Basketball Positions

2008-01-30T23:05:00.001-08:00

2008-01-28T15:05:00.001-08:00

2008-01-26T07:05:00.001-08:00

2008-01-24T03:05:00.001-08:00

2008-01-21T23:05:00.001-08:00

2008-01-19T11:05:00.001-08:00

Vertical Jumping

2008-01-16T19:05:00.001-08:00

Vertical Jumping

Being able to vertical leap is essential for increasing your playing ability in any sport, especially basketball. You can use these methods when training to increase your vertical and you will get great results with them. If you want more regular play, want to score more effortlessly, or just straight up want to impress people with an ability to dunk - then implement exercises correctly and consistently and you'll see results.

Jump Shrugs

The term shrug comes from the end movement where you shrug your shoulders up. Begin like you are about to lift a bar, thrust upwards and focus on shrugging those shoulders. Do 5 or 6 in each repetition.

Shock Jumps

Find a box or platform which is approximately the same height as your ability to jump. Begin on the box and step down to the ground. Focus on landing on the balls of your feet and try not to bend the legs to absorb contact. Keep a fixed leg.

Depth Jumps

The same as shock jumps, but once you have landed on the floor jump back up as high as you can. Make the contact with the ground minimal.

Squat Jumps

Very simple but an effective way of building up the thighs. Squat in a low position and leap upwards. You can vary the routine by attempting to leap over distance thus doing squats that are like a long jump. Your thighs will tire quickly. Do one at a time or do a succession of long jumps where you land and quickly do the next jump. This will greatly improve your speed and agility.

calf exercises

The muscles below the knee are a vitally important towards achieving a high leap. Many below the knee exercises can be used including skipping with a rope, raising your toes from the ground (roll your foot up from the heel of the foot and point the toes upwards) and also stair climbing. Try running up the stairs at speed for quickest results. Always run up the stairs whenever you are in a tall building or a skyscraper. Run up those stairs.

One Leg Hops

Practice height and distance jumps one leg at a time. Aim to beat the previous jump each time. When your leg gets tired, change legs and continue. Initially the exercise seems simple but will prove most beneficial if you make the effort to achieve length and a good height.

The Vertical Project
Jump Experts
Vertical Jump Development Bible

Defense Strategies

2008-01-14T15:05:00.001-08:00

Defense Strategies

In the average basketball game your side will, be forced to defend for approximately fifty percent of the time. It is obvious that it is a crucial part of the game. This essay is about different defensive methods. Another article has already looked at methods of practising the most crucial defense issue of them all - sprinting back to defend.

Defending comes about either because you have just scored or because you failed to score. However you lost the ball this article assumes that you have dropped back and are ready to defend.

There are two fundamental defensive strategies, one on one guarding and area marking. The first step to take to teach defense is on an individual level which means you should to start with one on one marking. Individual techniques include stance, sliding and movement. The man on man defensive techniques can be developed by playing two on two and then three on three and so on, until there is the full team game happening.

Man to man defensive strategy has now been realised at this point because five against five is a game situation. Coaching zonal defending is harder to do becauseyou have to organise as a unit. Training one person is not the same as training and coordinating a group.But the techniques used in man to man marking can be utilized as a team for zonal strategies. The plan is to pressurize the opposition so that at all moments there are one and a half defenders blocking his way to the basket, or blocking his route.

Teams with large players tend to be effective at zone defense by standing in the paint and covering the route to the basket.

The philosophy to aim for however is where both techniques are amalgamated. Man to man is good, but if an attacker stays deep who is guiding play and not looking like coming forward then a five man defense around the basket makes good sense. Conversely, if you are playing zone and you find that a player is on his own then that means another part of the court is overweighted with opposing team members. He should move from his current zone and add support where short.

In the debate between man to man and zone it is clear that some techniques of each idea is the most effective for a good defense. Coach the defensive methods that are necessary in man to man marking, but then plan as a team for coordinated zonal strategies too. You will never be the strongest defense you can be if you are all one to one marking or solely zonal marking. You have to be able to do both simultaneouslyand then you will see your defensive capabilities improve dramatically.

