How to dye your first lacrosse head. What supplies do you need for dyeing lacrosse heads. Can you dye textured lacrosse heads. What are the benefits of dyeing lacrosse heads. How has lacrosse head design evolved over time. What impact do textures have on dyeing lacrosse heads. How do manufacturers balance performance and customization in lacrosse head design.
Essential Supplies for Dyeing Lacrosse Heads
Dyeing lacrosse heads is an art form that allows players to express their creativity and personalize their equipment. To get started, you’ll need a few key supplies:
- DyeMore from Rit Dye or another plastic-specific dye
- A large stock pot for water
- Heat source (stove top, BBQ, or camping stove)
- Rubber gloves
- Dish soap
- Tongs
- An old or inexpensive lacrosse head for practice
- Optional: heat gun or blow dryer
Why is dish soap included in this list? Dish soap acts as a surfactant, helping the dye penetrate deeper into the plastic for a more vibrant and long-lasting color. It’s a simple yet effective trick that can significantly improve your results.
Step-by-Step Guide to Dyeing Your First Lacrosse Head
Ready to transform your lacrosse head? Follow these steps for a successful dye job:
- Clean the lacrosse head thoroughly with soap and water
- Prepare your dye bath by bringing water to a boil in your stock pot
- Add your chosen dye to the boiling water and stir well
- Carefully submerge the lacrosse head in the dye bath using tongs
- Monitor the dyeing process, adjusting time as needed for desired color intensity
- Remove the head from the dye bath and rinse thoroughly
- Allow the head to dry completely before use
How long should you leave the head in the dye bath? This depends on the desired color intensity and the type of plastic. Start with short intervals of 2-3 minutes, checking the color frequently. You can always re-dip for a darker shade, but you can’t undo an overly dark dye job.
Advanced Techniques: Creating Unique Designs
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can explore more advanced dyeing techniques to create eye-catching designs:
- Stenciling: Use vinyl decals or tape to create patterns
- Fade effects: Gradually dip the head to create a color gradient
- Multi-color designs: Use multiple dye baths for complex color schemes
- Marbling: Create swirled patterns by mixing dyes
Can you combine different dyeing techniques? Absolutely! Experimenting with various methods allows you to create truly unique lacrosse heads that stand out on the field.
The Evolution of Lacrosse Head Design
Lacrosse head design has come a long way since the early days of the sport. Modern heads feature advanced materials, intricate shapes, and specialized textures to enhance performance:
- Improved polymer compositions for durability and flexibility
- Strategically placed struts and reinforcements for rigidity
- Textured surfaces for better ball control
- Optimized sidewall designs for improved ball retention
- Specialized features like ground ball assistants on scoops
How have these advancements affected the dyeing process? While these innovations have improved on-field performance, they’ve also presented new challenges for customization enthusiasts. Textured surfaces and complex shapes can make even dyeing more difficult, requiring adaptations to traditional dyeing techniques.
The Impact of Textures on Lacrosse Head Dyeing
Textured lacrosse heads have become increasingly popular due to their performance benefits, but they present unique challenges for dyeing:
- Uneven dye absorption on textured surfaces
- Difficulty in achieving clean lines and patterns
- Potential for dye to pool in recessed areas
- Increased risk of streaking or blotching
Is it still possible to dye textured lacrosse heads effectively? Yes, but it requires extra care and attention to detail. Some dyers recommend using a soft brush to ensure even dye application on textured surfaces, while others have developed specialized techniques for working with specific head designs.
Balancing Performance and Customization in Lacrosse Head Design
Manufacturers face a delicate balance when designing lacrosse heads. They must consider:
- On-field performance and player preferences
- Compliance with league regulations
- Durability and longevity of the product
- Aesthetic appeal and customization potential
Why do some manufacturers prioritize performance over customization? The primary goal is to create heads that enhance gameplay and meet the needs of players at various skill levels. While customization is important to many players, it’s often secondary to performance in the eyes of manufacturers.
The Role of Market Trends
Market trends play a significant role in shaping lacrosse head design. As the sport grows and evolves, player preferences and performance demands shift. Manufacturers must stay attuned to these changes to remain competitive.
How do emerging brands impact the lacrosse head market? New entrants like Epoch, Powell, True, Wolf, and ECD have brought fresh perspectives and innovative designs to the market. This increased competition has spurred established brands to push the boundaries of head design, resulting in a wider variety of options for players.
The Future of Lacrosse Head Dyeing
As lacrosse head design continues to evolve, so too will the art of dyeing. The dyeing community is known for its creativity and adaptability, constantly developing new techniques to overcome challenges posed by modern head designs.
- Development of specialized dyes for textured surfaces
- Advanced masking techniques for complex head shapes
- Integration of 3D printing for custom design elements
- Exploration of alternative customization methods beyond traditional dyeing
Will advancements in manufacturing lead to more customization-friendly head designs? It’s possible that as the customization market grows, manufacturers may begin to consider the “dye-ability” of their heads as a design factor. This could lead to heads that offer both high performance and excellent customization potential.
The Benefits of Dyeing Lacrosse Heads
Despite the challenges posed by modern head designs, dyeing remains a popular practice among lacrosse players and enthusiasts. The benefits of customizing your lacrosse head include:
- Personal expression and unique style on the field
- Team bonding through coordinated custom designs
- Potential psychological advantage through intimidating or eye-catching designs
- Improved visibility of the head during gameplay
- Opportunity to refresh and renew older equipment
Does a custom dye job affect the performance of a lacrosse head? When done correctly, dyeing should not impact the structural integrity or performance of a head. However, it’s essential to use appropriate dyes and techniques to avoid any potential damage.
The Community Aspect of Lacrosse Head Dyeing
Beyond the individual benefits, lacrosse head dyeing has fostered a vibrant community of artists and enthusiasts. This community shares techniques, showcases designs, and pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in head customization.
How has social media impacted the lacrosse dyeing community? Platforms like Instagram and YouTube have allowed dyers to share their work with a global audience, inspiring others and driving innovation in the field. This interconnectedness has led to rapid advancements in dyeing techniques and a constant flow of fresh design ideas.
Legal and Ethical Considerations in Lacrosse Head Dyeing
While dyeing lacrosse heads is generally accepted, there are some important considerations to keep in mind:
- League regulations on equipment modifications
- Potential warranty implications of altering manufacturer products
- Safety concerns related to chemical exposure during the dyeing process
- Environmental impact of dye disposal
Are there any restrictions on dyed lacrosse heads in official play? Rules vary by league and level of play. Some organizations have specific color requirements or restrictions on head modifications. It’s always best to check with your league or governing body before using a custom-dyed head in official games.
Responsible Dyeing Practices
As the popularity of lacrosse head dyeing grows, it’s important for practitioners to adopt responsible methods:
- Use eco-friendly dyes when possible
- Properly dispose of dye waste
- Ensure adequate ventilation when working with dyes
- Use appropriate personal protective equipment
How can dyers minimize their environmental impact? Consider using natural or biodegradable dyes, recycling dye baths when possible, and properly disposing of any chemical waste. Some dyers have even experimented with plant-based dyes as an eco-friendly alternative.
Troubleshooting Common Dyeing Issues
Even experienced dyers encounter challenges from time to time. Here are some common issues and potential solutions:
- Uneven color distribution: Try adjusting dye bath temperature or using a soft brush for application
- Fading or color loss: Ensure proper dye fixation and avoid excessive sun exposure
- Difficulty with light colors: Use a white base dye or bleach the head before applying light shades
- Dye not adhering to certain areas: Thoroughly clean the head and consider light sanding for better adhesion
What should you do if a dye job doesn’t turn out as expected? Don’t panic! Many mistakes can be corrected with additional dyeing or by using color removers designed for plastics. In some cases, you may need to start over with a solid base color before attempting your desired design again.
Experimenting with New Techniques
The world of lacrosse head dyeing is constantly evolving, with new techniques emerging regularly. Some innovative approaches include:
- Hydro dipping for complex patterns
- UV-reactive dyes for glow-in-the-dark effects
- Combining dyes with paint for textured designs
- Using resist techniques inspired by traditional fabric dyeing
How can you stay up-to-date with the latest dyeing techniques? Engage with the dyeing community through forums, social media, and local lacrosse events. Many experienced dyers are happy to share their knowledge and help newcomers develop their skills.
