Basketball

The More You Know

Basketball BC is the provincial organization responsible for the development of the sport in the province.  More information about Basketball BC programs can be found at www.basketball.bc.ca.

History

Canadian James Naismith invented the sport of basketball in 1891 at the YMCA Training School in Massachusetts, in an effort to entertain his students during the cold winter months.  Early on, the ball used by two, nine-player teams was simply a soccer ball and the baskets at each end of the court were peach boxes.  The bottoms of the peach boxes were cut out and then eventually replaced with metal hoops and backboards.  The game has evolved to be played all over the world and was first included in the Olympic Games in 1936 with the women’s game added in 1976.

Basketball has developed over the years to involve the common techniques of shooting, passing, and dribbling, as well as players’ positions, and offensive and defensive structures.  Typically, the tallest members of a team will play centre or one of two forward positions, while shorter players or those who possess the best ball handling skills and speed, play the guard positions.

Basketball at the BC Games

The BC Summer Games features U14 competition with the traditional five-on-five format, where teams play on a full court. The U14 program is the introduction point for the elite basketball programs where players are identified for future National Championship and Centre for Performance opportunities.  The program is designed to assist in the development of fundamental skills and provide expert coaching for athletes in this age group.