Kristian Ferrell
Basketball was invented by James Naismith in 1891 at the International Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. The game was originally played with peach baskets or 18-inch square boxes hung from balconies. The baskets were replaced by heavy woven wire rims in 1892, and cast iron rims in 1893. The first basketball, marketed in 1894, was laced, measured close to 32 inches in circumference, and weighed less than 20 ounces. Originally, a jump ball was used to restart play at the beginning of every quarter and after each basket scored. Over time, the rules around jump balls have changed. The NCAA first changed the rules in 1937, awarding possession after baskets to the scored-upon team. The NBA followed suit in 1949 and made further changes in 1975, removing jump balls for the second, third, and fourth quarters. Today, the NBA and WNBA are among the last leagues to use the jump ball to settle disputes, while other leagues have implemented alternating possession rules.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Inventor of basketball | James Naismith |
| Date invented | 1 December 1891 |
| Location invented | International Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Training School, Springfield, Massachusetts |
| Original rules | Included a jump ball to begin every quarter and after every basket scored |
| Date of original rule change | 1937 |
| Organisation that changed the rule | NCAA |
| New rule | Awarding possession after baskets to the scored-upon team |
| NBA rule change | 1949 |
| Further NBA rule change | 1975, removing jump balls to begin the second, third and fourth quarters |
| College basketball rule change | 1981, alternating possession arrow rule |
| Current use of jump balls | NBA, WNBA, Euroleague Basketball |
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What You'll Learn
James Naismith invented basketball in 1891
Naismith was an instructor at the International Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) Training School (now Springfield College) when he invented basketball. He was tasked by Luther Gulick, the head of physical education, to create a game that would occupy his students during the winter. The first game of "Basket Ball" was played in December 1891, with Naismith's handwritten rules posted on a bulletin board. Interestingly, the game was played with nine players per team, using a soccer ball, and with peach baskets as goals.
Naismith's original rules for basketball included a jump ball after every basket scored and at the beginning of each quarter. However, this rule was changed in 1937 by the NCAA, which awarded possession after baskets to the team that had been scored upon. The NBA followed suit in 1949, and further modified the rule in 1975 by removing jump balls for the second, third, and fourth quarters.
Basketball has since evolved and spread worldwide, becoming an Olympic sport in 1936. The game has undergone various changes, such as the introduction of a basketball specifically designed for the sport in 1894, the adoption of nets open at the bottom in 1912-13, and modifications to point values over time. Today, basketball is a dynamic sport that builds stamina and muscular endurance through its unique movements and short sprints up and down the court.
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Jump balls were used to restart play after every goal
James Naismith invented basketball in 1891. The game was played with peach baskets or 18-inch square boxes hung from the balconies of the running tracks of most indoor facilities. The first basketball game ever played began with a jump ball, tossed in the air by Naismith himself. Jump balls were used to restart play after every goal and at the beginning of every quarter.
In 1937, the NCAA changed the rules, awarding possession after baskets to the team that had been scored upon. The NBA followed suit in 1949, and further changed the rules in 1975, removing jump balls to begin the second, third, and fourth quarters. The NCAA implemented alternating possession rules in 1981, which awarded possession sequentially for all jump ball situations after the opening tip at the beginning of the game.
The NBA and WNBA are among the last leagues to use the jump ball to settle disputes after a held ball or other situations where two players have equal claims to the basketball. The jump ball is a method used to begin or resume play in basketball. Two opposing players attempt to gain control of the ball after an official tosses it into the air between them. The NBA uses jump balls more frequently than most other leagues.
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The NCAA changed the rules in 1937
James Naismith invented basketball in 1891. Naismith's original rules for the game included a jump ball to begin every quarter and after every basket scored. Jump balls were used to restart play at the beginning of every quarter and after each basket scored.
The NCAA implemented alternating possession rules in 1981, awarding possession sequentially for all jump ball situations after the opening tip at the beginning of the game. This change was based on the belief that referees were not able to consistently ensure fair tosses. The decision has been controversial.
Today, the jump ball is one of basketball's most recognisable traditions, marking the start of the game and sometimes determining who gains possession during key moments. However, the use of jump balls varies across different leagues and levels of play.
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The NBA removed jump balls after baskets in 1949
Basketball was invented by James Naismith in 1891, and his original rules included a jump ball after every basket. Jump balls were also used to begin every quarter. Jump balls are a method of restarting play, where two opposing players jump and attempt to gain control of the ball after an official tosses it into the air between them.
In 1937, the NCAA changed the rules, awarding possession after baskets to the team that had been scored upon. The NBA followed suit in 1949, mirroring the NCAA's rules. In 1975, the NBA further altered the rules, removing jump balls for the second, third, and fourth-quarter possessions. Instead, possession was automatically granted to the team that lost the opening tip in the second and third quarters, and to the team that won the first tip in the fourth.
The decision to remove jump balls after baskets was likely influenced by the belief that they disrupted the flow and pace of the game. Additionally, with the introduction of the shot clock in college basketball in 1985, teams could no longer rely on holding the ball in the corners to protect a lead. The removal of jump balls after baskets also aligned with broader efforts to curtail the dominance of exceptionally tall players and encourage a faster, more dynamic style of play.
While the NBA has significantly reduced the use of jump balls, they are still employed at the start of the game, in held-ball situations, and at the start of each overtime period. The WNBA and Euroleague Basketball have also adopted the NBA's jump ball rules. However, other leagues, such as the NCAA, have moved towards alternating possession rules, where possession is awarded sequentially after the initial jump ball at the beginning of the game.
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Jump balls are still used in certain situations
James Naismith invented basketball in 1891. The game was played with peach baskets or 18-inch square boxes hung from the balconies of the running tracks of most indoor facilities. The original rules included a jump ball to begin every quarter and after every basket scored. Jump balls were used to restart play at the beginning of every quarter and after each basket scored.
Over time, the rules of basketball have evolved, and the use of jump balls has been reduced. The NCAA first changed the rules in 1937, awarding possession after baskets to the scored-upon team. The NBA followed suit in 1949 and made further changes in 1975, removing jump balls for the second, third, and fourth-quarter possessions. The NCAA implemented alternating possession rules in 1981, awarding sequential possession for all jump ball situations after the opening tip-off.
Despite these changes, jump balls are still used in certain situations. The NBA, for example, uses jump balls more frequently than most other leagues. They are used at the start of the game, for every held-ball situation, and at the start of each overtime period. The WNBA and Euroleague Basketball have also adopted the NBA's jump ball rules.
In college basketball, a jump ball is used only at the beginning of the game, after which it switches to the alternating possession arrow system. International basketball also uses jump balls, particularly during overtime tips. While the specific rules and frequency may vary across different leagues and levels of play, jump balls continue to play a role in determining possession and starting the game.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, James Naismith's original rules for basketball included a jump ball after every goal. The NCAA first changed these rules in 1937, awarding possession after baskets to the team that was scored upon.
A jump ball is a method used to begin or resume play in basketball. It involves a referee tossing the ball vertically between two opposing players, who jump and attempt to tap it to a teammate.
The jump ball rule was changed at different times in different leagues. The NCAA changed the rule in 1937, the NBA in 1949, and the WNBA in 1975.
