James Naismith

Home > ... > People > Sports and Games > Sports: Biographies > ...

Essential reading Compare
side-by-side World Encyclopedia The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition

James Naismith

James Naismith , 1861-1939, American athletic director, inventor (1891) of basketball, b. Almonte, Ontario. While an instructor of physical education at the International YMCA Training School (now Springfield College) at Springfield, Mass., he originated basketball as a gymnasium sport. The game was originally played with a soccer ball and two peach bushel baskets, from which the game took its name. Twelve of the thirteen rules Naismith created are still basic to the game. Naismith was later (1898-1937) director of physical education at the Univ. of Kansas.

Bibliography: See biography by B. L. Webb (1973).

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-Naismith" title="Facts and information about James Naismith">James Naismith</a>

Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"James Naismith." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 28 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"James Naismith." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (November 28, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Naismith.html

"James Naismith." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved November 28, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Naismith.html

Learn more about citation styles

Naismith, James

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Â© World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Naismith, James (1861–1939) US sportsman and inventor of basketball, b. Canada. Many of his rules are still in use today.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O142-NaismithJames" title="Facts and information about James Naismith">James Naismith</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Naismith, James." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Naismith, James." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (November 28, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-NaismithJames.html

"Naismith, James." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved November 28, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-NaismithJames.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	High school basketball phenom LeBron James launches new era in the NBA; nine Blacks chosen as lottery picks. (Sports).(National Basketball Association) Magazine article from: Jet; 7/14/2003
	Basketball Hall of Fame Announces North American Finalists for Election; Earvin `Magic' Johnson Highlights Elite Group of 14 Named. Business Wire; 4/24/2002
	Column: LeBron Has Lived Up to the Hype News Wire article from: AP Online; 6/3/2007

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

	James Naismith knew what was good for. Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service; 11/28/1998; ; 700+ words ; LAWRENCE, Kan. _ James Naismith died 59 years ago to...post up Patrick Ewing. James Naismith, toward the end of his...certain guard named Jesse James. Years later, Dennis...s an outlaw. Yes, Naismith was against coaching...
	The basketball man. (basketball inventor James Naismith) Magazine article from: Saturday Evening Post; 4/1/1989; ; 700+ words ; ...anything about basketball." James Naismith, the man who invented the game...professor emeritus. A widower, Dr. James Naismith was wooing the chapter housemother...Almonte, Ontario, in 1861, James Naismith was a son of Scot immigrants...
	[ Dr. James Naismith was the basketball coach at The University... ] Newspaper article from: The Topeka ; 7/7/2002; ; 700+ words ; Dr. James Naismith was the basketball coach at The University...hoop nailed to one end." --- Dr. James Naismith, inventor of basketball and KU coach...The "Father of Basketball," Dr. James Naismith, invented the game of "basket ball...
	[ Dr. James Naismith was the basketball coach at The University of Kansas... ] Newspaper article from: The Topeka ; 7/7/2002; ; 700+ words ; Dr. James Naismith was the basketball coach at The University...hoop nailed to one end." --- Dr. James Naismith, inventor of basketball and KU coach...The "Father of Basketball," Dr. James Naismith, invented the game of "basket ball...
	Olympic Sports of Basketball, Volleyball, Started as YMCA Games; Hoop contests at Athens are legacy of James Naismith and YMCA peach baskets. PR Newswire; 8/14/2004; 700+ words ; ...Luther Gulick asked gym teacher James Naismith to invent an indoor sport to keep Y staff fit during the winter. Naismith hung two peach baskets from an...rest is hoop history. Thanks to Naismith, 400 million people around the...
	Enslow.('The Man Who Invented Basketball: James Naismith and His Amazing Game' and 'The Coral Reef: A Colorful Web of Life')(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review) Magazine article from: Children's Bookwatch; 10/1/2007; 561 words ; ...Edwin Brit Wyckoff's THE MAN WHO INVENTED BASKETBALL: JAMES NAISMITH AND HIS AMAZING GAME (0766028461, $22.60) provides...who invented one of the biggest sports in history. Naismith was great at sports but seemed destined for a quiet...
	December 21, 1891: James Naismith is procrastinating.(Moment)(Biography) Magazine article from: The Beaver: Exploring Canada's History; 12/1/2004; ; 700+ words ; ...outlet for their energy. He assigned Naismith, his new Canadian athletics instructor...indoors. Finally, on this last day, Naismith hustles something together. He recalls...successful that his superiors want to call it Naismith ball. But Naismith has a better idea...
	The basketball man.(Dr. James A. Naismith) Magazine article from: Child Life; 3/1/2006; 661 words ; ...it has just one inventor. Dr. James A. Naismith was hired by the International...class of eighteen young men, Dr. Naismith selected features of soccer...sports. Unlike these sports, Dr. Naismith's new game would not allow physical...
	Kansas' Simien among 20 finalists for James Naismith Award News Wire article from: University Wire; 2/18/2004; ; 294 words ; ...its list of 20 finalists for both the men's and women's Naismith College Players of The Year. The board of selectors includes...coaches, journalists and administrators. The winners of the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball...
	James Heads Naismith Prep Nominees List News Wire article from: AP Online; 2/13/2003; 367 words ; ...Ohio high school star LeBron James heads a list of 10 male finalists...the Altanta Tipoff Club's Naismith Prep Basketball Player of the...were nominated for the female Naismith Award. The finalists were...11 ceremony in Atlanta. The Naismith Awards program, now in its...