BASKetball. History

History
Basketball was originally played with a soccer ball. The first balls made specifically for basketball were brown, and it was only in the late 1950s that Tony Hinkle, searching for a ball that would be more visible to players and spectators alike, introduced the orange ball that is now in common use. Dribbling only became a major part of the game around the 1950s, as manufacturing improved the ball shape. The peach baskets were used until 1906 when they were finally replaced by metal hoops with backboards. Whenever a person got the ball in the basket, his team would gain a point. The baskets were originally nailed to the balcony of the playing court, but this proved impractical when spectators on the balcony began to interfere with shots. The backboard was introduced to prevent this interference; it had the additional effect of allowing rebound shots.

Rules
Games are played in four quarters of 10 or 12 minutes. Оvertime periods are five minutes in length except for high school which is four minutes in length. Teams exchange baskets for the second half. Five players from each team may be on the court at one time. Players wear high-top sneakers that provide extra ankle support. Typically, team names, players' names and, outside of North America, sponsors are printed on the uniforms.