Basketball Defense

2008-01-12T11:05:00.001-08:00

Basketball Defense

Being fast to defend, or perhaps i mean, quickly retreating and defending plays a crucial role in winning basketball games. Most important is being quick when your attack has finished without your side scoring. Maybe it was an interception, a lost rebound or just mishandling your team has to be trained in reacting to the transition from attack to defense automatically. They need to get back quickly.

From any shooting position when the shot is made you could have at least four players in the rebound position. If your team fails to collect the rebound then the opposition will be aiming to return down the court to score as speedily as they can. You are now the defensive side immediately you lose the ball.

The non-rebound player is the first to get into a good defensive position. His first task is to ensure that any forward opponent is tightly guarded and not positioned to receive a long ball from the back. The man nearest to the one in possession needs close down the player with the ball and delay him making a fast pass. Do not leave him. If he dribbles, harrass him. Should he pass, get back and fill in a position that needs defending. The last three team members need to be sprinting back to their own goal area and getting into position to stop the attack early.

Returning to defense should be practised until it is automatic in your team.it is difficult to coach but one excellent drill which hammers home the principle is to play imaginary basketball, without the ball. I did say, no ball.

Divide your squad into two teams and and make them play a game, with no ball. They dribble and pass and play exactly the same way, but without the ball. You as coach direct the play. If a player releases the ball you permit play to continue, or you blow the whistle and call interception, calling out the players name who now has possession.

When someone has a shot you call out whether it is a score or a miss. If a miss then indicate who has possession. What you want to do remember is see plenty of turnovers. When a side loses the ball you want them drop back quickly. Make sure the nearest to the ball hounds the man in possession.

The coach calls the decisions. When a side is quick and follows the right strategy, positioning themselves and hounding the man in possession then reward them by not allowing the other team to score. If they fail to defend speedily then allow their opponents to score. It is my experience that this training exercise can be very quick and effective at training the mental muscle in the art of reverting to defense mode. You can play this at a fast tempo, with losing the ball being a constant theme of the drill. Have the teams run up and down and tire them out a little. They will find some of it rather humorous for a while. They will definitely learn quickly.

Remember that defending is a crucial part of the game. Everyone can defend and everyone has that responsibility. Whilst defending is not the time to be taking a breather. It is when you should be the most concentrated and at your most aware. Preventing a basket is as importantl to the team as scoring yourself. If your side or you need a little respite from the action, rest when you have the ball, not when the opposition have the ball.

You Must Get The Go Basketball Pro Resource: The best on the Net !

Basketball Coaching

2008-01-09T19:05:00.001-08:00

Basketball Coaching

If you are a new or relatively new coach then you will need to think through how practice sessions will be run. You need to work out methods to train your players that are effective. Coaching sessions do not just fill in time that you have for your team. Coaching and training sessions should concentrate on making your team better.

The minutes spent on a drill, is not a mere time filler, but to improve your players and the team. Training sessions should be fun. All players want to enjoy their basketball, but your coaching should also lead to team improvement.

Here are two effective drills. Practice drills with a high intensity. Fast pace and seriousness are vital to gain any permanent improvement in your squad.

Running with the ball

All players like to dribble so produce a ball for everyone and have them bounce in a marked area, say a half court or whatever suits the numbers. The idea is to get team competent at bouncing in confined areas. When all players are dribbling then blow the whistle and give the signal to tag the other players. If someone gets tagged then they are out. Alternatively you can let them knock the ball of others away.

This drill puts the players under pressure when they are running with the ball. They need eyes that see 360 degrees, to the sides as well as behind and they need speed and agility to get themselves out of the way. You can reward a knocker by giving them 5 or 10 seconds immunity from being eliminated. Develop the game how you feel according to your players. Brilliant way to see your players dribbling the ball whilst busy with pressure.

There and back drill

Great for youth teams and those fairly new to the game. Have them race from one basket to the other and back again. Either singles in pairs or teams. They go down court bouncing with their right hand, and they return with their left hand. Time them, or organise races.

If they lose control of the ball they have to go all the way back to the start again. Change things around as the players become more skilled. Build obstacles, have them go in and out of chairs. Keep them in a very tight lane. This can be a popular drill and it helps a lot with the basics. The fundamentals are crucial in developing their game.

