Basketball a brief History

A SHORT HISTORY OF BASKETBALL

Basketball was invented in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian of Scottish descent at Springfield College
Massachusetts. The college was the International YMCA Training School and the game was invented to provide an indoor
activity for trainee YMCA leaders. When the game was first played, peach baskets were nailed up at each end of the
gymnasium as “goals”, hence the origin of the name “basketball”.

The first set of rules was published and distributed through the YMCA movement in 1892 and this resulted in the game
spreading rapidly throughout Canada and the USA. 1892 also saw the game played in England for the first time at
Birkenhead YMCA after the Club President was the game played whilst on a business trip to Canada. In 1893 the game
was introduced into the Physical Training College in Hampstead (now Dart ford College of PE) by Madame Berman Oster
berg. Changes to the game to suit the girls led to the first rules of netball being published in 1901.

By 1898 a professional league was established in the USA and by 1911 basketball had spread throughout the UK as a
sport. In 1924 it was introduced as a demonstration sport at the Paris Olympic Games and Great Britain won the title.
1927 saw Abe Saperstein a Londoner from the world famous Harlem Globetrotters and in 1931 FIBA the International
Basketball Federation was formed with a Welshman as its first secretary.

The England Basketball Association was formed in 1936, 13 years before the NBA was formed in America, and by 1957
the English Schools Basketball Association was formed. The 1970’s saw the introduction of both men’s and women’s
national leagues in the UK, and by 1999, 219 teams were entered in the over 16 national leagues with almost 100
competing at under 15 levels. By 1990 there were 117 member countries in FIBA making basketball the second largest of
all the world’s governing bodies and also the world’s fastest growing and largest participation sport.

To date there are 212 member countries worldwide, whilst in the UK alone there are over 500,000 people who regularly
participate in recreational basketball and it has become increasingly common to find the sport as part of the curriculum in
schools at all levels. It is also used widely as a community activity as anyone of any age or gender can participate.
Basketball is now included in the Commonwealth Games and the sport in general received a lot of coverage when the GB
wheelchair team performed very successfully in the Paralympics recently, proving that it is a sport that is accessible and
playable by all.

Why not have a look at our basketball equipment, which includes balls, hoops and nets and backboards.

Basketball injuries

Injuries while playing basketball are commonly caused by falls, player contact, awkward
landings, abrupt changes in direction and being hit by the ball. Common types of injuries
are:

 Injuries to the lower body, mostly ankle sprains

 Injuries to the hand, fingers, head, face and teeth

 Knee injuries – females are at higher risk of knee injury than males

 Overuse injuries – are most common in higher level players due to the duration and
intensity of play.
 Preventing basketball injuries

To prevent injury you should:

 Be prepared.

 Wear the right gear.

 Check the environment is safe.

 Know yourself and the sport.

Preparing to play basketball

Before you start playing basketball, remember to:

 Attend training so your body is ready.

 Warm up and stretch before playing.

 Cool down and stretch after playing.

Wear the right basketball gear

When you're playing basketball, make sure you:

 Wear a mouthguard, preferably custom-fitted, at all times.

 Wear shoes designed for basketball.

 If you have a history of injury, speak to your doctor or physiotherapist about

appropriate bracing or protective gear.

Check the basketball environment

Check the basketball environment is safe and remember to:

 Remove hazards, such as stones and water, from the playing surface.

 Make sure backboards and baskets are of a high standard, securely mounted and
well maintained.

 Make sure backboards, their supports and walls are padded.

 Make sure baskets and boundary lines are not too close to walls and fixtures.

 Ask a suitably qualified person, like a builder, to assess the safety of your
installation if you install a ring at home.

 Do not fix a basketball ring or backboard to brickwork.

Other basketball safety tips

General safety suggestions when playing basketball include:

 Choose activities that are suited to your fitness level.

 Follow the rules and play fairly.

 Know and use the right techniques for passing, jumping, landing and shooting.

 Know how to use the equipment properly and safely.

 Never hang or swing on a basketball ring.

 Drink water before, during and after play.

 Do not play in extreme heat or wet conditions. Where possible, games should be
rescheduled.

 Coaches, players and parents should be aware of heat illness symptoms.

 Qualified first aid personnel, first aid kits, icepacks and a stretcher should be
available at all times.

 Telephone access, to contact emergency services, is essential.

Respond promptly to basketball injuries

If you or someone else is injured:

 Remove injured or bleeding players from the court immediately.

 Seek prompt attention for injuries from qualified first aid personnel.

 Make sure you are fully rehabilitated before returning to play.

 Wear a brace for at least three months after serious joint injuries.
 Where to get help

 Your doctor

 Sports physician

 Physiotherapist

 Australian Physiotherapy Association Tel. (03) 9092 0888

 Always call triple zero for an ambulance in an emergency Tel. 000

 Smartplay Tel. (03) 9674 8777

Things to remember

 Basketball is a contact sport that can result in injuries.

 The most common injuries are due to falls, contact, awkward landings, abrupt
changes in direction and being hit by the ball.

 Using the right techniques and equipment for the sport can help prevent injury.

How to Dribble a Basketball in 7 Steps

Step #1 - Spread and Relax Your Fingers
The first step in learning how to dribble a basketball is to relax your fingers and make sure they’re
spread out evenly on the basketball.

Young kids have a tendency to keep their fingers together unless they’re taught otherwise.

Spreading your fingers out increases the surface area and gives the player more control.

The other issue is players making their hands and fingers too stiff…

Which results in players ‘slapping’ at the ball.

