Soccer balls were the original basketball that at time had laces; peach baskets were the original basketball hoop. It was not until the 1950s when the first basketball made specifically for basketball was orange instead of brown (so it was easier for players and spectators to see), and it was not until 1906 when a metal hoop with a backboard was introduced. The sophistication of basketball equipment has grown tremendously since its original years. Now, there are even standards that specify basketball equipment, such as ASTM F1882-15: Standard Specification For Residential Basketball Systems, which details requirements for complete residential basketball systems.
What Is ASTM F1882?
ASTM F1882-15 covers the manufacture, assembly, recommended maintenance, and use of complete residential basketball systems. It defines a complete residential basketball system as a combination of rim, net, backboard, portable or non-portable pole-type support system that is designed and marketed by the original manufacturer to be used together, whether packaged together as a system, or separately as individual component.
The standard aims to reduce potential hazards associated with the installation and use of residential basketball systems.
ASTM F1882-15 does not apply to equipment used in public assembly, such as schools, parks, public and private recreational facilities. It also does not pertain to individual components, such as rim, backboard, pole, portable base system, and net. ASTM F1882-15 also does not cover any residential basketball system that is mounted to any structure or surface—including roof mounting, wall mounting, or any locally or self-manufactured components.
Invention of Basketball
Basketball was invented in December of 1891 by James Naismith, a physical education teacher at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. During the long North Eastern winter months, it was too cold to play football and baseball and too dangerous to play those sports in the gym. As a result, Naismith sought to create a new indoor exercise activity that could be played by his rowdy students. Naismith asked the school’s janitor to fetch him two 18-square-inch boxes for “goals.” The janitor, however, returned with two peach baskets instead.
Naismith nailed those baskets to the railing of the gymnasium balcony, which happened to be 10 feet off the ground—this is why official NBA hoops measure 10 feet high today. Naismith procured a soccer ball, as basketballs did not exist yet. The ball was originally retrieved by a ladder, which eventually grew burdensome, so a hole was made in the bottom of the basket so the ball could fall through. Originally, each team had nine players, and the game was divided into 15-minute halves.
The Original Rules of Basketball
Naismith called his new game “basket ball” and wrote up a list of 13 rules regarding fouls and ball movement. When in possession of the ball, players were required to remain stationary as it was not until 1909 continuous dribbling was instituted. Naismith also enlisted the help of two men to retrieve the ball from the baskets at each end, as holes were not cut into the bottom of the baskets until years later, which helped speed up play. Eventually too, backboards were added which made scoring easier; they were added to prevent spectators from touching the basket and interfering with the ball’s trajectory.
The Growth of Basketball
Basketball proved extremely popular, and in 1894 the first official basketball was developed by the sports equipment company Spalding. Professional leagues were formed, and in the 1920s, pro teams such as the Original Celtics and the Harlem Rens drew huge crowds on nationwide tours.
In 1936, basketball became an Olympic sport, and for the first Olympic basketball game, Naismith tossed the ball for the tipoff. After the championship game, he presented the medals to the players. The game James Naismith invented as a winter “distraction” had turned into a global sport. The new sport led to the creation of the National Basketball League in 1937 and the Basketball Association of America in 1946, which merged to form the National Basketball Association in 1949.
ASTM F1882-15: Standard Specification For Residential Basketball Systems is available on the ANSI Webstore.