Reward with prizes as motivation. The occasional candy bar for winners or ten press ups for losers can help to motivate and encourage. Some players need to be coaxed along gently, others need handling with a little more aggression. Get to know your squad and you will know how to treat them all as individuals.

Shooting Drill

Shooting drills are always fun and helps improve your players skills. Three misses and off helps to focus attenton and puts the players under pressure. Each player shoots at the basket and if they miss they lose a life. Lose three and you are out. A fun variant is to have all the players shooting at the same time. Blow your whistle and the players have a set time to take their shot. This puts the shooters busy with pressure as they not only have to score, but also time their shot so they do not collide with the balls of others.

Basketball Coaching

2008-01-07T03:05:00.001-08:00

Basketball Coaching

It is critical that the players you coach be sent the right messages that what they are doing, and how they are playing is productive for the team. Positve feedbackshould primarily come from the coach..

Whilst playing, the team members, particularly the novices will benefit from your positive reaction. You cannot always stand there yelling so use non-verbal signs. You can clap, hand signals, facial and head movement. Sprint along the touchline and leap in the air if something is really good. More crucially give them loads of encouragement for doing the right thing. Regular affirmation is important for players and their motivation, even more so for younger players.

As trainer, this is your most valuable contribution. You cannot hold their hands, but you can be a strong mental support. Signal your support when you can and over emphasise your approval when you can.

Remember to teach them that their outlook whilst on the court is vital. How they think and how they act is as vital as how they play the game. Always applaud their hard work as for their good skill. Appreciating their efforts is as much a motivator as approving their skillful play.

A positive attitude and approach to their game will come from positive encouragement and above all, from your approval of the effort they are putting into the game. This will help spur them on and they will respond to you, the more they feel that they have your confidence. Send positive signs as coach and you will be helping greatly.

Basketball Defense

2008-01-04T03:05:00.001-08:00

Basketball Defense

Anyone can learn to play DEFENSE. It does no good to teach the team game before a child has been introduced to and hopefully mastered well enough the individual aspects of defense. When every player can play both on-the-ball and from-the-ball, the rules used in teaching these techniques will easily lead right into teaching team defense. Balance is crucial. Now it's just a matter of teaching how to play and be effective as a group.

Over advanced zone defensive teaching will incorporate many techniques and stunts to raise effectiveness and efficacy of the zone, but right now I'm appealing to the coach who uses zone defense. Keep feet spread about shoulder width apart. Use a somewhat crouched position, bend the knees in excess of the back. in my offenses, I send four players to get a rebound and send one player (defensive safety) back with deep defensive responsibility. The team is big, therefore zone really serves to pack the middle, or other reasons of strategy; No matter what the team individual attributes-big, small, slow, quick-starting the teaching of defense with individual man techniques will improve a player's understanding of defense and his/her performance on defense.

I have rules set for where each player will be in the triangle, depending on who is shooting and which players are already nearest the rebounding positions. If you lose the rebound, now your players must practice getting back on defense, the same way you practice getting a defensive rebound and beginning your offensive fast break. "Triangle Defense" goes back to the precepts taught early on in man defense. These are the setting up of triangles between the ball, the offensive player being guarded (no matter where on the floor) and the basket. The #1 rule for defending the player with the ball is to maintain a position describing "ball-me-basket".

This is accomplished by constantly moving the feet adjusting to the offensive payer's movement, not having to turn the head to hold vision on the man. Using this in team zone defense will allow a defender to never have their back turned on a player in their zone. Also, once you have the full retreat accomplished, then you can started to experiment with any pressing techniques-three-quarter court, half-court, etc. As in man defense, the players nearest the ball should be in over-play on their men so as to deny an easy pass inside. Teach these principles in both defensive forms and you will have added immeasurable strength to both. Communication between the back-side defenders and front-side defenders about movement of offensive players coming toward the ball is a crucial teaching area.

Go to Coaching basketball defending for some quality advice.

