Dr.JamesNaismithisknownworld-wideastheinventorofbasketball.Hewasbornin1861inRamsay,Canada.•JamesNaismithmovedontotheYMCATrainingSchoolinSpringfield,USAin1891,wherethesportofbasketballwasborn.In1891,JamesNaismithwasaskedtocreateanindooractivityforstudentsthere.Thestudents,whoweretrainedtobeP.E.teaches,wereunderstandablyboreddoingnothingbutcalisthenicsandgymnasticsduringthoselongMassachusettswinters.Theylongedforactionandcompetition.•TheconceptofbasketballwasbornfromNaismith'sschooldaysintheareawhereheplayedasimplechild'sgameknownasduck-on-a-rockoutsidehisone-roomschoolhouse.Thegameinvolvedattemptingtoknockaduckoffthetopofalargerockbytossinganotherrockatit.Thefirstgamewasplayedwithasoccerballandtwopeachbasketsusedasgoals.Naismithhadjust13rulesforbasketball,whichhecarefullytypedontwopages.Thegamehadtostopaftereachgoalsotherefereecouldclimbaladderandgettheballbackfromthebasket.Luckily,thoseearlygameswereverylowscoringaffairs.Today,basketballisoneofthemostpopularsportsintheworldandhasbeentakenuplotsofpartintheOlympicgames.