As lacrosse head design continues to evolve, so too will the art of dyeing. The challenges presented by modern head designs have pushed dyers to innovate and adapt, resulting in ever more impressive customizations. Whether you’re a player looking to express your individual style or an artist pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, lacrosse head dyeing offers a unique and rewarding creative outlet.
Video: How To Dye Your First Lacrosse Head
Alright, listen up. I’ll cut to the chase: It’s time for YOU to learn how to dye your first lacrosse head. This is something every lacrosse enthusiast should know how to do.
Things you’ll need to you dye your first lacrosse head:
- One or more bottles of DyeMore from Rit Dye, Rit’s new formula specifically designed for plastics, or whatever other kind of dye you prefer
- One stock pot or large pot 3/4 full of water
- A stove top, BBQ, or camping stove for heating the water
- Rubber gloves
- Dish soap
- Tongs
It’s good to start with an old or cheap lacrosse head. Totally fine if it’s dirty… we show you how to clean it in the video. Since I didn’t have a sink in front of me, I used a couple of dishes: one for soap and washing the lacrosse head, and one for rinsing it.
A few other things that will likely come in handy:
So we’ve got our lacrosse head, decal’ed out with some confetti shapes. And now we’re going to take a heat gun – If you don’t have a heat gun, you can use a blow dryer – and we’re going to warm these up and get adhesive nice and sticky.
Alright, It’s time to get ready to dye. So we’re going to keep the water boiling the entire time that we’re dyeing the lacrosse heads. So as soon as it gets to that boil, you know it’s time to put your dye in. Once you’ve got the dye in, go ahead and stir it up using tongs.
Then you’re ready to dye.
Now as you can see, the red’s taking nice. But we’d like it to be a little bit more bright, and bold, and go into the head just a little bit deeper. So we’re going to add a little bit of dish soap to our dye.
So there we have it. Your first dyed lacrosse head. Red, blue, little white fave. Looks kind of like a Rocket Pop popsicle. I’m pretty proud of it. It’s got the confetti design up top. This will look nice and clean for whoever uses it on the lacrosse field.
Remember, it’s not too hard. You just got to give it a try.
And that my friends, is how to dye your first lacrosse head.
That’s it from the LaxAllStars Dye Lab today. Until next time!
Live and Let Dye: Texture on Lacrosse Heads
One of the main characteristics of modern lacrosse heads is the use of different textures and cutouts to create a unique design. Whether it is a matte finish or a cross-hatching design element, new heads present a challenge to aftermarket design. Dyeing lacrosse heads has been a mainstay of expression in lacrosse that has ebbed and flowed. Right now the dye community is dealing with the challenges presented by new textures and designs — here are the pros and cons of that struggle presented by two of the best dyers in the community.
The Pro Texture Point of View (Dan Tisinger)
As a dyer for the last few years, I have had the chance to see and dye a variety of heads, from all the manufacturers. This does not make me an expert in any way with regard to head design or performance engineering, but I have had to address the variances in the different heads from composition, texture and cutouts/shaping. As a matter of full disclosure, I am not a fan of excessive texture or shaping as this limits the “canvas” that I can work with. It is important to see both sides of the discussion, and it is my intention to present what I see as the “pro” side of the discussion.
The ultimate goal from manufacturers is to enhance game play, and in order to do that there are trade-offs. As technology and manufacturing techniques have advanced, so have the design of heads. The industry has come a long way from the D80, SAM, and Hi-Wall, not only in the shape of the face, but also in the cut-outs in the side-wall. Additionally, the research in polymers has advanced as well. Those steps forward have driven the community into such changes as struts that have twists, like the Warrior Burn, to increase rigidity, or the Under Armour Command and STX Hammer that feature design elements on the back of the scoop to assist on ground-balls. The rough texturing that is found on the Maverik line not only could be there for aesthetics, but the friction created on the surfaces lead to better feel and control.
Those benefits to overall game play are bigger drivers to the sale of heads than the ability to customize the head via a dye job. Head and shafts make up approximately 35% of equipment sales in a given year. This is the largest portion of sales within the entire lacrosse industry.
Major Companies/manufacturers have had the luxury of decades of research and the volume of inventory they supply to the Lacrosse community, but recently there has been a shift of the paradigm. Companies such as Epoch and Powell have found success with their new designs while other companies like True, Wolf, ECD, will be offering up new entries to that market. All these heads have distinctive points of difference from not only the Major companies, but each other as well. That thinking and innovation, successful or not, helps the community and the industry move forward. Challenging the way of thinking when we look at what a head is or can be.
These design changes and new technologies do not take into consideration the head dyers. The warranty of most lacrosse heads is voided by “intentional modifications” to include dye. As a manufacturer, if there were stress points or flaws in the design, the dye might conceal that flaw and impede future designs and fault corrections.
While dye, and the look it provides aesthetically, may not seem to be an issue it is more than just color on plastic. So how would dyeing void a warranty? This may be due to the heat changing the composition of the plastic, and changing the stresses that the head can endure.
Ultimately, when it comes to the future designs of heads and the use texture, cut-outs, and channels; It is clearly evident that needs of many out-weigh the needs of the few. The dyeing community is such a small percentage of purchasers, that the innovation surrounding the progress of design and materials will not be influenced by them.
The Anti-Texture Point of View (by Kevin Henry)
Let me first state the obvious, I know that looks assist in selling lacrosse heads. The face shape and sidewall designs, these are the first things potential buyers see. While some features Warrior/Brines Core Tech/Sym Rail or STX’s C Channel are innovations that improve the game. Some aesthetics are superficial and don’t add anything.
It’s these “additives” that hinder any dyer from being able to successfully dye a head. Fades, solids, and galaxy dyes can be done on any head but more detailed dyes require a clean works space. Matte textures seem simple and can make a head look more detailed but something as simple as a differing texture can be a nightmare to dye.
In order for the vinyl to adhere, you need a clean contact. Even with proper application, a matte finish can lead to bleeds (micro and macro) that ruin a dye. There are some matte finishes that are easier to dye than others, but realistically it creates a dye design nightmare.
When you add lines, indents, and other textures, it prevents a lot of clean design elements. It’s never easy to tell a client that you cannot dye everything they want due to the head aesthetics. For example, there are a few heads that are completely un-customizable. While a head may be the ideal offensive head performance wise, a lack of clean space often leaves a lot to be desired.
If you look at the dyed heads that are currently displayed on Instagram, they range from the String King Mark I, Epoch Sequel and Prequel, to older non textured heads. There’s a huge reason for that. Clean spaces and minimal textures. You allow a head to be customized; you make it personal.
I understand that companies need to bring improvements in order to advance the game. New technology is needed but slapping crap on a head to try to sell is a disservice. I’ve never seen or heard of someone buying a head for the aesthetics. I’ve seen them buy them for the face shape or how they preform more than anything else — so why not let the aesthetic elements allow for creative freedom?
Amazon.com : Lacrosse Unlimited Light Blue Marbled Dyed Under Armour Command 2.0 Lacrosse Head : Sports & Outdoors
Currently unavailable.
We don’t know when or if this item will be back in stock.
- Make sure this fits
by entering your model number. - Under Armour Command 2.0 Lacrosse Head strung with LU Platinum Mesh
- Head comes broken in and ready to use upon arrival
- Don’t forget to complete your head with a shaft from the top manufacturers by adding one to your cart separately
- Please allow 3-5 business days for creation plus shipping time
Stadium Series match in numbers
In this article we tell you about the match in numbers.
1 – Number of outdoor matches hosted by the Air Force Academy. Falcon Stadium is the home arena for the Air Force American football and lacrosse teams, as well as the venue for the annual cadet graduation ceremony.
2 – Number of outdoor matches in which Avalanche played. Colorado also hosted the 2016 NHL Stadium Series at Coors Field in Denver.In that match, the victory was celebrated by the Detroit Red Wings (5: 3). It is also the second meeting of the “Stadium Series” on the territory of the military academy. On March 3, 2018, the Washington Capitals beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 at Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, at the US Navy Academy.