Other Links: Defensive strategies and 0Defense techniques

Basketball Dribbling

2008-01-01T11:05:00.001-08:00

Basketball Dribbling

The behind the back dribble is really an effective skill to master for it easily blow pass your opponent when you use it. Defensively, the dribble has become very effective in stalling tactics, especially when a press is being used. You are in control of your dribbling and makes you harder to be anticipated where you are going. Behind the back dribble and behind the back pass are both effective skills if you have mastered it, so let me emphasize the great value of this dribbling technique. By dribbling away through the behind the back dribble you can have body and ball control easily. Once a player has dribbled and comes to a stop, he must pass the ball or shoot it. Many players get into the bad habit of bouncing the ball every time they receive a pass. Low dribble is used for control and to keep possession of the ball when closely guarded.

A Good Player knows the following:

Control Dribble
Knees are bent.
One foot ahead of the other to protect the ball.
Speed Dribble
Push the ball out in front of you.
Use movement in the open court.
Head is always up.
Dribbling mistakes occur when the dribbler watches the ball.
All moves must be done quickly and low to the ground.
The temptation to dribble is strong.
High dribble is used for speed.
Dribbling is one of those skills that takes lots of practice.
Dribbling is done mostly with the fingers, which are spread, keeping the palm of the hand off the ball.
You will notice that the palms of your hand are not used in shooting, passing or dribbling! This enables a player to get that fingertip control which is so important in basketball.
The weight of the body is forward and on the balls of the feet.
The head is kept up so that the player can see his teammates and opponents.
A good dribbler learns to keep his body between the ball and his opponent.

Basketball drills coming soon

Basketball Positions

2007-12-29T11:05:00.001-08:00

Small Forward

Small forward: Along with the shooting guard, the small forward is often the most versatile player on the basketball team. They're known primarily for their scoring and ball handling abilities. This position is usually handled by the most talented player on the court. The combination of height and quickness can allow them to defend a number of positions and take on the best scorer on the opposing team. Many great power forwards in the game today do not score a lot of points, but lead their team in rebounds.

Often the most talented team member. It is an advantage if the small forward is fast to tavel the court. Capable of attacking down the left or the right. Able to attack the net from the left or the right. Must be an adequate rebounder .Excellent passer with the left or the right hand. Should be a good shot blocker. Uses his great athleticism to the teams advantage. Often will be the player with the best all round skills.

Requirements of a Small Forward:

Capable of playing with both hands
Instinctive knowledge of basketball
Ready to score and create when necessary
Excellent in attack and defense
Great shooter
Great dribbling skills
Great ball control
Constant danger to the opposition
Great passer
All round team player
Possess speed and quickness of foot
Able to defend in all areas
Excellent at strong defending
Must be able to read defenses

Generally, for a team to be successful then the small forward will be basic in the scheme of things. Small forward is always close to the action. Needs to be constantly involved . Must be adequate at shooting, defending and dribbling, possessing good skills in everything.

Basketball Positions

2007-12-26T11:05:00.001-08:00

Shooting Guard (Off guard)

They are the main shooter in the team all the same it is on the whole from long distance. Can also be called an "off" guard. This guard has similar duties to the point guard however in many instances doesn't bring the ball up the court. The player should be able to "catch and shoot. * The job of the shooting guard is to get open and think a shot or think one more open player to keep the ball moving.

As the name suggests the shooting guard has the job of scoring. Eventually the shooting guard will be the best shooter in the team, with the ability to score three pointers with some consistency. He will be taller than the point guard and will know how to move without the ball. Good positional play is crucial. A good ball handler and passer he will also possess quick and agile feet. Is the one who may assume the point guards role on occasion. .

Requirements of a Shooting Guard:

Capable of playing with both hands
Good knowledge of the game
Ready to score and create when necessary
Natural ability to run the team
Quality shooter
Excellent dribbling skills
Great ball handler
Constant threat to opponents
Great passer
Able to put points on the board
Possess speed and quickness of foot
Good movement in tight situations
Excellent at hard-nosed defense
Capable of reading defenses

Generally if a team is to be successful then the Shooting guard will be scoring three pointers with ease He will understand the offense, so that he can replace for the point guard should he be over played or leave the game. The main priority is to hit the basket and to assist others to do the same.

Basketball Positions

2007-12-23T15:05:00.001-08:00

Power Forward

Like the point guard, the power, or strong forward, does not receive much recognition. The power forward plays a strong physical game, specialising on the rebounds and defence. Because of the nature of the job, they will spend much of the game close to the basket. They are post players and are broadly taller than the guards. He must be a solid rebounder, both offensively and defensively.

