James Naismith

Wonder a Day Project

James Naismith

By: Duc Anh

His Early Life

He was born on November 6, 1861, in Almonte, Ontario, Canada.

Both of his parents died from typhoid fever. He went to live with his uncle Peter and helped work on the farm.

James Naismith

He enjoyed sports and playing games. His favorite game was “duck on a rock”.

He was a good athlete and participated in football, lacrosse, gymnastics, and rugby

After graduating with a degree in Physical Education, he went to work as a PE teacher at McGill University.

He later left Montreal and moved to Springfield, Massachusetts where he went to work for the YMCA.

Be strong in body, clean in mind, lofty in ideals.

James Naismith

Basketball

Basketball

Why

Where, When

Naismith was tasked to create an indoor sports game to help athletes keep in shape in cold weather.

The game was invented by Springfield College instructor and graduate student James Naismith in 1891.

Interesting fact

How

Naismith put the baskets at each end of the gym, nailed 10 feet above the floor.

People told him to name it Naismith Ball but he decided to name it basketball.

Basketball

Tossed the ball to start the game

Teaches a woman how to play basketball

Explaining the rules

Naismith's basketball team

Naismith's grandson

The first basketball court

Later life, Death and Legacy

Basketball became an official sport of the Olympics in the 1936 Summer Olympic games. Naismith was able to hand out the Olympic medals to the winning teams.

James Naismith was 78 years old when he suffered a brain hemorrhage and died on November 28, 1939.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was named in his honor in 1959. Each year the best college basketball players and coaches are honored with the Naismith Awards

3 Interesting Facts About James Naismith and Basketball

Naismith never considered basketball his favorite sport

The first basketball game was played with a soccer ball

He dropped out of school when he was 15

He dropped out of high school to work as a logger in a lumber camp for five years, then returned to finish his secondary education and entered McGill University in Montreal in 1883. He graduated in 1887 with an A.B.

He thought gymnastics and wrestling provided better physical education for boys.

After brainstorming some new ideas, Naismith developed basketball's original 13 rules and, consequently, the game of basketball. The new indoor game was played with a soccer ball, peach baskets, and nine to a side.

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