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Why did James Naismith create basketball at the YMCA Training School?
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Basketball
Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls leaping into the air during the slam-dunk competition at NBA All-Star weekend in Chicago, February 6, 1988.
James Naismith created basketball in 1891 at the YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, to provide his students with an indoor activity during the cold winter months.123
At the time, the students were restless, and Naismith needed a game that was safer and more engaging than the standard, repetitive calisthenics drills used at the school. He sought to replace outdoor sports like football and [lacrosse], which were too dangerous to play in an indoor gymnasium. By incorporating elements from various outdoor sports while strictly limiting physical contact and prohibiting running with the ball, Naismith successfully developed a new game that prioritized safety and enjoyment.13