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Dr. James Naismith's 13
Original Rules of Basketball
- The ball
may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.
-
The ball
may be batted in any direction with one or both hands (never with the fist).
- 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 if he tries to stop.
- The ball
must be held in or between the hands; the arms or body must not be used for
holding it.
- 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
player 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.
- A foul
is striking at the ball with the fist, violation of Rules 3,4, and such as
described in Rule 5.
- If
either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count a goal for the
opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the mean time making a
foul).
- A goal
shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the
basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or
disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edges, and the opponent moves the
basket, it shall count as a goal.
- When the
ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field of play by the
person first touching it. In case of a 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 that side.
- The
umpire shall be 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 men according to Rule 5.
- 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.
- The time
shall be two 15-minute halves, with five minutes' rest between.
- The side
making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner. In case of
a draw, the game may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until
another goal is made.
Note: The original rules of basketball were written
by Dr. James Naismith in December, 1891 in
Springfield
, Massacussetts. These original rules were published in January 1892 in the
Springfield
College
school newspaper, The Triangle.
Last updated:
10/04/12
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