Usually a larger member of the team. A power forward is usually able to cover ground quickly. Comfortable attacking the ball under the post. His teams best at collecting rebounds. Quick and agile on the court. Must be able to defend when loose. Will use his physical presence. This position is for the player who has the best offensive rebound skills at power forward.

Main needs of a Power Forward:

Strong player
Good knowledge of the game
Ready to score and create under the post
Tackles the opposition at both ends
Great shooter
Excellent running with the ball
Excellent ball handler
Constant danger to opponents
Excellent passing skills
Agile, with speed and quick feet
Can play defense anywhere
Capable of playing strong defending
Capable of reading defenses

Generally if a team is to be successful then the power forward will be fundamental to that success. Power forward is always around the post. Should have a good all round game. The man in the team with the gutzy attitude. Sometimes referred to as the enforcer.

Basketball Positions

2007-12-21T03:05:00.001-08:00

Point Guard

Point guard is one of the most important positions on the court for the team's offence. A good point guard looks to get the rest of the team involved before they think about shooting, resulting in usually leading the team in assists. They are given the task of controlling the game's speed and possession of the ball at all times. Therefore, this player is usually a team's best dribbler and passer. Traditionally basketball point guards were small, fast players and this is still often the case.

Usually the most talented member of the team. The point guard needs to be capable of using both hands equally. Able to attack down the left or the right Capable of carrying the ball the net from the left or the right. Able to pass equally well with both hands. They control much of the attacking play. So he needs to be selfless putting the team first rather than his own scoring record. Often will be the player creating most scores for others.

Attributes of a Point Guard:

Ambidextrous
Good knowledge of basketball
Ready to score and create when necessary
Natural ability to run the team
Great shooter
Great dribbling skills
Great ball control
Constant danger to the opposition
Great passer
Must not be selfish
Agile, with speed and quick feet
Good tactician-they call the plays
Excellent at hard-nosed defense
Capable of reading defenses

Generally, for a team to be successfull then the point guard will play a fundamental role. Point guard needs to have a modest disposition and always puts the team first. His dedicated work contributes much to the team without dazzling the crowd. The coach and teammates are not ignorant of his value for the team.

Basketball Positions

2007-12-18T15:05:00.001-08:00

Center

The centre is likely to be the tallest player on the court. The center, along with the point guard, is easily the most important player on the team. Their primary jobs are to get rebounds and score points when close the basket. They have to defend the opponent's center (who can also be a monster player) as well as block shots and rebound. In modern times, many teams have won with other great players (Michael Jordan), but a strong center is still a prized basketball position on any basketball team. He must prove by his manner and actions that territory is his.

Often the largest team member. The center should keep the ball moving and stays involved with the action. Able to attack the ball on rebounds. Will assist at collecting rebounds. Good pace on the court. Must be able to defend on rebounds. Will stand up strong. Always put the man who is biggest at center.

Main needs of a Center:

Good strength
Instinctive knowledge of basketball
Ready to score and create under the post
Tackles the opposition under the nets
Great shooter upto medium range
Dribbles less than others
Great ball handler
Constant danger to the opposition
Excellent passer
Possess speed and quickness of foot
Can defend anywhere on the court
Capable of playing staunch defending
Must be able to read defenses

Generally the biggest, still must be great in defense. The best teams generally have a great player at center. Holds his territory. Keeps a solid defense and maintains a good position and helps the offense.

Basketball Positions

2007-12-15T19:05:00.001-08:00

The sixth man or Bench

Five players from the squad are part of the game at any time. Players on the bench need to be able to join the action and find their rythym quickly. Usually a team will have a specialist bench player who can come on and help change the teams pattern. The specialist player would be known as the sixth man. A substitute should have all round skills that can be useful anywhere on the court. The wider the range of skills, the greater the options for a tactical change.

A team member is a substitute when they are not playing on the court. Basketball is a fast paced game and players need to rest. A strong bench can be the key to any basketball team's success. He's able to do whatever is necessary to help his team win. The main substitute to come off the bench is called the "sixth man" and is a basketball player position that is important to the success of all teams.