3 – Number of outdoor matches for the Kings. They also took part in the 2014 NHL Stadium Series vs. Anaheim Ducks (0-3) at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. And in 2015, they defeated the San Jose Sharks with a score of 2: 1 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, also as part of the Stadium Series.
3 – The number of times Air Force teams have qualified for NCAA Elite Eight in 51 First Division seasons (2009, 2017, 2018).
4 – Air Force Athletes of the Year: Eric En (2007), Jacques Lamoreau and Greg Flynn (2009) and Tim Kirby (2012).
[Follow us on VKontakte, Facebook and Twitter for other exclusive NHL content and news!]
7 – Number of football stadiums that have hosted NHL Stadium Series matches …Falcon Stadium is the seventh arena. It is also the third student arena to host the “Stadium Series” game. In 2016, TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis did this, and in 2018 – Memorial Stadium at the Navy Academy.
8 – Colorado Avalanche defender Keila Makar, who is second in NHL rookie and seventh NHL defender with 42 (12 + 30) points in 48 games (since February 13).
11 – The number of matches of the “Stadium Series”.Since 2014, Stadium Series games have been played in Los Angeles, New York (two matches) and Chicago (2014), Santa Clara (2015), Minneapolis and Denver (2016), Pittsburgh (2017), Annapolis (2018) and Philadelphia (2019).
11 – The number under which the striker Anzhe Kopitar plays, who with 49 (17 + 32) points in 58 matches leads the Kings.
17.6 – Average temperature (Fahrenheit) at the Air Force Academy Feb 15, according to accuweather.com.
29 – Striker Nathan McKinnon’s number, with 80 (32 + 48) points in 56 games leading the Avalanche and fourth in the NHL.
Video: MIN-CALL: McKinnon pushes the Avalanche forward
30 – Number of NHL open-air games, including the 2020 Stadium Series. Out of 29 previous meetings, 18 took place in football stadiums, 10 in baseball and one in football.
41.1 – Average temperature at the time of the start faceoff (in Fahrenheit) in 10 previous NHL Stadium Series games (2004 – 62, 25, 22 and 17 degrees; 2015 – 57 degrees; 2016 – 35 and 65 degrees; 2017 – 46 degrees; 2018 – 41.7 degrees; 2019 – 40.5 degrees).
42.8 – Average temperature (Fahrenheit) at Air Force Academy Feb 15, according to accuweather.com.
53 – Length (in feet) of the world’s largest outdoor refrigeration unit built specifically for outdoor NHL matches.
134 – The number of regular season matches between the Kings and the Colorado Avalanche / Quebec Nordics since 1979-80, when the Nordics joined the NHL from the World Hockey Association. Los Angeles has a point advantage (152-127).The Kings have played 70-52-4, eight draws; The Avalanche have played 56-63-7, with eight draws. The teams played each other twice in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and Colorado won both series. The last meeting between the rivals took place in the first round of the 2002 playoffs, when the Avalanche won the streak in seven matches.
243 – The number of refrigeration units under the Falcon Stadium rink – all 76 cm by 863 cm.
300 – The capacity (in tonnes) of a refrigerated trailer that will keep the ice at Falcon Stadium.
350 – Gallons of white paint used to paint for Falcon Stadium.
811 – Number of players and coaches who took part in 29 outdoor matches (777 players, 34 coaches).
1000 – The number of trainees that will be at Falcon Stadium during the Kings vs. Avalanche match. Of these, 846 will sit on chairs on the pitch, for the first time in NHL open-air history.
1962 – Year in which Falcon Stadium officially opened.
3000 – Gallons of refrigerant used to make ice at Falcon Stadium.
7000 – Altitude (in feet) Air Force Academy.
20000 – Gallons of water used to create 5cm ice at Falcon Stadium.
1,578,507 – The number of fans in 29 street matches. On average – 54,451 spectators per game.
6,000,000+ – Dollars donated as part of the league’s initiatives to support the city hosting the NHL event.Since 2003, the league, clubs and partners have donated over $ 6 million across North America. This has helped thousands of hospital patients, troubled adolescents and families with no access to education, and has provided access to ice hockey for people of all ages.
Colorado prepares arena for “Stadium Series”
US Air Force ACADEMY (Colorado) – It was cold on Monday afternoon at Falcon Stadium, it was raining with ice and strong winds, and a blizzard was expected in the evening.These conditions are far from ideal for building a hockey rink on an American football field.
But Mike Craig, NHL Senior Facilities / Hockey Operations Manager, has no doubt that his 200-man team will be up to the challenge and prepare the arena for the 2020 Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series match between Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings “to be held here on February 15th.
“You already know that the weather is preparing surprises for us.It will snow in the evening, ”Craig said, standing in front of a 16-meter trailer with the world’s largest refrigeration unit, which was brought to the US Air Force Academy grounds, located 100 km from Denver on Monday. – I know that this weather will be here in the next day or two. We’ve worked out a plan of action to help you stay on schedule. “
The refrigeration unit allows the ice to be poured and kept in perfect condition for outdoor NHL games. conditions since 2003, when the first such fight took place.It was a Legacy Classics match in Edmonton at Commonwealth Stadium, which took place at minus 20 degrees. Then the “Montreal Canadiens” beat the “Edmonton Oilers” – 4: 3.
“We worked in a variety of weather conditions at a variety of events, – says Craig. – In the snow, in the rain, in the sun. Everything was. Over time, you gain experience, and nothing is scary.”
The NHL previously hosted an open-air match in Colorado. On February 27, 2016, the Detroit Red Wings vs. Avalanche match took place at Denver’s Coors Field in Denver.On that day, the temperature rose to 17 degrees Celsius. “Red Wings” won – 5: 3.
[Follow us on VKontakte, Facebook and Twitter for other exclusive NHL content and news!] sea level. A familiar situation for Craig’s people who worked in Denver, half a kilometer below.
“We’ve gained valuable experience there, so we’re ready to go,” Craig said.- I talked to people who work at the Academy, they told me about the local climate. So we did our homework. The arena will be ready. ”
On Monday, Craig’s team laid special boards with built-in pipes on the Falcon Stadium lawn, where the US Air Force Academy football and lacrosse teams usually play. the refrigerant pumped into the system will maintain the desired temperature.
According to Craig, the area around the box will be covered with shields on Friday. If everything goes well, they will start pouring ice on the same day.
It will take 80,000 liters of water to make six centimeters of ice, two more than in the indoor stadiums of the NHL.
“We will also use a special insulating material to make it easier for us to control the temperature, – said Craig. – We are working to ensure that the conditions here are not different from those in the usual NHL arenas.And this requires solving a lot of minor issues. We are unable to control nature, so we need to figure out how to resist its possible whims. “
The box will be ready on February 14. Teams will train on it on that day.
” It feels great, “Craig says. – A large number of people work, time and effort are invested to make it all happen. And when it’s all over, it feels good. “
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Athlete News Connor McDavid
9000 February
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9021 5 August 15, 2020
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Now Maple Leaves! In the final of YChM-2021, the Russian national team will meet with Canada
And they are leading in the number of victories at the world junior championships, which have been held since 1999, the Americans – 10 titles.The Finns have 4, the last of which was won in Chelyabinsk-2018 in the final clash with the Stars and Stripes. However, they are not in the spotlight now, but ours and the Canadians.
“Maple Leaves” have hammered 46 goals in this tournament, having declared the reigning world champions Swedes twice – 12: 1 in the group and 8: 1 in the semifinals.
The first period of the semifinal match ended without goals, and in the second the Scandinavians even managed to equalize the score (1: 1), having realized the majority of “5 on 3”. By the second break, the Canadians were leading by a margin of one goal.It seemed that the Swedes would fall on the rivals’ goal, but … The third 20-minute ended with a tennis wheel – 6: 0 with an unrealistic advantage of the Canadians in throws: 29-3.
Moreover, “Maple Leaves”, having secured a victory, did not calm down and continued to finish off the defeated opponent, which is not typical for their adult team.
Number 17 forward Connor Bedard scored a hat-trick, scored 12 (8 + 4) points and caught up with Matvey Michkov in the bombing race. However, the Russian 17th scored the Swedes, exchanged the second ten goals and took the lead with 13 (11 + 2) points for performance.