It’s important players get comfortable relaxing their hands and fingers.
Step #2 - Use Your Fingertips For Control
Some coaches and trainers tell their players the basketball should never touch the palm of their hand
while they’re dribbling…

I disagree.

This results in a bunch of 5-year-olds making a claw shape with their hand, bouncing the ball with the
top of their fingers, and then wondering why they can’t dribble.

The basketball SHOULD touch all of the pads on your hand…

But it’s the fingertips which control the basketball.

Step #3 - Get Your Body Down Low

All players should be bending their knees and staying low to the ground when they have possession
of the ball.

There are several reasons for this, but the main benefit is…

Being low to the ground makes you explosive.

If your defender reaches in to steal the basketball, you’ll be able to immediately explode past your
opponent and attack the rim.

Whereas if you were more upright, you’d first have to drop down before you could attack.

Step #4 - Pound the Basketball into the Floor

Players need to push the basketball into the ground with force when they’re dribbling.

Do this by extending the elbow and snapping their wrist at the bottom of the movement.

The less time the basketball is out of your hands, the more control you have.

If a player bounces the basketball without much force, the ball can easily be tapped away by a
defender because of the time extra time it isn’t in the offensive player’s hands.
Step #5 - Protect the Basketball From the Opponent
Players have to make sure they’re protecting the basketball when dribbling.
There are several ways to do this:

1. Raise your non-dribbling arm for protection

This is known as an ‘arm bar’.

An arm bar will hold off a defender who’s attempting to close down the space and will also deter
defenders from reaching in and attempting to steal the basketball.

But make sure to never push off with it.

2. Use your body to shield the ball

Turning your back / shoulder towards the on-ball defender will also provide protection.

Defenders will have a difficult time reaching all the way around the dribbler’s body and tapping the
ball away without fouling them.

Step #6 - Keep Your Eyes Up to See the Floor

When first learning how to dribble a basketball, it’s natural for players to look down at the ball when
they’re practicing.
But as they improve, players need to be encourage to raise their eyes up and see the floor.

When in game situations, this will allow them to read the defenders and their teammates to make the
right passing decisions.

Step #7 - Learn How to Dribble With Both Hands

"I learned at a young age to dribble with both hands, and that allows me to be more creative when I
go against bigger and stronger opponents" - Steve Nash
Have you ever coached against a player who can only attack the rim using their dominant hand?

They’re incredibly easy to stop.

All a defender needs to do is overplay their dominant hand and the offensive player will either have to
pass the ball to a teammate or they’ll attempt to drive and lose the ball.

Which is why players must learn how to dribble equally well with both hands.
When a player can do this, their opportunities immediately double.

Step #8 - Dribble With a Purpose

One of my favorite dribbling quotes of all time comes from former Australian basketball coach,
Lindsay Gaze…

"You dribble to score, not to explore."

Mindless dribbling is something that’s becoming more and more common in today’s game.

Players are putting the ball on the floor as soon as they receive it without having a smart reason for
doing so. This is often leading to them wasting the dribble.

3 Basketball Dribbling Drills

1. Up-and-Back Dribbling
How the Drill Works:
A player dribbles a basketball up and back in a small area performing different dribbling moves. At
home, this area could be the driveway. At the gym, this area would be the full or half court.

Purpose:
Learning the basics of how to dribble a basketball. This is a great way to introduce new dribbling
movements to players without overwhelming them.

Instructions:
1. Get one basketball and line up on the baseline.
2. Dribble the full length of the court practicing a specific dribbling move while trying to keep your
head up to see the floor.
3. Each time you get to an end and turn around, switch up the move your practicing.

Dribble Moves:
Here are a few of the different dribbles I like to use with beginner players:
 Right Hand

 Left Hand
 Crossovers

 Behind the Back

 Through the Legs

 Dribble Low

 Dribble Backwards

 Walking

 Jogging

 Sprinting

Coaching Points:
• Do your best to keep your eyes and head up throughout the drills to see the floor.

• When performing the different dribbling moves, do your best to explode out of the move to practice
getting past your opponent.

• Go slow in the beginning and focus on technique before adding speed.

2. Balloon Dribbling
How the Drill Works:
This drill involves keeping a balloon in the air while simultaneously dribbling a basketball. When the
balloon hits the floor, the player loses their score and starts back at zero.

Purpose:
An incredibly fun drill designed to improve a player’s ability to control the basketball. The drill
achieves this by forcing players to keep their eyes and focus on the balloon instead of the basketball.

Instructions:
1. Players begin by dribbling the basketball while holding a balloon.
2. When they’re ready, the player throws the balloon directly up into the air.
3. The player then continually taps the balloon into the air while keeping their dribble alive.
4. A player is out when they lose control of their basketball or their balloon hits the floor.
Variations:
Opposite Hand - Players are required to dribble the basketball in their non-dominant hand only.
Change Hands - Players must switch which hand they’re tapping the basketball with each time they
keep the balloon alive.

Coaching Points:
• Ensure you’re in a low stance while maintaining the dribble. The closer the basketball is to the
ground the easier it will be to control.

• Attempt to keep your eyes up and on the balloon at all times.

3. Stationary Dribbling Drills

How the Drill Works:
A player gets a basketball and finds a small, flat area where they can dribble. They then perform a
series of one and two-ball ball-handling drills.

Purpose:
Players work on keeping their heads up while performing a variety of creative dribbling and ball-
handling moves to improve their feel for the basketball