rules naismith

SoCal High School & Prep Report

A Little Diversion & History:
Naismisth's 13 Original Rules--(February 9, 1998)

We all know that Dr. James Naismith is credited with "inventing" the game of basketball, at least the modern version of the game as we know it. That may or may not be true, but here's a little bit of history for you all: Naismith's original 13 rules of the game, which he penned at his desk at a YMCA. It seems that in December 1891, Naismith introduced his gymnastics class at the Springfiled, Massachusetts YMCA to the new game. He supposedly nailed peach baskets to the lower rail of the balcony at both ends of the gym. The first game used a soccer ball. The following are Naismith's rules. And try not to laugh as you read them:

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

[Pretty much still the rule]

2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands (but never with a fist).

[Think volleyball here.]

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 man who catches the ball when running at a good speed.

[Imagine players not being able to run with the ball. Apparently Naismith didn't consider the dribble].

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

[This is still the rule]

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

[Wow. One foul and you're out until the team scores again. An intentional, you're for the game, and no one can come in for you. Teams would have to have 30 men today].

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

[Ok. Is is a "rule" that Naismith had to be redundant?]

7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count as a goal for the opponents. (Consecutive means without the opponent in the meantime making a foul).

[So how would this play out at the end of a close game, with a team trailing by 6 that is forced to go into "fouling" mode in order to get possession of the ball? This would just be an impossible rule]

8. A goal shall be made whtn the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stayes there, providing that those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edge and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.

[Think "goaltending" here. Great rule.]

9. When the ball gouls out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field and played by the person first touching it. In case of a dispute, the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in is allowed five seconds. If he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on them.

[Ok, the five second rule is still there, but what's up with the "umpire" throwing in the ball. Can you imagine that today: Ball is sent out-of-bounds; refs can't decide, or there's a "dispute". So the ref makes the inbounds pass to nobody in particular.]

10. The umpire shall be the judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutivfe fouls have been made. He shall have power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.

[So what's the difference between the "umpire" and the "referee"? Who knows. And there's Naismith opting for redundancy again.]

11. The referee shall be judge of the ball and decide when the ball is in play, in bounds, and to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been make, and keep account of the goals, with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.

[Ok, so the ref controls the game. But the timekeeper? The scorekeeper? And what are the "duties that are usually performed by a referee?"]

12. The time shall be two 15-minute halves, with 5 minutes rest between.

[An incredibly short game. So that's why all the early scores in the books are so low. . . Well, that and rule 3 probably had something to do with it.

13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winners. In case of a draw, the game may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is made.

[ Can you imagine a tied game, and one team says, "That's ok, we don't agree on playing overtime. We'll take the tie. . . This is really a trick rule. There can't be a tie.]

Pretty interesting. So how "classic" is the game that's played today. Well, it doesn't seem to bear much resemblance, rule-wise, to the present-day game, whether at the youth, prep, high school, college or pro level.

We thought you should know.