Peach Basket

Peach Basket: In the Beginning Recently the original version of Naismith’s 13 Rules of Basketball was sold by Sotheby’s at auction for $4.3M to the Booth family in Kansas. The Booths are strong backers of Kansas University athletics and academics and wanted the document to find a home at KU, where Naismith also taught and served as director athletics. The Rules will henceforth reside at the KU sports museum (also named after the Booths) which is situated along Naismith Drive on the campus. The 13 Rules of Basketball document will complement what is already an outstanding basketball and sports collection at KU’s basketball arena and athletic complex. The Rules move from the Nelson-Adkins Museum in Kansas City to KU’s campus in Lawrence should attract many more admiring fans and sports historians to the KU sports museum.

modesty would probably give collective credit for the game’s invention to his peers, students, administrators and even the neighborhood kids playing the stone throwing game, duck on a rock.

These rules remain primordial to the origin of Hoops worldwide. And now “The Rules of Basketball” are back in Kansas where they rightfully belong. Here are those original rules: 1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.

2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands, but never with the fist.

3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man running at good speed.

4. The ball must be held by the hands. The arms or body must not be used for holding it.

5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, striking or tripping in any way of an opponent. The first infringement of this rule by any person 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 substitution shall be allowed.

6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violations of Rules 3 and 4 and such as described in Rule 5.

7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls it shall count as a goal for the opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the meantime 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.

Dr. Naismith’s original basektball goal.

With The 13 Rules of Basketball removed to Kansas University, close to Naismith’s eternal resting place at Memorial Park Cemetery, we are reminded again that every YMCA, school, professional, Olympic and pickup game owes its roots to Naismith. While recent claims regarding the usurping of rules and other factors involved in Naismith’s peach basket game have arisen, the record is clear: he created the game and deserves his rightful status as its “Father.” If alive today though, his

9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field and played by the first person touching it. In case of 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 them.

10. The umpire shall be the judge of the 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 fifteen-minute halves, with five minutes rest between.

13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner.

Basketball originated in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1891, when Naismith was given a 14 day directive to develop a game

game—as Dr. Naismith no doubt intended under “The Rules.”

In thinking about the thousands of games that occur just in the United States–from the early YMCA teams, high schools, colleges and on to the NBA–it’s remarkable that what began in Massachusetts has now become a world wide sports phenomenon. Whether you are a player, fan, cheerleader, coach, parent, athletics administrator or sports manufacturer, the game of basketball effects millions of people worldwide each and every season. The time spent and income earned from the sport are truly remarkable. Naismith knew he had a winner when it kept his misbehaving physical education class occupied, and today countless others have benefited from his creative genius.

As noted, basketball has traveled an incredible journey since Naismith hung that first peach basket on the wall at the Y. Moving backwards in time, let’s examine Dr. James A. Naismith.

Born in Canada, Naismith was a superb athlete at Montreal’s McGill University and was chosen as its outstanding allaround athlete in 1887. In many ways, he was truly the model for the collegiate student–athlete. His focus on developing the mind along with the body and spirit continue to serve as a goal for collegiate athletes. At McGill he played multiple sports including basketball, rugby, gymnastics, football and soccer. Many sources credit him with creating the first football helmet.

Dr. James A. Naismith, inventor of basketball

at the YMCA by his boss for winter months. The 13 Rules of Basketball he formulated became the basic framework of the rules of the game as it’s played today. Notably Naismith disallowed dribbling in his 13 Rules of Basketball, fearing it might lead to injury. Instead he emphasized passing the ball (initially a soccer ball was used) as the only means of moving the ball around on the court.

Naismith’s requirement for a jump ball after a goal, rather than a change of possession (in comparison to today’s game) is a very interesting concept. Many rules committees have considered bringing a form of this back to the game, since it allows a team to compete more effectively when behind. As is, unless there is a foul, a shot clock violation, offensive foul, steal or unforced error by the team in the lead, the trailing team is stuck as the clock ticks down. Thus many teams coming from behind are forced to foul to slow the game down and hope the opposing team doesn’t make a high percentage of foul shots. Let’s wait and see what happens.

Naismith was a team coach and his Rules effectively de-emphasized personal glory. The premium he gave in the Rules to the pass–as opposed to a disallowed dribble– leaves the strong impression that Naismith wanted basketball to be a truly team game. Generally, even today the better passing team wins the

Naismith was not about fame or patenting the game of basketball. Nor would he have been interested in the lust-moneypower that seem to accompany modern day coaching and athletics, other perhaps than to decry it. As a college instructor, he spent considerable time with his students. Many photographs of Naismith feature the teacher with his students.

Basketball was only one of this 19th century Michelangelo of sports interests. Over the course of his professional life, Naismith focused on several primary fields of endeavor. First and foremost was physical education and coaching. Though he never practiced medicine, he did complete a medical degree in Denver while also working at the YMCA there from 1895-98. During World War I he served as a military chaplain, deploying to France with the federalized Kansas National Guard (which became part of the U.S. Army’s 35th Infantry Division). Returning from the war, he continued at KU as its athletic director from 1919 to his retirement in 1937. He and his first wife, Maude, had five children. Following her death, he would remarry two years later.

