Basketball - How The Sport Of Basketball Got Its Start And How It Has Evolved

Basketball was first discovered by DR. James Naismith who was a Canadian physical instructor. It was first played in the winter of 1892 on January the 20th. Even though it was made and discovered by a man, women soon started to play the sport.

The sport is a team sport where there are nine players on each team when the team with the ball is trying to score they are trying to score in a hoop that is ten feet tall and there is also going to be a center that is trying to deflect the ball but cannot be goal tending. While the other team is dribbling down court towards the defending team the defending team is standing their ground waiting for the ball to come to their hoop. If the team with the ball scores the defending team is given the ball and is allowed to try to get basket unless the other defending team steals the ball then they could run down court and make a simple lay up. Basketball is a competitive sport and when being played both teams should be trying to get the most points that they can make.

The first basketball was a soccer ball which was white since the fans and announcers couldn't keep up with the white ball the ball was changed to orange in the 1950s. The court is to be 94x50 which is going by the NBA standards. The goal is going to be ten foot tall with a steel hoop and net with it. There are to be 4 quarters with each of them lasting 12 minutes each. After the first two periods there is to be a fifteen minute break which is known as halftime when the period resumes to the 3rd period the teams switch baskets where they are now opposite to where they were playing before.

In the NBA today the players are required to wear matching jerseys to their teams and are required to have at least 9 players to a team. After the teams have been organized the game would start with a jump ball and either team with the highest person to jump would get the ball first hand to try and make a basket. If the team scored the defending team would then get the ball and would be allowed to try and score against the opposite team for a score of either two points or three points depending on where the shot be taken from. If the shot was missed by the offense then the defending team would be allowed to try and rebound the ball so that they could get a point without having to let the offense score. If the offense had missed a shot and the defense had recovered the ball that is known as a rebound and can be played.

There's much more that can be said about the sport and this is the time of year when everyone is tuning in to see who is going to make it to the playoffs. Watch your favorite sports channel to follow your team and be sure not to miss March Madness.