Sometimes his role calls for him to score, play exceptional defense, or a combination of the two. Bench specialties may mean skills such as being a great long-range shooter, playing solid defense or being able to play two or three positions well. The player becomes a sub when the official allows the replacement to enter the court. Whatever he's capable of doing, the sixth man is an important component to the game. Since he doesn't start the game, the sixth man must study the game tempo and prepare himself mentally so he is able to adjust to flow of basketball the moment he steps on the floor. More than anything else, the bench can offer some extra quality minutes.

Who Invented Basketball?

2007-12-12T19:05:00.001-08:00

Who Invented Basketball?

Most games sprout up over time from pastimes that people learned to play colloquially. Not so with basketball, history makes clear that it has the feature of being a planned or designed game. What began as a winter pastime with 18 men in a YMCA gymnasium in Springfield, Mass, has grown into a game that more than 300 million people play worldwide; the man who created this instantly successful sport was Dr James Naismith. Naismith was instructed to devise a professional sport which could be played inside for the time of the cold winter months that bridged football and baseball.

The students, who were studying to be Pe teachers, were understandably bored doing nothing but calisthenics and eurythmics for the time of those long New England winters. They were desperate for action and competition. The game involved elements of American football, soccer, and hockey, and soccer provided the first ball.

His concept for basketball was rooted in a basic child's game he had enjoyed playing at his one-room schoolhouse as a child, which was called "duck-on-a-rock". The game necessitated the players knocking a "duck" from the top of a large rock by tossing another rock at it. Early basketball evolved from this idea. The first basketball contest was played with a soccer ball, peach baskets and nine to a side. This first basketball game is believed to have been played Dec. 21, 1891. By 1897-1898, teams of five was promoted to the norm.

About James Naismith:

Naismith ultimately took the job of head of the sports faculty at Kansas, and designed the first golf course in Kansas. His favorite sport was fencing at which he was excellent. Naismith designed basketball for fun, as a simple indoor sporting activity, not as something to be serious about! He said often, "Basketball is just a game to play. It doesn�t need a coach you don�t coach basketball, you just play it."

Nevertheless, he took the job of basketball coach at Kansas in 1900, and lost his first game 48-8 to Nebraska. He coached for eight years and his won-loss record was only just over 50%. Even so he began a strong Kansas tradition.

For years, the Kansas Jayhawks had one of the best teams in all of college basketball. Phog Allen (Kansas, record: 590-219), Adolph Rupp (Kentucky), and Dean Smith (North Carolina) were all Jayhawks. Naismith never patented his game, and did not profit from it. Lawyers recommended that he get a patent, however he was always expressly opposed to it. Later his bank balance was so bad that his house in Kansas was repossessed by the bank. Dr. Naismith worked with the famous football coach, Amos Alonzo Stagg. Naismith's personal chronicles, discovered by his granddaughter in early 2006, tell us that naismith was not confident in the new game he had designed as many other home made games had crashed before it. Dr Naismith never benefitted financially from basketball but his name will live as the man who invented basketball.

The History of Basketball

2007-12-12T15:57:00.001-08:00

The History of Basketball

A game that started with 18 men in a YMCA gymnasium in Springfield, Mass, eventually developed into a game that more than 300 million people play worldwide. The man who created this instantly successful sport was Dr James Naismith. Given orders from his principal, Dr Luther H Gulick, he designed a energetic amusement appropriate for indoor winter play.

The game borrowed ideas from American football, soccer, and hockey, and basketball was first played with a soccer ball. After brainstorming some new ideas, Naismith derived basketballs original 13 rules and subsequently, the game of basketball. The first basketball contest was played with a soccer ball, vegetable baskets and nine members in each side.

This first contest is believed to have been played Dec. 21, 1891. Basketballs first official match was played in the YMCA gymnasium on January 20, 1892 with nine players, on a court about half the size of todays Streetball or National Basketball Association (NBA) court. "Basket ball",a name proposed by one of Naismith's students, was well liked from its introduction. Teams had nine players, and the goals were vegetable or peach baskets which were attached to the wall.