It’s also fair to say that Naismith was one of the early educator-coaches who realized many of life’s hard learned and

earned lessons can come through organized athletics. In this, he affected positively thousands of KU students during his 18 years of coaching and leading the athletics department.

Chaplain Naismith with the US Army in France during World War I, 1916-1918

While the Olympic Games permitted basketball to be played as early as 1904, these were exhibition games only. It was not until 1936 and the Berlin Olympics that the sport was included as a competitive team sport with national teams participating. In honor of his status as the father of the game, Naismith was invited to come as a special guest of the American Olympic Committee. His travel costs were met through contributions (a penny from each ticket) from basketball games played all over America at every level, eventually raising over $5,000 to underwrite his expenses. While in Berlin, he had the privilege of opening the basketball competition at the Games.

Among his many accomplishments, Naismith also spearheaded–along with Emil Liston–the formation of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Though the NCAA has overtaken the NAIA in terms of finances, size and prestige, its 270 member schools compete in Kansas City yearly for the NAIA national basketball title. The first college men’s basketball championship in the United States occurred in Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium in 1937—hosted by the NAIA. What Naismith and others started has led to NAIA championships in many sports. Along the way the NAIA was the first organization to introduce black athletes into collegiate hoops championships (by John Wooden at Indiana State University in 1948). The NAIA also early on established an enduring tradition of high academic standards for its student athletes.

Naismith felt basketball was not meant to be coached, but played. That is so very true today because no coach can provide the on-floor chemistry required for a team to be consistently successful and competitive. A true sports icon, the

contributions of this humble educator-coach-administrator continue to live on through the awards given in his name.

Each year the Naismith Awards recognize the best players, coaches, and officials in America. While there are many pioneering role models in sports, the legacy that Naismith left behind at McGill University in Canada, the Springfield YMCA and as a role model professor and creative coach at Kansas University are second to none.

Naismith coached Phog Allen who coached Adolph Rupp, Ralph Miller, and Dean Smith—all very successful collegiate hoops coaches. Some believe Naismith may have trouble resting in his grave, what with the thunder emanating from nearby Allen Field House at every (always sold out) KU game.

(Interestingly, Phog Allen’s grave is fairly close to Naismith’s and there is a plot nearby reserved for Larry Brown). For my part though, as I drove away from Lawrence on my way to Indiana, I could not help feeling that because of Dr. Naismith, Lawrence and the KU campus may be the most underrated historical sports site in the United States. Arguably it is to sports as Appomattox is to the Civil War. And not unlike Appomattox, while famous, it also lies uniquely in the middle of rural America.

Naismith’s curriculum vitae* at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield reads: James Naismith Born: November 6, 1861 in Almonte, Ontario, Canada Died: November 28, 1939 in Lawrence, Kansas Height: 5-foot-10 1/2, Weight: 168-180 pounds Naturalized: May 4, 1925 OBJECTIVE To create an indoor game that would provide an “athletic distraction” for a rowdy class through the brutal New England winter. Under orders from Dr. Luther Gulick, head of physical education at the School for Christian Workers (now Springfield College), Naismith had 14 days to create a game for a group of 18 students who were training to become executive secretaries.

EXPERIENCE University of Kansas Professor of Physical Education, 1917-1937 University of Kansas Professor and University Physician, 1909-1917 University of Kansas First Basketball Coach, 1898-1907 University of Kansas

Associate Professor and Chapel Director, 1898-1909

(1941) posthumously.

YMCA of Denver

Sent to Berlin, Germany to introduce Basket Ball into the Olympic program (1936)

Instructor in Physical Education, 1895-1898 Springfield College Instructor in Physical Education, 1890-1895

*James Naismith’s original résumé prepared by Hellen Naismith Dodd, January 6, 1959

McGill University Instructor in Physical Education, 1887-1890 EDUCATION Thool Seminary, 1887-1890 Silver medal (1890), second highest award for regular and special honor work in Theology Activities: soccer, rugby, track, lacrosse, tumbling, drilled with Royal Scots McGill University, B.A., 1883-1887 Gold Wickstead Medal (1887), Best All-Around Athlete Silver Cup (1886), first prize for one-mile walk Silver Wickstead Medal (1885), Best All-Around Athlete Awarded one of McGill’s first varsity letters Activities: soccer, rugby, track, lacrosse, tumbling, drilled with Royal Scots Almonte High School, Ontario, Canada, 1875-1877, 1881-1883 Dropped out for four years, re-entered and graduated Bennie’s Corner Grade School, Ontario, Canada, 18671875 MILITARY SERVICE Y.M.C.A. program, lecturer of Moral Conditions and Sex Education, 1917-1919 Chaplain, First Kansas Infantry on Mexican Border, 1916 Chaplain/Captain, First Kansas Infantry, 1914-1917 ORGANIZATIONS/HOBBIES/MARITAL STATUS Pi Gamma Mu, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Mason Camping, Canoeing, Woodwork Author of numerous basketball articles, including Basket Ball Guides (1892-1895) and the History of Basket Ball Married Maude E. Sherman (1894) in Springfield, Mass.

Maude Naismith passed away on March 3, 1937; re-married Florence Kincaid, June 11, 1939 Five children with Maude: Margaret (1895), Hellen (1897), John (1900), Maude (1904) and James (1913) Elected to American Academy of Physical Education

Dr. Naismith while at Kansas University