As history continues

            On December 21, 1891, James Naismith published his rules for a new game using five base ideas and thirteen rules. That day, he asked his class to play a match in the Armory Street court: 9 vs. 9, using a soccer ball and two peach baskets. Naismith was the inventor of the new game, one of his student proposed to call it “Naismith Game”, but he didn't much like the idea, and suggested that the game consisted of a ball and a basket, and should be called basketball. 
           There are other differences between Naismith’s first idea and the game as we know how to play it today. The peach baskets were closed, and balls had to be taken out manually, later with time a small hole was put in the bottom of the peach basket so they could poke the ball out using a stick. it wasn't until 1906 when metal hoops, nets and back boards were introduced. Earlier the soccer ball was replaced by a Spalding ball, similar to the one used today.
           It was the YMCA which had a major role in spreading basketball throughout the United States, Canada, and the world. The first war, occured In 1914 and sccording to Wikipedia the U.S Army started fighting in Europe in 1917. During WWI, the American Force brought basketball wherever they went. With the troops, there were hundreds of physical education teachers, who knew how to played basketball well, and even James Naismith was in two years with YMCA in France, in that period, they always brought basketballs with them everywhere they went.

From the beginning ...

            Thanks to James Naismith who was an Canadian-American sports coach and innovator. He invented the sport of "basketball" in 1891. James Naismith published 13 rules for the new game. He divided his class of 18 into 2 teams of 9 players each and set about to teach them the basics of his new game of Basketball. The objective of the game was to throw the ball, into the fruit baskets, which was nailed to the lower railing of the gym balcony. Every time a point was scored, the game was stopped so the janitor could bring out a ladder and retrieve the ball. Later, the bottoms of the fruit baskets were removed. The first public basketball game was played in Springfield, MA, on March 11, 1892. 

~ The 13 Rules of Basketball that James Naismith made were ; 

1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or with both hands.
2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands (never with the fist).
3. A player can't 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 at a good speed. Running with the ball is called traveling.
4. The ball must be held in or between 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 this 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 of the 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 means without the opponents in the mean time making a foul).
8. A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edges, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.
9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field of play 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 that side.
10. The umpire shall be judge of the women and men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.
11. The referee shall be judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made, and keep account of the goals with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.
12. The time shall be two 15-minute halves, with five minutes' rest between.
13. The side making the most baskets in that time shall be declared the winner. In case of a draw, the game may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is made.

James Naismith who was an Canadian-American
sports coach and innovator. Inventor of basketball.