Bedard tried to sweat with a “lacrosse goal”, but the Canadian failed to repeat Michkov’s trick, who scored the Germans with this “Makar” – the Swedish goalkeeper securely covered the near corner.
But the masterpiece was given by the forward Brennan Othman: the Canadian “seven” hit the gate with a sly throw from under his feet.
In the third period, Canadian goalkeeper Benjamin Gaudreau was frankly bored, who, like our Sergei Ivanov, is number 29. Having conceded five goals from the Finns, the Russian goalkeeper somewhat spoiled his statistics.But this may be for the best. Albert Leshchev’s charges will go to the finals with a feeling of slight displeasure with themselves.
By the way, the three best players of the Russian national team in the tournament have already been named – goalkeeper Ivanov, forwards Nikita Chibrikov and Matvey Michkov. What if Ivan Miroshnichenko or Danila Yurov turn out to be the heroes of the final. What then?
Our two Mis – Michkov and Miroshnichenko remember the victory over Canada at the 2020 Youth Olympics in Switzerland. The current coach of the Maple Leaves, Dave Barr, who led the team at that tournament, has not forgotten her either.
The Canadians, having completed the semifinals four hours earlier than the Russians, got a definite advantage. But it seems that 21 hours should be enough for the Russians to recover and prepare for the main match of the tournament.
Don’t miss it!
May 7 Final 4.00 Moscow time RUSSIA – Canada Match TV
May 7 Match for third place 0.05 Moscow time Finland – Sweden
What these parents learned from the death of their son
GAMBURG, N.Yu. – As a child, Matthew Benedict spent most of the year with a helmet on his head.
There was football in the fall, hockey in the winter and lacrosse in the spring. In the summer, he and his brother and their buddies will travel to Toronto for weekend hockey tournaments.
There were too many hard hits to count, and more hits and bruises. Yet Benedict’s mother, Anna, was never afraid for the safety of her very active and energetic children.
Until October 26, 2013
While playing against an opponent, Trinity Matthew, a junior defender at Middlebury College, was hit in the forehead by an opposing defender.
BACKSTAGE: Researchers approaching CTE diagnosis alive, one brain at a time
“This was the first time in my kids ‘lives that I said,’ Get up, Matt. Get up, Matt, said Anna Benedict.
He did, but after a while he hit him again, this time on the head. Benedict would stay in the game, finishing with 19 tackles, one shy of the school record.
Within a few weeks, his family noticed a noticeable change in the personality of a 21-year-old child.He was uncharacteristically tense. Instead of being at the center of friendly family gatherings, he retired to his room. At Christmas, he told his little sister Lizzie that he was “in shock” for a month, unable to sleep or concentrate.
Less than six years later, Matthew Benedict died of suicide on July 1, leaving a short note for his parents and girlfriend. He was six weeks before his 27th birthday.
“I just can’t take the pain anymore,” he wrote to his parents.”I don’t know who I am anymore.”
Benedict is not the first contact sportsman to commit suicide. He’s also not the first person in his 20s to fight mental health issues. But his story illustrates the challenges parents face when deciding whether to allow their sons and daughters to play contact sports, and deciphers conflicting reports from academics and sports leagues about head injuries.
Although Benedict’s symptoms may have become more acute after several hard blows in the game, he also received many blows to the head throughout his childhood, not only from football but also from other high-risk sports.
Benedict suspects that their son had chronic traumatic encephalopathy with degenerative brain disease, but they will never know for sure because Benedict’s body was too badly damaged after jumping from the 17th floor. Instead, they talk about the importance of parenting self-education and the need to get rid of the stigma that persists around mental health problems that Ann and Bill Benedict say prevent their son from seeking help.
“We are not blaming anyone,” said Anna Benedict. “We blame ourselves most of all for not being able to properly protect our son. Or we don’t realize it ”.
Mixed reports
Research has shown that the frequency of CTE increases with exposure, meaning someone who starts gambling at, say, 5 years old is at greater risk than someone who starts gambling at age 15. The same is true for someone who has been playing for 10 years, as opposed to someone who plays for two.
But scientists still cannot say what role genetics plays or some people are more predisposed than others. They can’t say how many hits are too many. They cannot tell if factors such as drugs can make the disease worse or accelerate its progression. They cannot predict when someone who develops CTE will start showing symptoms.
And then, as in the case of Benedict, the multiplication effect of a child playing more than one contact sport is possible.
Until recently, concussions were thought to pose the greatest threat to an athlete’s long-term health. But many scientists now say that these are unconvincing blows, hundreds of shocking blows are taken by athletes.
Many researchers have recommended not playing football before the age of 14. American football has banned ball play for players under the age of 11 and imposed restrictions on their training for players between the ages of 11 and 13. Ice hockey in the United States prohibits body testing of players under the age of 12, as well as for all female players.
But is that enough? Can we be sure that a parent will ensure the safety of their child and save their families from the suffering of the Benedictines?
It does not help that parents looking for information and guidance find conflicting messages.
For example, the most recent Concussion Sports Consensus Statement, released in 2017, downplays the association between recurrent head injuries and CTEs by saying that “the idea that repeated concussions or sub-concussions cause CTEs remains unknown.” …It also casts a shadow on studies showing the prevalence of the disease in former footballers, because brains were donated by people who feared that they or their loved ones had CTE.
With the exception of the statement group, Concussion in Sports is funded by FIFA, the International Ice Hockey Federation, World Rugby, the International Equestrian Federation and the International Olympic Committee. The lead author is skeptical about the dangers of repetitive head injuries.
“These people who write these documents are driving me crazy,” said Robert Cantu, co-founder of the CTE Center at Boston University School of Medicine and co-founder and medical director of the Legacy Shake Foundation.
Cantu is a member of the Sports Concussion Group, which looks at issues that go beyond long-term damage. But he said the group’s firing of the link between CTE and recurrent head injury “worries me.”
“Very often they ignore a lot of information under the guise of:“ We don’t know yet.We have no definite answers. No, we have no definitive answers. But man, we have a ton of data, ”Cantu said.
“We also had no definite answers about smoking,” he added. “We just had a lot of causal relationships that hit a tipping point until the surgeon general said, ‘Enough, enough.’ So it will be with a head injury. ”
Fewer kids play football
Even without definitive research, some parents are already making a decision that Benedict says they would make if they had to do it again.
The number of annual polls for participation in the National Federation of State Associations of High Schools has declined over the five years. It is still the most popular sport for boys, but the 1,006,013 people who played in 2018-1919 is the smallest number since 1999-2000, when 1,002,734 people were played.
The number of boys playing hockey and wrestling also decreased, while participation in football and field hockey increased for both boys and girls.There is a risk of head injury in all of these sports, although football has been the focus of American culture.
Several states have considered banning football for children under 12 or 14 years of age. In New York, where the Benedictines live, lawmakers will consider legislation next year that would ban soccer for children under 12.
“It’s hard to believe that people really think it’s okay for their kids to play football. I just don’t understand, ”said Anna Benedict.”Research, research – all you have to do is look at some of these children who have it.”
Including, in their opinion, their son.
“I know he has it”
Benedict’s parents said their son had no mental illness before that game of Trinity. Although his symptoms mimicked those associated with bipolar disorder, the Benedict said that Matt’s clinical psychologist told him he was not bipolar.
However, after playing trinity, he was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome.He told one neurologist that although he could only remember one concussion, after hitting a baseball in the eye when he was 5 years old, he had “ringing the bell, I don’t know how many times.”
“We don’t think he suddenly developed something,” said Bill Benedict. “We think it really goes back to the concussion. Or a concussion. “
Anne Benedict undertook exhaustive research to find out what might be wrong with their son and how they can help him.At some point, she came across a story about Owen Thomas, one of the youngest people found at CTE. A footballer in Penn, he hanged himself when he was 21.
She was alarmed at how strikingly similar the Thomas spiral was to her son’s.
CTE can only be diagnosed through an autopsy. The Benedict’s hoped to test Matt’s brain, but his brain could not be saved by jumping out of the building where he worked as a summer lawyer at a law firm.
“I know he has it,” said Anna Benedict.“(But) yes, it would probably be easier” to get confirmation.
