Dumbed down history loses you again! Stop! This Google dribble robs you of the true riches in basketball’s history.
There’s gold in Naismith’s story. Pan the original waters and dig for the precious gems of this gym teacher’s struggle and you’ll see it. In 2015, a taped 1935 interview surfaced in Kansas. In it, the inventor talked about his disaster, an 1891 game of basketball.
Gone in sixty seconds, you miss Naismith’s wisdom. So, let’s unpack his words for their mineral rights to your victory. Then, after a review of Naismith’s detailed story, you can walk through enlightenment’s door. With Naismith’s hindsight of this experience, grab your newfound shovel of optimism and turn your next disaster into success.
What was Naismith’s Disaster?
The first basketball game had no rules. It was every-man-for-himself, gorilla basketball. Pure, college adolescent warfare. Naismith was clueless at game preparation. What can you expect for an overworked college teacher in charge of the offseason for football boys?
What Is Basketball’s Secret Formula?
Click here to hear it for yourself.
Lessons from Basketball’s Creator
1.Accept the Challenge
Naismith wasn’t the only one in the room when his department boss challenged the staff to an invention of a winter game. But Naismith accepted it and started his work. You can learn from this example given over a hundred years ago. Opportunity hides in the costume of a challenge. And Naismith faced this challenge with determination and grit.
TIP IT IN!
2.Balance Plans and Improvisation
James Naismith could’ve given up when he wanted boxes nailed to the backboards. The janitor only had peach baskets. The former youth minister chose humility over stubbornness to his initial plans.
Call it luck, intuition, divine intervention or desperation. Naismith acknowledged these unforeseen setbacks as part of the journey to unveil his vision.
OLLY-OOP!
3.Commit to Tweak and Improve
A soccer ball and a goal tender. This was his original idea. Naismith had people take the ball out of the peach basket each time it fell in. Over trials, he realized this needed change. He didn’t think of everything to add to the game right away. It didn’t occur to him his solution was so close. Over time, he began to cut out the bottom part of the basket.
SWISH!
Visionaries sometimes overlook the obvious solutions. Be patient and trust your instincts. Listen to your reviews for answers.
SWWWISHH!
4.Failures are Feedback
There were many casualties in the first ever played basketball game. It was a rule less brawl with grave consequences. A concussion, black eye, separated shoulder and a knock-out. Naismith called the match, of “kicking and punching in the trenches”, a “murder. He feared the kids would kill each other.
He must of felt devastated after his hard work turned into a college “free for all” dirty sport.
How did this 31 year old grad student of theology respond?
- He made a new plan and commitment.
- He decided his plan needed “some more rules”.
Once he added a specific rule, the first major problem of player safety disappeared from the game.
“The most important one was no running with the ball. That stopped the tackling and slugging.”
-James Naismith, Inventor of basketball
Remember, sometimes it’s this easy to fix your problems.
Original 13 Rules of Basketball
- 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 (never with the fist).
- 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 a good speed if he tries to stop.
- 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 player 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 allowed.
- A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violation of Rules 3, 4, and such as described in Rule 5.
- If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count for a goal for the opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the mean time making a foul).
- A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edges, 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 of play 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 that side.
- The umpire shall be judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.
- The referee shall be judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in bounds, 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 duties that are usually performed by a referee.
- The time shall be two 15-minute halves, with five minutes’ rest between.
- The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner. In case of a draw, the game may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is made.
5.Know Your Audience
It was obvious as the boys nagged Naismith to let them play again, he was onto something incredible. Naismith had to channel their enthusiasm for this new activity and redirect it into his rules to create “a fine, clean sport”.
Foul procedures were within his new thirteen rules. Any attempt to injure another meant complete removal from the game. He tried this game guided by thirteen rules, and it rewarded him with zero casualties.
So, there’s the true story. The first game of basketball was a horrible disaster. But the guys loved it. Over time, Naismith tapped into this youthful energy. He listened to his instincts, accepted the hand of destiny, and turned it into the success it is today.
It’s remarkable. The attitudes and actions that worked hundreds of years ago still hold value today.
SLAM DUNK!
Put it in Play
Naismith learned the ABC’s of Marketing through his trial and success process applied to the game of basketball. Audience, Behavior, Content Consistency.
Ken Wincko of PR Newswire explains, it’s this alphabet simplicity that guides entrepreneurs and marketers alike.
“Determine who you are trying to reach, what they care about, and how you can provide interesting content for them. Think about the overall vision you are trying to create, and present a clear story that captures that vision.”
Ken Winkco
THREE POINT PLAY!
Wrap Up
Disaster or success? What awaits you in 2021? Follow these timeless truths and you’ll turn your world upside-down. When you don’t keep score with the world’s scoreboard and filter everything through the seedling of growth, success is soon to follow.
- Accept the Challenge
- Balance Plans and Improvisation
- Commit to Tweak and Improve
- Use Failures as Feedback
- Know Your Audience
Yes, you beat the BUZZZZER!
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