Beginners Guide to Basketball

The first basketball contest was played on December 21, 1891, with each team consisting of nine players. The objective was to send a soccer ball into an opponent-held peach basket. As the popularity of the game increased, modifications were made, such as modifying the receptacles so the ball could be recovered more easily.
Over the subsequent decades, basketball's prominence grew not only in the United States but also internationally. In 1932, basketball was sanctioned for the first time for Olympic competition.
Over the years, basketball's rules have evolved and been refined, with the 1954 addition of a shot clock being the most notable change.
Today, basketball has a tremendous global following and is one of the most popular sports performed in professional leagues worldwide. It has had a profound impact on conventional society, permeating every artistic discipline, from fashion to music to film.