Instead, they live with questions. And regrets.
“The guy asked me,“ Knowing what you know now, would you let your child play football? “Said Bill Benedict, who played football himself through college.
” I said no. … Our guys will not go in for (any) sports wearing helmets. ”
“I was ashamed of myself”
The day after Benedict’s death, his parents created a foundation in his honor, “The Final Purpose”.While they are still working on the details, the focus will be on removing the stigma surrounding mental health issues.
A few days after he graduated from Middlebury in May 2015, Benedict wrote a lengthy essay detailing his struggles. Although his family called him “Golden Child” because he seemed to have everything in life, Benedict wrote that he often felt like a cheat. According to him, over the past two years, he has suffered “two severe episodes of depression.”
“I wanted to hide from everyone and everything,” he wrote of the first episode, which occurred at the end of his youth season, after earning excellent awards on the second team and being voted captain by his teammates.
“I could not have a conversation of any depth, and most of the conversations were people congratulating me. Congratulations on what? “- he wrote. “Not able to get out of bed? For hours and hours to work in the library just writing a paragraph? I had no reason to congratulate.I didn’t work and I was setting a terrible example for my team. I stopped calling home, hanging out with friends, or enjoying life. ”
After his death, Benedict’s parents found recordings on his computer that showed even greater despair. He wrote about how he rode one night to try to clear his head and how he couldn’t wait to wrestle off a bridge or hit a tree.
Back at the hostel, he took six Advilses and mixed them with beer. He was almost certain it was a suicide attempt, he wrote in his online diary.
“I refused to tell my friends and family how I felt because I was ashamed,” he wrote in a public essay. “I was ashamed of myself.”
Although some of Benedict’s writings were praised, his parents said that others were not so kind. Some thought he made Middlebury look bad because he mentioned one student who died of suicide and another who tried to do so, and suggested that the school and its community should be more active and support mental health issues.Others said he was stupid enough to be so public that his biggest fight right now is for potential employers and everyone else.
Since then, his parents have said that he left.
He had to take the spring semester in each of the first two years of law school. Once, when they were at a lecture series at the University of Buffalo, Anne Benedict said she looked back and saw her son’s knee shaking like a living wire.
But there were also signs of hope.He started dating his girlfriend in the winter and the relationship was serious. He was close to graduating from law school, juggling the last two classes while working as a summer assistant. Family vacation was scheduled for July 4th, and he and Anne Benedict exchanged texts about it on the morning of his death.
When he got to work, the staff said that nothing seemed wrong. He and another intern chatted about their weekends, while Benedict laughed and spoke normally.
Soon he committed suicide.
“I really thought Matt was doing well, I really did it,” said Bill Benedict. “I honestly couldn’t believe it.
“But Lizzie said,“ Dad, if it wasn’t for today, it would be a different day, ”he said. “For her to say that, it kind of hit me right between the eyes.”
Suicide Bridge: If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call US Suicide Rescue Services at 800-273-TALK (8255) any time of the day or night or online chat.
Source: rssfeeds.usatoday.com
Happy birthday! 125 stories about the invention of basketball
12/21/2016
Basketball, which Americans consider their national sport no less than baseball or American football, was in fact invented by a Canadian.
Physical education teacher James Naismith, a Scottish Canadian, invented a new sport exactly 125 years ago on December 21, 1891.Basketball is one of the few sports that has an official launch date and can celebrate its birthday. Which we celebrate today, remembering how basketball appeared.
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James Naismith was not supposed to be a physical education teacher at all. His relatives insisted that he become a priest, and the decision to go to study to be an athlete was taken with horror: in the 1800s, sports in the United States were considered by many to be a tool of the devil, distracting young people from church, work and family.“Years later, I asked my sister if she had forgiven me for dropping out to study as a theologian,” Naismith recalled. “No, Jim,” she replied. ”
James Naismith had no middle name. Many sources indicated his full name as “James A. Naismith”, to which Naismith himself joked that “A” means “anonymous.”
James Naismith’s childhood was not easy. His family emigrated to Canada from Scotland, his father worked for a pittance at a sawmill. When he was not even 9 years old, some kind of curse fell on the family: first, James’s grandfather died, the sawmill soon burned down, then his father caught typhus.Little Jim’s uncle took him along with his younger brother and older sister to him so that the children would not get infected. The elder Naismith soon died of an illness, and three weeks later his wife, who contracted typhus while caring for her husband, died. So the Naismiths became orphaned, and their uncle and grandmother began to raise them (she will die in two years).
Future professor, doctor and inventor Jimmy Naismith was not a very good student at school. He preferred fresh air to study: working on a farm or logging, swimming in the river or fishing, and in winter – sledding or hockey.Three years before graduation, he announced to relatives that he was leaving school and would work on the farm full time. He returned to school only at the age of 19, when his uncle, having seen enough of James’ poor carpentry skills, advised him to work with his head, not his hands.
There was little entertainment in the countryside, and the children invented their own games. One of these favorite games of James was “Duck on a Stone”. Each player had a pebble, one player (“defender”) put his own on a large stone.Other children got up 5-6 meters from the stone and tried to knock down the defender’s stone with their stones. If they hit, they stayed in the game, but if they missed, they had to find their stone before the defender attacked them. Naismith liked the game so much because it required precision, reaction, and the ability to dodge a defender.
When Naismith returned to school, he quickly adjusted and was promoted to senior class twice during the school year. He was good at mathematics and science, but he had big problems with languages.However, he overcame them, and once he, still a schoolboy, was called to replace a sick teacher in a rural school. Naismith’s early students performed better in spelling and worse in mathematics. So he found out that it is often easier to teach others what he himself once learned with difficulty than what was given easily.
McGill University, where Naismith entered, was one of the first in North America to introduce physical education into the curriculum. Rugby was especially popular, gradually evolving into American football.
One day Naismith accidentally wandered into rugby training. The center of the team broke his nose, and he needed a replacement from the audience. Naismith never played, but volunteered and replaced the injured one so successfully that he was offered a place on the team. James agreed on the condition that he could use the injured player’s uniform (he had no money for his). For the next six years, he played at the center position in the university rugby team, without missing a single game.
In his penultimate and final year, Naismith was recognized as the best athlete at McGill University.In addition to rugby, he played football and lacrosse, as well as boxing.
Naismith’s motto in college was “Don’t let anyone do more work than you today.”
After completing his undergraduate studies, Naismith continued his studies at the theological school in McGill, aspiring to become a Presbyterian priest, but did not abandon the sport, the “tool of the devil” – moreover, he was appointed director of sports at the university after the death of his predecessor.
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Soon Naismith felt that he did not need to become a priest in order to change people’s lives for the better.“I discovered the fact,” he later writes, “that there are other ways to influence young people besides preaching.” One of Naismith’s acquaintances invited him to become an intern at a college in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, where an educational physical education program was developing.
The college sports department was headed by Luther Gulick and is now recognized as the “father of physical education teaching” in the United States.
The college studied in two programs: one trained physical education teachers, the other – sports administrators.If the former showed interest in gymnastics, athletics and other indoor sports, because they knew that they would someday have to teach it, then there was no enthusiasm in the future administrators when they were each driven into the gym for an hour. … New games didn’t appeal to them either. At a meeting between faculty members, Naismith said that “the problem is not in the people, but in the system that we use.” Gulik reacted to these words like a real leader: he made Naismith responsible for inventing a new game.
So intern Naismith was assigned to find a way to get the students involved with something active in the room. James initially refused this assignment, but soon left his job as a teacher of psychology, theology, wrestling and swimming (such a non-standard set) in order to invent a new sport for apathetic “clerks”.
Before Naismith, these obnoxious students drove two instructors mad. James was Luther Gulick’s third, and most likely last, attempt to introduce winter sports into the educational curriculum.
The new sport would not be needed if it were not for winter. At the end of the 19th century, there was a lack of indoor games – gymnastics and aerobics were popular but not very exciting sports. And in the northern states, like Massachusetts, in winter it was no longer possible to play football, rugby, or baseball, and hockey had not yet become popular on this side of the border and was too dependent on weather conditions.
