Naismith, << NAY smihth, >> James (1861-1939), invented the game of basketball in 1891 (see Basketball ). He wanted to develop a game that could be played indoors during the winter months. He tacked up two peach baskets and used a soccer ball for the first game. He invented the game when he was a physical-education teacher at the International YMCA Training School (now Springfield College), Springfield, Massachusetts.
Naismith was born on Nov. 6, 1861, in Almonte, Ontario. He graduated from McGill University in Montreal. Naismith was one of Canada’s greatest rugby and lacrosse players. He studied for the ministry but became a physical-education teacher. He was director of physical education at the University of Kansas from 1898 to 1937. He became a United States citizen in 1925. Naismith died on Nov. 28, 1939.
