Physical Education
Department students were challenged to bring in
suggestions for new games which could be played
indoors. The games were to be for groups of men,
must be clean and free from rough play and give
exercise to all parts of the body and could be
played by all.

Naismith faced the problem in real earnest, as
he usually did such challenges. His previous experi-
ences had brought him into knowledge of outdoor

games and the comparative values of such games.
Combinations of various games were worked upon
until he thought that he had discovered something
worthwhile. Rules were drawn up and the next thing
was to test out the invention. One afternoon two
members of the Secretarial Department—Eugene S.
Libby of Redlands, Cal., and T. Duncan Patton of
Montreal—were heading for their rooms to dress
for regular gymnasium exercises when they were
accosted by Naismith. He requested them to captain
the two sides of a new game which he had evolved.
From his pocket he produced the set of rules which
he had drawn up and in a very brief interview ex-
plained what he wanted to have demonstrated on
the gymnasium floor. They were quickly on the
floor and teams of nine on each side were lined
up in a gymnasium measuring about 45x65 feet,
with a playing field about 35x50. The ball used at
first was a soccer ball. The referee for the initial
game was the originator. Men were designated for
different positions on the floor. The original rules
as compiled by the originator are as follows:—

1. The ball may be thrown in any direction by
one or both hands.

2. The ball may be batted in any direction with
one or both hands (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 who catches the
ball when running, if he tries to stop.

4. The ball must be held by the hands; the arms
or body must not be used for holding it.

5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping,
or striking in any way the person of an opponent
shall be allowed; the first infringement of the rule
by any player 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 game, no substitute allowed.

6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist,
violation of rules 3, 4 and such as described in
rule 5.

7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls
it shall count a goal for the opponents (consecutive