Another problem was the lack of electrification of the society.Under the artificial light in the hall, it was impossible to play sports, which would only require accuracy. So at Springfield College the challenge was to invent a new sport that could be practiced in a dimly lit hall in winter.
In the photo: the hall where Naismith introduced his new game to his students
He had 14 days to invent a new game.
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At first, Naismith tried to modify existing sports.But rugby turned out to be too traumatic even without grabs, football meant too many broken windows and equipment standing in the hall for other activities, and lacrosse dropped out of candidates after it turned out that several Canadian students played it too well and any related him modifications.
The day before the end of the deadline for inventing a new game, Naismith was in a panic – he never came up with anything. Then he tried to approach the problem from a different angle.Why have attempts to modify the old failed? Because people liked those games the way they were, with no innovation. How is an abstract sports game built in general? It usually has a ball in it. So the future game has a central element around which it is built.
But balls are also different. If the ball is small, you need a lot of inventory for it – clubs, bats, gates, shields, masks, and so on. And the more inventory, the more difficult the rules are, but a simple game is needed. It is also easier to hide a small ball somewhere in a playful way.It’s easier with a big ball.
The second challenge was to define the philosophy of sport. Rugby should not be played in small halls because it would have resulted in a high number of collision injuries. Collisions occur to stop the person running with the ball. “I sat at the table with these thoughts and said out loud:“ If he does not run with the ball, he will not need to be captured. If he is captured, there will be no rudeness in the game. ” I still remember how I snapped my fingers and shouted: “Found!” – wrote later Naismith.This is how the basic principle of the new game was formed – you cannot run with the ball. Hardly a detailed description, but it was only the first stroke of a sketch of the future of sport.
The third task is to substantiate the goal of the game. At first, Naismith wanted the ball to be thrown into opposite goals, like in lacrosse – a 2 x 2.5 meter net. But if the ball is thrown too hard, it will hit another player and injure him, and this again does not work. And then Naismith remembered his childhood and playing “Duck on a Stone”.She didn’t need strength, but accuracy – exactly the kind of special trait that Naismith was looking for in his new game: “I thought that if the target to be hit was horizontal, not vertical, then the players would have to throw the ball in an arc. Strength, the essence of rudeness, will be useless. ”
Naismith also decided that the target should be hung over the players’ heads to prevent defenders from crowding around it and blocking the ball’s path. We are already feeling for something similar to the familiar basketball, isn’t it?
* * *
On the morning of December 21, 1891, an enthusiastic James Naismith arrived at work.Naismith had two soccer balls to choose from, one for rugby and the other for soccer. The rugby ball is stretched out to be carried in the hands, James concluded, and this is not necessary in a new game. Therefore, a round shell was chosen.
The first version of the basketball basket we were used to was a pair of boxes half a meter by half a meter. True, they existed only in Naismith’s imagination – the college janitor did not find suitable ones and offered two peach baskets. This is how the basket ball was born.Remember this name forever – Pop Stebbins – that was the name of the janitor who found baskets of peaches in his closet.
The baskets were secured at a height of 10 feet (305 cm). It was at this height that the lower railings of the balconies located above the playing field were located, and it is at this height that basketball hoops are located all over the world today. “If the railings were 11 feet, that’s where I would have fixed them,” Naismith said. But the dynamics of basketball would change if it became more difficult to score from above or shoot from afar.
Naismith wrote the rules for the new game in less than an hour, then gave them to the college stenographer, Miss Lyons, to type.
Rules were only 13. They were attached with a pair of thumbtacks on the bulletin board in the gym – and so they became official.
First rule: the ball can be thrown in any direction with one or both hands . Naismith believed that the rugby rule that the ball can only be passed backwards was not required in his game.
Second rule: the ball can be hit in any direction with one or both hands (but not with a fist) . James didn’t want the ball hitting hard with his fist to hit anyone’s nose, or worse, out the window. It is not allowed to hit the ball in most modern basketball rules.
Third rule: a player cannot run with the ball. He must throw it from the place where he caught it; some movement is permissible if the ball is caught at high speed .At first, they played only this way, you could either pass or roll the ball on the ground. Dribbling was first used by students at Yale University in 1897, and it soon spread. At first, it was possible to make only one blow to the floor, since 1909 the restrictions were removed. In 1903, the players who dribbled the ball were prohibited from throwing – until 1915.
In 1927, the Basketball Rules Committee tried to remove dribbling from basketball rules. In response, basketball coaches, led by Fog Allen, a former student of Naismith, formed the National Basketball Coaches Association.This organization still exists today, and thanks to it were organized the Basketball Hall of Fame, Student Basketball Hall of Fame and the NCAA Basketball Tournament. It all started with a protest against the return to authentic basketball without dribbling.
Fourth rule: the ball can be held in the hands or between them; no other parts of the hands or body can be used . Naismith didn’t want the ball to be gripped so tightly that it could not be pulled out. Now this rule is not in basketball, but no one really wants to keep the ball with their feet or under the arm.
Fifth rule: is prohibited to push with the shoulder or arms, grab, trip, or beat the opponent in any way; the first violation is considered a foul; the second will disqualify him until the next hit or, in case of intent to injure the player, until the end of the game without the right to substitute . Naismith had the hardest part with this rule when he later judged women’s matches: “Everything worked out well until I whistled a foul on one of the girls. She asked: “You whistled at me a violation?” And then told me what my character is, where I came from and where I should go. “
Sixth Rule: It is a foul hitting the ball with a fist, as well as violations of rules 3, 4 and 5 . Gradually, violations for which fouls were given were added. And some – on the contrary, were removed, instead of a foul, a change of ownership was awarded. For example, until 1922, running with the ball was a foul. Since 1922 – only by improper dribbling. Now in the NBA there are 11 situations that are punished with personal fouls – and almost fifty violations for which you can whistle a technical foul.
Seventh rule: three fouls in a row by one team are counted as 1 point to their opponent (in a row means that the opponent has not fouled once) . In 1893, a point was awarded for each foul, and in 1894 free throws were introduced for fouls, the rules of execution of which changed many times.
Rule Eight: points are awarded if the ball is thrown in the air or ricochets off the ground into the basket and remains there, while the defenders are not allowed to touch the basket.If the ball hangs on the edge of the basket and the opponent moves the basket, it is considered as scored with . In 1896, hitting the ball in the basket was counted as two points.
Rule 9: If the ball goes out-of-bounds, it must be thrown into play by the person who first touched it. In case of controversial situations, the referee throws in the ball. Five seconds are given to enter the ball from out-of-bounds. If the ball is not thrown during this time, it is passed to the opponent. If either side continues to delay the game, the referee shall award them foul .These five seconds to kick the ball out of touch have been preserved in the rules to this day.
Modern rules governing who should throw the ball appeared only in 1914 – and before that they were pushing for the front, trying to catch up with the ball, as if in “Duck on a Stone”. Sometimes it was funnier. According to Naismith’s recollections: “I remember playing in a hall with a balcony. At the beginning of the first half, the ball flew there, and the players of one team immediately rushed in a crowd to the stairs, and there were so many of them that they could not push through.Two players from the other team tried to toss their partner so that he would grab onto the balcony railing, pull himself up and get to the ball first. ”
Tenth rule: linesman must evaluate the actions of players, keep a record of fouls, report to the referee when a team has committed three fouls in a row. He has the right to disqualify players based on rule no. 5 . Even before testing his sport, Naismith realized that one referee was unlikely to be able to cope with the maintenance of the game.Therefore, out of 13 rules, two are dedicated to judges at once.
Eleventh rule: the referee must watch the ball and determine when it is in play, out of play, who is in possession of the ball, keep track of the time. He must determine the hit of the ball in the basket and keep score, as well as perform other duties related to the work of the head referee .
Twelfth rule: games consist of two halves of 15 minutes each with a 5-minute break. Soon the game time was increased to 40 minutes.
Thirteenth rule: the side to score the most goals will be named the winners. In the event of a draw, the game may be continued until the decisive ball by agreement of the team captains.
Now there are 13 rules in the NBA code, but they are all written out in much more detail. In the NCAA and FIBA, there are generally ten rules. But with paragraphs and subparagraphs, their number reaches several hundred.
