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Where does basketball come from? |
by Kate Simmons >> more about the author
You see the players running up and down the court while dribbling, then finally taking a shot when they reach the basket. It’s basketball, and boy is it a fun sport to watch! Some sports have been around so long, they are ancient, while others were invented more recently. Basketball is a newer sport!
Basketball was invented in 1891 by a man named James Naismith, who was asked to create a game that could be played inside. Naismith was an instructor at a school in Massachusetts, a state in which students must spend lots of time inside during the winter due to the cold and snowy weather.
Naismith wanted a game that would safely engage the students in a gym-sized space. Luckily, he came up with basketball, which involved a ball that was large and soft like a soccer ball, and goals (baskets) that were high above players’ heads. Slam dunk!
The next time you’re playing basketball, take a minute or two to
notice the texture of the ball. When you touch the ball with your palm
and fingers, what does it feel like? Do you notice the bumps? They may
remind you of the scaly skin of a reptile! Why do you think a
basketball is bumpy?
If your answer involves
grip, you’re correct! Think about how often your hands come in contact
with the basketball. If it had the smooth surface of a bowling ball,
imagine how tricky it would be to grab onto! Luckily the bumpy leather
or rubber surface of a basketball is grip-friendly!
