Kansas basketball: Dr. James Naismith’s rules of basketball, explained

Kansas basketball holds a special place in the history of basketball thanks to Dr. James Naismith, who wrote the rules of basketball.

Today, the sport of basketball occupies the hearts and minds of millions of people around the world. But it had to start somewhere.

That somewhere was Springfield, Massachusetts in 1891 when Dr. James Naismith invented the game while eating at the International YMCA Training School.

The game may have been invented in Springfield, but it is inexorably linked to the Kansas basketball program, which was founded by Naismith.

Since a 2010 donation, the Jayhawks have housed Naismith’s original rules at the DeBruce Center.

Kansas basketball: Dr. James Naismith’s rules of basketball, explained

Six years before Naismith went to work at the University of Kansas, he came up with “basket ball” to keep his students entertained.

The basic rules? They’re pretty much the same as the game is played now: Pass the ball between teammates and toss the ball into the hoop to score points.

Of course, there have been some major changes, including the addition of dribbling, dunking, a shot clock and more complex scoring methods have made it a significantly different game from what it once was.

Here are the original rules:

13 original rules of basketball written by Dr. James Naismith

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 (never with 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 who catches the ball when running at a good speed.
4. The ball must be held in or between the hands; the arms or body must not be used for holding it.
5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping or striking in any way the person of an opponent shall be allowed. 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 substitute allowed.
6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violation of rules 3 and 4, and such described in rule 5.
7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count 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 (without falling), providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edge, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.
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 people 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 is declared the winner. In case of a drew game may, by agreement of the captain, by continued until another goal is made.

Naismith invented the game in 1891 and spread it through the YMCA movement. When he took a job at Kansas in 1898, he ended up coaching the newly formed basketball team as intercollegiate play began to spread.

The rest is history.

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