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In the photo: First Team and James Naismith
The first game was 9v9, simply because there were 18 students in the group.The walls of the hall served as the boundaries of the site, the lighting was poor, and the players were not wearing any special equipment. Naismith placed the players on the court, like in lacrosse – three in defense, three in the center, three in attack, called in two players, tossed the ball – and a new game was born.
Naismith later recalled: “Within a few minutes it became clear to the experimenter that the game was a success. The players seemed to enjoy the ups and downs of the game from the bottom of their hearts, in particular the attempts to avoid a collision with an opponent. “The students were so fascinated by the game that they wanted to continue it after the end of the lesson.
The hardest thing for the early basketball players was to adapt to a sudden stop after receiving the ball. The natural instinct is to keep moving with the ball. But this was a violation, and according to the rules, a player after a foul was removed from the court until the next hit. “It happened that there were half a team in the penalty area,” Naismith recalled.
Rudeness was also present. The list of injuries in the first game, according to Naismith: several fingals, one dislocated shoulder, one loss of consciousness.Not bad for half an hour of play.
Only one goal was scored in the game. The author of the historic hit was William Chase, who threw the ball into the basket from 8 meters.
At that moment, a new problem emerged – the thrown ball had to be removed from the basket. Stebbins was called with a stepladder.
After the game, it turned out that someone had removed the rules from the bulletin board. It turned out that it was one of the players, Frank Mahan, who wanted to leave a souvenir as a keepsake. But after a couple of weeks, his conscience tortured him and he decided to return them to Naismith.
The same Mahan asked Naismith after Christmas if he had already come up with a name for the new game? Naismith replied that no, then Mahan suggested two options – “Naismith ball” and “basketball ball”, and the humble inventor chose the second, more euphonious option.
Until 1921, it was written in two words – “Basket Ball”, sometimes with a hyphen. And 30 years after the invention of basketball, journalists decided to shorten the name to one word.
Among the 18 participants in the first basketball game, there was even a Japanese – Genzabaro Ishikawa, who would later introduce his homeland to a wonderful new game.Other participants in the first match brought basketball to France, India, Britain and Persia.
* * *
Soon, rumors spread around the school about a new, as yet unnamed game, spectators began to come to the matches. Two weeks later, 100 people showed up at one of the games – including a group of female students from Buckingham Women’s College, returning from lunch and accidentally passing by the hall and hearing a noise. The Buckingham instructors approached Naismith after the game and asked if they could play basketball.Naismith didn’t mind – and so the first women’s basketball team was born. They were opposed by a team made up of Springfield College stenographers.
The very first women’s basketball game, like the men’s one a couple of weeks before, was judged by Naismith himself. And his future wife (married in 1894), Mood Naismith, nee Sherman, also took part in one of the first games. They met thanks to the fact that the future basketball inventor rented a room in the house of the Sherman family – the house was close to the college where Naismith worked.
Two years after basketball was invented, at another college in Massachusetts, Senda Berenson will decide to adapt Naismith’s rules for women. So basketball began to develop in another direction, independent of the mainstream – and turned into “basketball” – a version of basketball 6 on 6, which among women finally gave way to competition with real basketball only by the 1970s.
* * *
Basketball instantly spread across America – and the “fault” of that is the Christmas holidays among the students.Having traveled to their hometowns in the United States and Canada, they enthusiastically talked about the new game and demonstrated it in local branches of the Young Christian Association (YMCA).
Soon, a team of students, with Mahan as captain, began touring the country with exhibition basketball games, often in conjunction with a group of acrobats from the same college.
Naismith’s idea was that basketball could be played by any number of people. But after some experimentation, in which the number of players on the court reached 50, the matches were limited to the standard 9v9, as in the very first match in history.By 1897, the number of players on one team was limited to five.
Pretty soon, Naismith’s students formed a full-fledged team and began challenging other college students and staff to matches. So they defeated both the team of students from another faculty (future physical education teachers), and the team of their teachers.
That game – March 11, 1892 – is recognized as the first public basketball game to be attended by 200 spectators. Naismith himself spoke for the teaching team – one of only two times in his life when he participated in a game that he himself invented.And the only goal for the teachers was scored by Amos Alonzo Stagg, in the future one of the greatest coaches in American football.
A year later, Stagg will go to work as a coach (football, baseball and basketball at the same time) at the University of Chicago, where he will soon popularize 5-on-5 basketball – an option that will become canon.
“If you saw our first matches, you would laugh,” Naismith recalled much later. – Adult men played, most with a mustache, some even had a beard.They wore long pants and short-sleeved shirts. Someone could aim for such a long time with a ball raised above his head that it was simply taken out of his hands. It was an endless source of fun – no matter how often the ball was lost in this way, the player always turned around with raised hands and a bewildered expression on his face – “Who did it?”
* * *
In January 1892, the basketball rules were published in the Springfield College newspaper, The Triangle.Of course, she had nothing to do with the “triangle attack”: the triangle was the emblem of the YMCA, which was once invented by the boss of Naismith at the college, Luther Gulick.
Triangle’s editors received so many requests for a copy of the rules that they published a separate booklet, which also described the equipment needed to play the game.
As early as April 1892, the game was reported in the New York Times under the headline “A New Ball Game, Replacing Football Without Rude.”
The first basketball was made by the Overman Wheel Co., a bicycle factory.»From Massachusetts. It was lighter and larger than the previously used soccer ball.
The first balls were brown, and only many years later they began to make them orange – so that the audience could better see the ball from the stands.
In the late 1890s, Naismith asked A.G. Spaulding to design an improved version of the basketball. And 120 years later, Spalding balls are official in the NBA, but earlier they were not very even, not very round and laced, which made dribbling difficult.
Pictured: Ball manufacturing by Spaulding
In ten years, Spaulding will launch the first special-purpose basketball shoe.
With the spread of the game, the first inconvenience appeared: to climb a ladder to get the ball out of the basket after each hit was annoying. At Springfield College, a special man was sitting on the balcony, taking the ball out of the basket. Then someone suggested cutting out the bottom of the baskets – alas, history has not preserved the name of the author and the place of this important invention.But even the bottom was not cut out so that the ball would fall through, but so that it could be pushed out of the basket from below with a stick. “Since the stick was often not at hand,” Naismith recalled, “we had to use other items. Fortunately, the inexperience of the players led to the fact that the ball was thrown into the basket very rarely. ”
In 1898 the baskets were changed to rings with a net attached. By 1912, rings with a hole in the bottom of the mesh were already common.
Since most of the halls had balconies, spectators were sitting behind the rings, and some unscrupulous fans could prevent the ball from entering the basket. And the match organizers came up with another important element of basketball – the backboard. True, no one imagined that the shield would make it easier for the ball to hit the basket and increase the effectiveness, and, consequently, the entertainment of the sport.
In 1895, the first match between universities was played by the teams of the Minnesota State School of Agronomy (now the University of Minnesota at St. Paul) and Hamline College (now Hamline University).Although the first student team appeared in Vanderbilt in 1893 – they did not play with other colleges.
Basketball spread at such an alarming rate that the YMCA banned it in some places in the United States – basketball games pushed other sports out of gyms. Then basketball players had to move to ballroom dancing halls, arsenals, hangars and other large indoor spaces.
It’s funny, but in Springfield itself, basketball did not take root on the first try – in 1899 the basketball team was disbanded and returned only in 1907.
One of Naismith’s students at Springfield was William Morgan. In 1895, he decided to invent his own game – so in Holyoke, 10 kilometers from Springfield, the “Mintonette” was born. We now know it by the name “volleyball”.
As early as 1896, just five years after the invention of basketball, the first professional basketball game took place. It was held in the ballroom, and to prevent the ball from flying away to the audience, the parquet was fenced with a wire mesh. This is how the first term for the name of basketball and basketball players appeared – “Cage Game”, “cagers”, “cell workers”.The wire was easily injured, so it was usually replaced by a net of ropes – and this was how the pros played until the 1940s. In college basketball, the cage was soon banned.
In the photo: basketball in a cage
The first professional league was born in 1898. Six teams made up the National Basketball League – a name (NBL) that will be inherited forty years later by the NBA’s progenitor league. Players earned about $ 10-12 per match.
