Dr. James Naismith’s Original 13 Rules of Basketball

As avid basketball fans, we all owe this one to Dr. James Naismith – the Canadian-born physical education teacher and instructor who actually invented the game in 1891. Named as “basket ball” at first, the game had 13 original rules.

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But, all of them were not created at the time of the invention of the game. In fact, Dr. Naismith took time to adjust and come up with a set of rules. Some of the original rules are still in use in the modern game.

It was by then a game without dribbling and the player with the ball could only take hardly a few steps.

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Making three consecutive fouls was equal to scoring a goal. In 2010, the original rulebook of the game was auctioned for $4.3 million. Following are the original rules of basketball. Without a doubt, a 131-year-old game is now played in over 200 countries.

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The Original Rules of Basketball:

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  1. The original rule allowed the player to toss the ball toward any player or in any direction with one or two hands, but not with fists.
  2. The ball must be gripped by the hands; the arms or any part of the body should not be used to hold the ball.
  3. A player must not run while holding the ball but must throw it from where he caught it.
  4. Violation of the first three rules is considered a foul. Pushing, moving, or attacking an opponent is also considered a foul.
  5. The first violation of the rules is called a foul. If the same player fouls twice, he will be disqualified until the next goal is scored.
  6. The opposing team is allowed to score if one team fouls three times in a row.
  7. Umpires can ban a player for the entire game if he finds that the player intended to hurt an opponent.
  8. Umpires are responsible for overseeing the game, recording errors, and sending off players if necessary. Umpires manage the game time and decide which side should have possession of the ball. They also identify goals and track numbers.
  9. A good goal is when the ball thrown from the court hits the peach basket and stays. If the opponent moves the basket at a time when the ball is on the touchline, the opponent team will be given a goal.
  10. The first person who touches the ball when it goes out of bounds can throw it. No player can hold the ball for more than five seconds, doing so will make them lose the possession of the ball.
  11. In case of a dispute, the referee will throw the ball directly into the field. It will be considered a foul if a team deliberately delays the game.
  12. The match is divided into two halves of 15 minutes with a five-minute interval in between.
  13. The team that scores more (legal) goals within the stipulated time will win the contest. If the score is tied, the game enters in extra time to determine the winner.

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