Springfield, USA, is notable for its fame for the being the
hometown of The Simpson. However, this
blog will be looking at Springfield, Massachusetts and its connection with
Swansea. Yes, there is a connection.
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| Springfield, Massachusetts |
Springfield is the most populous city in Hampden
County, Massachusetts, United States, and its county seat. Springfield
sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence
with three rivers: the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee
River, and the eastern Mill River. At the 2020 census, the city's
population was 155,929, making it the third most populous city in
the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the fourth most
populous city in New England after Boston, Worcester,
and Providence. Metropolitan Springfield, as one of two metropolitan
areas in Massachusetts (the other being Greater Boston), had a
population of 699,162 in 2020
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| James Naismith |
1891, Springfield, the Canadian physical education
instructor James Naismith, invented basketball, the less injury-prone
sport than football.
The game was
invented the indoor game to athletes indoors during the winters. The
game became established fairly quickly and grew very popular as the 20th
century progressed, first in America and then in other parts of the world.
After basketball became established in American colleges, the professional game
followed. The American National Basketball Association (NBA),
established in 1946, grew to a multibillion-dollar enterprise by the end of the
century, and basketball became an integral part of American culture.
Naismith’s original rules which numbered 13, included
- 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.
- 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 good speed.
- 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 person 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.
- A
foul is striking the ball with the fist, violation of rules 3 and 4, and
such as described in rule 5.
- If
either side makes three consecutive fouls it shall count a goal for
opponents.
- A
goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from grounds into the
basket and stays there. If the ball rests on the edge 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 and played
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 them.
- The
umpire shall be the judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify
the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made.
- The
referee shall be the judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is
in play, in-bounds, and 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 fifteen-minute halves, with five-minute rests between.
- The
side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner. In
the case of a draw, the game may, by agreement of the captains, be
continued until another goal is made.
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| Basketball Ball |
Four years later, 1895, the game was played in Swansea at
the YMCA.
2005, Swansea Strom Basketball
club was established.
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