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In 1898, Amos Alonzo Stagg, already a football coach at the University of Chicago, was asked for advice. The University of Kansas needed a physical education teacher – but this position included the post of chaplain who would gather students for prayer every morning, so there was no way to find the right candidate. Stagg sent an urgent telegram to Kaznas: “I recommend James Naismith, basketball inventor, physician, Presbyterian priest, excellent athlete, does not drink, neither smokes, nor swears.Write to the Denver YMCA ”(this was where Naismith was working at the time). Of course, after such a recommendation, it was impossible not to invite Naismith. James joked for a long time that he got this job only because he knew how to pray.
Naismith wanted to incorporate basketball into his curriculum, although the only gymnasium did not fit the sport’s requirements. It was in the basement, it was only 10 meters wide and 25 meters long, there was a column supporting the ceiling in the center of the hall, and the ceiling itself was just over three meters.This did not stop Naismith and he organized a basketball team from his students, mostly football players. The matches took place at a party, on neutral grounds, in factory premises and even on a skating rink.
The first contender in the history of the University of Kansas basketball team was the YMCA Kansas City, who won 16-5. It was played by Jesse James Jr., the son of a famous bandit.
In Kansas, Naismith continued to invent sports games – but neither the thief-tag, nor the highball, nor the vrill took root.
Naismith never cared if the team he coached lost or won, so he – still a basketball coach at the University of Kansas – was trusted to judge his own team’s games.
From Naismith himself comes the greatest branch of student (and not only) coaches. Under his leadership, the famous Forrest “Fog” Allen played, who later replaced Naismith in Kansas. Allen coached two other future great coaches – Adolph Rapp, who built the basketball program at the University of Kentucky, and Dean Smith, who led the University of North Carolina team and trained many coaches and players, from Larry Brown to Michael Jordan.
In the photo: Michael Jordan and Dean Smith
At the same time, Naismith did not believe that Allen would make a coach, much less a teacher of new coaches. When Baker University invited Allen, still a student, to coach their basketball team, Naismith took it as a joke and told Adolf, “You can’t coach, you’re just a player.” We can say that for Naismith, the work of a trainer was tantamount to the work of a physical education teacher. From the moment basketball was invented until that incident, only 16 years passed, but the sport developed rapidly.
Ironically, the first basketball coach in University of Kansas history is also the worst. Naismith remains the only one who has failed to achieve a positive balance of wins in Kansas – 55-60.
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Naismith did not attach importance to his invention for a very long time. For him, it was just a small game, which was inferior to gymnastics and wrestling in its favor.
Naismith once held a class in which he compared his first basketball rules with the new ones.After some time, when he needed those rules again, he found that he had forgotten them then in the audience. The search came to nothing, and soon Naismith lost hope of finding the artifact. But 12 years later, he looked through his documents and found an unmarked envelope, dated 1891. Naismith opened the envelope and two of the most important pages in basketball history fell out.
In 2010, two pages of rules were bought at auction for 4.3 million and deposited at the University of Kansas Museum.
After Fogh Allen succeeded Naismith as head coach of the basketball team in Kansas, Naismith was named the university’s sporting director and professor of physical education. But paperwork was not enough for him: he wrote books, patrolled the US-Mexican border in 1916, taught sports medicine, traveled to France during the First World War, where he taught hygiene to American soldiers. The main thing in the training was to make sure that the soldiers did not go to brothels.
Naismith became a US citizen only in 1925, almost 35 years later, as he moved from Canada. By this time, professional basketball was flourishing, tough, aggressive, played in cages – not at all like the game that Naismith had invented as a light winter game in which players would not get injured.
In the photo: Naismith and his wife in 1928
John Maclendon was among Naismith’s students in Kansas. He passionately loved basketball, but could not play with Fogh Allen – John was black, and blacks began to be admitted to the team only in 1951.So Maclendon learned basketball from Naismith. And he became one of the greatest coaches in college sports history. John holds many titles as “the first black coach in …”, but his main achievements are the improvement of pressure tactics and the invention of the “quadrilateral attack”, which would then develop Dean Smith. John McLendon was twice inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame – for his coaching merits and for his contribution to the development of basketball.
In 1932, a meeting of the Council of American Coaches was held.Naismith did not participate in it, but sent several suggestions for improving the game. One of those was the idea of giving the defending team 30 seconds to tackle the ball, and the violation would be punishable by a free throw. In fact, the inventor of basketball could have reinvented basketball once again – his visionary thought outpaced the advent of the 24-second counter in the NBA by 20 years. But he believed that it was more important to motivate the defense to take possession from the attack, rather than the attack – rather to throw the ball into the ring.
In the same letter to the council, Naismith suggested rewarding a hit from a distance with 4 points instead of 2.And again he was ahead of his time – the three-point line first appeared only in 1961 in the ABL (in 1979 – in the NBA).
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In 1936, basketball was introduced to the Olympic Games. Fogh Allen dreamed of seeing 75-year-old James Naismith and his wife in Berlin. Money for tickets for the spouses was collected all over America – many colleges, schools, churches, amateur and even professional teams gave a cent from each ticket sold between February 9 and 15, 1936 – “Naismith Week”.As a result, 5 thousand dollars were collected – much more than was required.
In Berlin, Naismith saw how widely his invention spread around the world. But he considered basketball an international game from the very first match – the same one that took place 125 years ago. Americans and Canadians, as well as an Englishman, a Japanese, and a Frenchman took part in that game. For Naismith, this was confirmation that his game would be understandable and close to anyone on the planet.
Especially for Naismith, a mini-opening ceremony of the Olympics was held – with the participation of the basketball teams of the tournament.20 teams marched in front of Naismith, moved to tears. And then they went to the site – in the open air, without any protection from the rain (the match for gold was played this way – under the downpour), with sand and sawdust instead of parquet.
In the photo: Olympic open-air basketball
Naismith was also entrusted with the honorable right to be the first to throw the ball into the game – the Olympic tournament opened the match between Estonia and France.
There were 17 (!) Springfield College graduates in the coaching staffs of the first Olympic teams.The college obviously coped with the task of preparing teachers of physical culture.
Naismith also presented the first Olympic medals. All of them went to American teams, and James was a citizen of two countries that played in the pouring rain in the finals – the United States and Canada. The Mexican national team took the bronze.
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Little was known about the details of basketball’s origins until 2006, when Naismith’s granddaughter Helen, who at that time was already 74 years old, did not decide to sort out five dusty boxes with documents left over from James Naismith.There were letters, photographs, the first rules, Naismith’s own description of the first game and many other useful artifacts that told the story and invention of basketball.
Naismith never tried to profit from his invention – he did not even register a patent for the game, and also always refused advertising contracts – only at the end of his life, according to friends, he advertised a Rawlings basketball. One day a lawyer came to his office and promised him a share of every ticket sold to a basketball game.Naismith immediately kicked the lawyer out of his office.
Not everyone agrees that Naismith invented basketball. Descendants of Lambert Gill, director of the YMCA in Herkimer Village, New York, claim that it was 19-year-old Gill who invented the sport in 1890, and the first game was played back on February 7, 1891. But the Gill family did not provide any tangible evidence, except for a photograph of Herkimer’s team, in which it is not at all clear what kind of sport the players were involved in.
In honor of Naismith, the NCAA Student Athletic Association is giving out its top honors – Naismith is the name given to the Best Player and Best Coach in Student Basketball.
In 2010, a bronze sculpture was erected at Springfield College in honor of the most famous worker of this university – James Naismith.
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“I’m not worried about the future of basketball because the game itself is interesting no matter how much someone tries to change it. If a sport is interesting, it will always exist, and basketball is just that … It’s a good, integral game. ” By 1939, when James Naismith passed away, almost every school and college in the United States had a basketball team, and about 20 million people around the world played basketball.Now their number reaches 300 million.
Early members of the Basketball Hall of Fame include Naismith, Luther Gulick, Amos Alonzo Stagg, and the entire first basketball team to play the first basketball game on December 21, 1891. The Hall itself is located in Springfield, the birthplace of basketball, and is named after Dr. James Naismith – Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame.
“I want to leave this world in a slightly better state than the one in which I found it.” – James Naismith, inventor of basketball.
Source: sports.ru
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