JAMES NAISMITH: BIOGRAPHY, BASKETBALL RULES AND QUOTES - BIOGRAPHIES - 2025

James Naismith (1861-1939) was a native physical education teacher from Almonte, Canada. He is considered a very important figure in the world of sports, since he invented basketball in 1891. This happened when his head of the Christian Association asked him to create a different discipline for athletes during the winter.

Naismith was a sports lover from a very young age and, although he wanted to become a priest, after thinking about it he realized that the two vocations had no affinity and that he had to choose one of them.

Black and white photograph by James Naismith. Via wikimedia commons.

Although he was born and spent much of his life in Canada, thanks to his skills as a physical education teacher he was able to move to the United States. In 1925 he received the citizenship of that country.

Biography

He was the son of Scottish immigrants. His father John Naismith immigrated to Canada when he was only fourteen years old.

Naismith had a difficult childhood, since he was orphaned of both father and mother in 1870, due to typhoid fever. This caused him to go to live with his maternal grandmother and an uncle. The young man helped with the tasks of the field and also was distracted with the popular games of the time.

At eighteen, James became independent from his uncle and began apprenticeships for a dollar before becoming a construction contractor.

After associating with Robert Young, he married his daughter Margaret Young in 1858. It is worth mentioning that with this family he experienced difficult times, since he had to experience the premature death of Robert.

Academic and work life

He completed his primary and secondary studies in Canada; although she decided to leave them to dedicate herself to work. As time passed and thanks to the support of his uncle, he returned to the last years of high school. Then in 1883 he began his college career at McGill University.

In 1887 he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree. From that moment on, he worked as a physical education teacher in his alma mater. He became a consecrated professor and in parallel managed to graduate from the seminary in 1890; but his sporting vocation was stronger than his religious inclination.

During that year he decided to resign his position as director of Physical Education in Montreal and went to work at YMCA International Training School in Springfield, becoming a great educator and passionate about sports. Thanks to this, he received the medal as the best athlete from McGill University twice.

Last years

Naismith remarried Maude Evelyn Sherman in 1894 in Springfield; from this marriage five children were born. Unfortunately, Maude passed away in 1937. In 1939, he remarried Florence Kincade. However, in November of that year, the athlete passed away in Lawrence due to a brain hemorrhage.

About basketball

By placing himself at the command of his new boss, Naismith was tasked with creating an exercise that would help athletes not give up the sport during winter. From that moment, the basketball court became the indicated space for the development of the discipline.

In addition, James was aware of how important it was for people to exercise, which favored balance and emotional stability, as well as contributing to physical well-being.

Naismith Basketball Rules

Naismith had to thoroughly study and compare the sports of the time. In particular, she was asked to find a closed place to practice that game, since athletes had to keep in shape while the United States winter passed.

However, discipline had to be based on regulations. Thus, Naismith chose to create thirteen rules that gave rise to basketball. These were:

1- The ball can be thrown in any orientation with one hand or two.

2- The ball can be hit in any orientation with one hand or two, but never with the fist.

3- Participants cannot run with the ball, since they must throw it from the place where they caught it. In the event that a participant catches the ball during the race, as soon as she has it, she must try to stop.

4- The ball has to be carried with one hand or between both hands. The body or arms cannot be used to support it.

5- You must not collide with the shoulders, push, grab or hurt opponents in any way. Violation of this rule by any participant will be called a fault.

If it occurs a second time, the offender is disqualified until the next basket is achieved or, in the event that the intention to hurt the opponent has been evident, he will be disqualified for the rest of the game, without having a substitute.

6- It will also be considered a foul if the ball is hit with the fists. This is reaffirmed in the first five codes against sports rape.

7- If any of the teams makes three fouls in a row, then a basket will be counted for the opposing group.

8- It will be considered as a basket when the ball is thrown or hit from the floor to the basket, as long as the defending participants do not touch the sphere or prevent the basket. If the ball remains on the basket line (that is, it does not go in) and the opponent moves the basket, it is counted as a point.

9- When the ball goes out, the first participant to feel it must throw it back onto the playing field. In case of dispute, the referee will be the one who throws the ball onto the field. Whoever kicks the ball only has 5 seconds.

If the ball is held for longer, it will go to the opposing group. If either team continues to delay the game, the referee will indicate that a foul was committed.

10- The assistant referee must act as judge of the players. For this reason, she has to record the fouls, notifying the mediator when three consecutive attacks are made. Taking into account rule number five, the referee may disqualify.

11- The main referee is in charge of everything that relates to the ball and must determine when the ball is in play or has left the field. In addition, you have to establish which team you belong to and you must keep strictly timed time.

This referee must also decide on the score, therefore he has to count the baskets and carry out the usual duties of a regulator.

12- The time will be divided into two halves, each with a duration of fifteen minutes. There will be a five minute break between the halves.

13- The group that gets the most points within that time will be the winning team. In the event of a tie, if the captains of both teams agree, the match will continue until either team obtains a basket.

Source: pixabay.com

His history in American football

Naismith's achievements were not only based on basketball, he is also credited with the first sketch of the football helmet. Although it was not a protector in itself, this athlete considered that the participants should protect themselves due to the maneuvers they performed in that discipline.

While studying his master's degree in physical education, Naismith was selected to play on the football team. His position was center, requiring strength and toughness to avoid being defeated. For this reason, he decided to use a kind of helmet to protect himself from the opponents and the rudeness of the game.

This first protector consisted of a wide flannel band supported by two straps, one upper and one lower, which was placed around the head to cover the ears. The reason for this prevention was due to the fact that he suffered from hematoma auris, better known as cauliflower ear. He didn't mind being grotesque to the spectators as long as he protected himself during the match.

Quotes

Naismith engaged in various sports in the course of his life. As an athlete, I knew that it was essential to maintain balance between mind and body. Among his appointments stand out:

"Be strong in body, clean in mind, noble in ideals."

"I'm sure no man can get more money or power pleasure than I can from watching a couple of basketball goals that make or break every place."

"Basketball is a pure invention."

"Basketball doesn't build character, it reveals it."

"In case of dispute, the referee must go directly to the court."

"Basketball really has its origins in Indiana, which reminds me of the center of the sport."

Recognitions

Naismith was the fundamental pillar of the discipline of basketball. His work on basketball - titled its Origins and Development - was published two years after his death. Likewise, he was a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame in Canada and of FIBA. In 1968 the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield was created, named in his honor.

He was also a member of the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame and the following institutions: Canadian Sports, Ontario Sports Legends and Ottawa Sports.

References

1. Alemany, E. (2016). The original thirteen rules of basketball created by James Naismith. Retrieved on January 13, 2020 from JB Basket: jgbasket.net
2. (SA) (nd). 10 Things About Basketball Inventor James Naismithhy. Retrieved on January 13, 2020 from Legacy: legacy.com
3. (SA) (2015). James Naismith Biography. Retrieved on January 13, 2020 from Biography: biography.com
4. (SA) (2018). It is 127 years since James Naismith's great invention: basketball. Retrieved on January 14, 2020 from Marca: marca.com
5. (SA) (nd). James Naismith. Retrieved on January 13, 2020 from NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME: hoophall.com
6. Stevens, H. (2010). A look at the original rules of basketball. Retrieved on January 13, 2020 from Espn: espn.com