| Introduction and Basketball Equipment |
From "Family Sports"
episode SPT-107 |
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The modern sport of basketball was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1891, but back then you may not have been able to recognize the game. James Naismith, a phys-ed instructor at the YMCA International Training School (which later became Springfield College), dreamed up the game to provide students with a physical, competitive sport that could be played during the winter months. After failing to adapt soccer and lacrosse to indoor play, he eventually decided to try something new. He nailed peach crates to the balconies at either end of a gymnasium and made up a set of 13 rules, by which two nine-member teams competed with each other as they attempted to toss a soccer ball into the baskets. Early teams wore long-sleeved wool jerseys and long pants. Backboards were added to the game in 1893, but the first backboards, which were made of wire, were mainly intended to keep spectators from interfering with the game. Competition in the early days was rough and physical, and games often digressed into bloody brawls involving players as well as spectators. Refs sometimes carried guns (no kidding!) to keep the participants and spectators under control. As the popularity of the sport grew, the rules of the game became more regimented, and in 1936 basketball became an official Olympic sport at the Berlin games. Today basketball, truly an American-original sport, is one of the most popular team sports and is enjoyed in gymnasiums as well as outdoor public courts and driveways all over the country. It is one of the most readily accessible competitive sports because variations on the game can be played with any even number of players ranging from two to 10. With new products like portable goal set-ups, it's easy to turn your own driveway into a makeshift court for practice or pick-up games. Steve Wiley, a basketball specialist with Galyan's Sports Store, talks with Belma Johnson about basketball equipment you may want to consider for setting up a home court. Deluxe portable goals (figure A) have sturdy construction and a heavy steel support pole. Once the goal is set up in a desired location, the plastic base can be filled with water or sand to keep it stationary. Goals in this category come with a regulation-size rim and an oversized backboard with plenty of rear support for better rebounding effect. The rim uses a breakaway construction to prevent damage to the backboard if players perform slam-dunks or hang on the rim. To accommodate different age groups or skill levels in players, the height of the goal is easily adjusted by means of a lever on the back of the support pole (figure B). Prices for deluxe models such as these start at about $500. Midlevel goals (figure C) start at around $200 to $300. These offer slightly less sturdy support and a smaller backboard, but they do come with a regulation rim. These are fine for basic shot practice and casual game play, but they don't offer as solid a rebound effect as more expensive models. Entry-level goals (figure D) are available starting around $150. These also offer less support than the more deluxe models. Goal height is adjustable from seven to 10 feet, but only in half-foot increments. Height adjustment is not as simple or convenient as on the more expensive models. For the truly dedicated, permanent goals can be installed in a fixed concrete base. Most permanent units are more expensive than the portable models and offer deluxe features such as a heavy clear-acrylic backboard (figure E). These models start at around $600 but may go as high as $1,500 if they have all the frills including a professional regulation-size backboard. An electronic scorekeeper, such as the Hoopscore (figure F), attaches to the goal support and provides shot-clock functions as well as an aid for keeping score. The Hoopscore comes with a remote control so that a player, or someone on the sideline, can change the score readout without having to actually touch the scorekeeper. A beeper sounds when the shot clock reaches five seconds, and a buzzer sounds if the player fails to shoot in the allotted time. Nightlights can be mounted on outdoor goals so game play can continue after dark. These attach above the goal by an arm extension so that they are positioned out of the way of shooting. A ball return (figure G) is a practice aid that makes shooting practice more enjoyable. When the player makes a shot, the ball exits the basket onto a flexible ramp, which directs it back to the player, thus making for less stray-ball chasing. The angle of the ramp can be adjusted so that the ball is returned to the player in various positions on the court. Basketballs come a variety of sizes and materials (figure H). Regulation-style leather balls are just like the ones the pros use, but they are suited only for indoor play. The leather exterior would quickly wear out if it were used to play on concrete. Synthetic-leather balls are more durable and better suited for use outdoors on concrete courts. Standard ball sizes are men's regulation, the slightly smaller women's (WNBA) regulation and children's sizes. Smaller balls, some of which are emblazoned with NBA or NCAA team colors and logos, are designed more for novelty or casual play.
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