basketball

Introduction

basketball, game played generally indoors by two opposing teams of five players each. Basketball was conceived in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, a physical education instructor at the YMCA college in Springfield, Mass., as a way to condition outdoor athletes during the winter months. His original list of 13 rules has undergone a century of revision, leading to faster pacing and greater athleticism. Today basketball is one of the most popular American sports and one the rest of the world has adopted.

Sections in this article:

Introduction
Basic Rules
Professional Basketball
College Basketball
Olympic and International Basketball
Women's Basketball
Bibliography

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