Basketball Printables

James Naismith was a Physical Education Instructor (born in Canada) who invented the game of basketball (1861-1939). He was born on November 6, 1939, in Ramsay Township, Ontario, Canada. At Springfield, Massachusetts, YMCA, he had a rowdy class that was stuck indoors due to the weather. Dr. Luther Gulick, head of YMCA Physical Education, ordered Naismith to come up with a new game that wouldn't take up too much room, would keep the athletes in shape, and would be fair for all players and not too rough. Thus, basketball was born. The first game was played in December 1891, using a soccer ball and two peach baskets.

• Basketball Wordsearch
• Basketball Vocabulary
• Basketball Crossword Puzzle
• Basketball Challenge
• Basketball Alphabet Activity
• James Naismith, Inventor of Basketball Coloring Page