On a chilly December day in 1891, in a small gym in Springfield, Massachusetts, a new sport was born. The man behind it was James Naismith, a Canadian-born physical education instructor at the YMCA Training School, tasked with creating a game that could keep students active indoors during the winter. He hung two peach baskets on the walls and drafted 13 basic rules. Thus, basketball began.

Discover how international basketball competition accelerates team growth through cultural exposure, autonomy, adaptability, and renewed motivation, highlighting the 5th edition of the Lisbon Basketball Youth Cup on 21–22 June.

It was December 1891, in the gymnasium of the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, when Dr. James Naismith introduced a new game to keep his students active during the harsh winter. Tasked with creating an indoor activity that promoted physical fitness without excessive physical contact, he devised a game that involved throwing a soccer ball into two peach baskets affixed to the balcony railings.

Little did he know that this simple innovation would give birth to basketball, a sport that would grow into one of the world's most popular and influential games.