Naismith who invented basketball in 1891, grew up in Canada, where he surely played popular children's school game called "Duck on a Rock" A target, known as the "duck" was situated on top of a large rock. The goal of the game was to throw another rock to knock the duck off the large rock.
When Dr. Naismith began working at the men's training school, he remembered this childhood game. He had his hands full with bad young teenagers who were in trouble with the law. His goal was to educate these troubled young men, and to help them turn their lives around in a positive way.
Dr. Naismith wanted a game where strength (力量) was not enough for victory. He wanted to show the young boys that using their brains was a far better way to succeed.
He put a basket about four meters above the floor at each end of a small gymnasium. A soccer ball was used as the first basketball, and a simple set of thirteen rules was drawn up.
From these beginnings, the game we now know as basketball was born. Over the years, it has changed quite a bit. The rule book of thirteen rules has grown greatly, but the simple elegance(优雅)of the game can still be enjoyed.
By the time of his death in 1939, the game Dr. Naismith loved was well on the way to taking its place as a top world sport.