The first public game was in Armory Hill YMCA on March 11, 1892, with a crowd of 200 on hand, as the students winning over the teachers 5-1; Amos Alonzo Stagg got the only basket for the teachers. The first women�s game was March 22, 1893 at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. Colleges first basketball match occurred on Feb. 9, 1895 Minnesota State School of Agriculture beat Hamline 9-3. The first women�s basketball college match happened April 1895 between Stanford and California. Professional basketball begun their league in 1898 calling itself the National Basketball Association (different body to todays nba). The first national AAU basketball tournament was in 1897.

Wisconsin claims to be the first state with a high school state tournament, which was won by Fond du Lac in 1905. High school basketball attracted national attention 12 years later in 1917. By 1897-1898, teams of five was promoted to the norm. Basketballs first devotees were sent out to YMCAs throughout the United States, and it quickly spread through the usa and canada.

By 1895, it was firmly installed at several women's high schools. Basketball became popular nationwide and to Canada and other parts of the world, played by both women and men; it also became a cherished informal outdoor game. Women's basketball began in 1892 at Smith College when Senda Berenson, also a sports instructor, adapted Naismith's rules for women. In the years before World War I, the Amateur Athletic Union and the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (forerunner of the NCAA) vied for control over the rules for the game.

U.S. servicemen in world war ii (1939-1945) advanced the sport all over the world. A number of U.S. colleges adopted the game between about 1893 and 1895. In 1934 the first college games were staged in New York City's Madison Square Garden, and college basketball attracted a bigger following. By the 1950s basketball had become a major college sport, thus paving the way for a greater public demand in professional basketball.

Intriguing Basketball facts

Basketball was originally played with a soccer ball. The first balls made specifically for basketball were brown, and it was only in the late 1950s that Tony Hinkle, searching for a ball that would be more visible to players and spectators alike, introduced the orange ball that is currently used. Dribbling was not part of the original game except for the "bounce pass" to team mates. Passing the ball was the primary means of ball movement. Dribbling was finally established but limited by the asymmetric shape of early balls. Dribbling only was promoted to a major part of the game around the 1950s as manufacturing helped in the design of the ball.

Basketballs first professional league, the National Basketball League, began life in 1898 to protect players from exploitation and to advance a less rough game. This league only lasted five years before breaking up; its demise spawned a number of loosely devised leagues throughout the northeastern United States. One of the first and greatest pro teams was the Original Celtics, organized about 1915 in New York City. They played as many as 150 games a season and dominated basketball until 1936.

The Harlem Globetrotters, founded in 1927, a notable exhibition team, became famous for their pleasing court antics and astonishing teamwork. Basketball was first played in the olympic games in 1936, in Berlin, when the USA winning over Canada 19-8 for the gold medal. The first olympic final was played outdoors, in the mud and rain, on a tennis court. In 1949 two subsequent professional leagues, the National Basketball League (formed in 1937) and the Basketball Association of America (1946) merged to create the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Boston Celtics, led by their center Bill Russell, dominated the NBA from the late 1950s through the 1960s. By the 1960s, pro teams from coast to coast played in front of audiences of millions every year. Wilt Chamberlain, a center for the Los Angeles Lakers, was one more top basketball player during the era, and his games aginst russell were massively popular. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, also a center, established himself during the 1970s. Jabbar perfected his famed "sky hook" shot while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers and dominated the opposition.

The NBA lost popularity in the late 1970s, though came back primarily through the increased magnetism of its generally celebrated players. Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics, and Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers are renowned for injecting excitement into the league in the 1980s through their incredible team skills and decade-long rivalry. For the time of the late 1980s Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls became a superstar and catapulted the bulls to domination of the NBA for the time of the early 1990s. A new generation of stars, including Shaquille O'Neal of the Orlando Magic and Larry Johnson of the Charlotte Hornets, have sustained the NBA's growth in popularity.

In 1959 a Basketball Hall of Fame was founded in Springfield, Massachusetts. Its rosters include the names of great players, coaches, referees, and people who have contributed significantly to the development of the game. Although no-one is sure that basketballs origins was founded in the ancient Mesoamerican ballgame, an understanding of that game was obtainable for at least five decades prior to Naismith's creation in the writings of John Lloyd Stephens and Alexander von Humboldt. Stephen's works especially, which included drawings by Frederick Catherwood, were available at most educational institutions in the 19th century and also had wide popular circulation.

The history of Basketball is as fascinating as any other sport and today has become one of the most popular games in the world.