Basketball was invented in 1891 using a soccer ball and two peach baskets.

The longer version

A physical education instructor needed an indoor winter activity, so he nailed two peach baskets to a raised railing and handed players a ball normally used for kicking games. Because the baskets had solid bottoms, every score had to be retrieved by hand from a ladder, which slowed play to a walk. The bottoms were later cut away so the ball dropped straight through.

The first written rules ran to thirteen points and said nothing about dribbling, which developed afterwards as players worked out how to advance without carrying. Early goals counted one point and free throws counted the same, a scoring scale that changed repeatedly. Indoor courts and a ball that bounces also explain why the game rewards vertical space, unlike field sports played on grass.

Where this entry sits

Facts here look at the rules, equipment and odd histories behind familiar sports and games, from balls and rackets to cards, boards and playing fields. Expect small details about scoring quirks, stadium design and the long story of the Olympic Games. The full list sits on the Sports and Games page, where every entry is listed in order.