TITLE AND SUBJECT OF ARTICLE

 

Women's College Basketball

We've come a long way since the inception of women's college basketball.

The first game, played in 1893 at Smith College, was played between sophomores and freshmen. However, the first "official" women's college basketball match was recognized in April 1896 with a game between Berkley and Stanford. This match was played in a locked gymnasium, as men were not allowed to watch as the women ran and jumped on the basketball court.

In 1901 a separate set of rules was written...

We've come a long way since the inception of women's college basketball.

The first game, played in 1893 at Smith College, was played between sophomores and freshmen. However, the first "official" women's college basketball match was recognized in April 1896 with a game between Berkley and Stanford. This match was played in a locked gymnasium, as men were not allowed to watch as the women ran and jumped on the basketball court.

In 1901 a separate set of rules was written for women's college basketball. The early years involved some crazy rules. The basket was sewn shut, so the umpire had to go up and retrieve the ball whenever a goal was scored. In addition, it was required that some games be played on grass courts. Thankfully, the game progressed and over the years the rules were modified.

The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women did not conduct the first National Basketball Tournament for Women until 1975. In this same year, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association selected their first All-America Team. The American Basketball League (ABL) was founded in 1996, and the Women's National Basketball Association followed in 1997. These associations were created to keep talented American players from moving to foreign leagues.

Then NCAA continues to supervise women's college basketball, having three divisions in place to filter the best players. Division I remains the most prominent and popular league, played by colleges that sponsor at least seven sports for women players. These colleges are required to play all but two of their games against other Division I teams. Division II includes those colleges that organize at least four sports each for women, and they are required to play at least half of their games against Division I or Division II teams. Division III includes colleges that organize at least five sports with two teams.

Winners of 31 conferences are automatically qualified for NCAA's annual Women's Basketball Championship. The remaining 34 teams are chosen by a selection committee to make it a field of 64. All of these teams are then organized in four pools, with each pool seeded from one to 16.

The annual tournament begins on the third Thursday of March. The first two days are most hectic, with a total of 32 teams leaving the competition by the end of the first day. By the end of day two, another 16 teams will be eliminated. Then, the action really begins to heat up as they remaining teams play for the Final Four position, and then the playoff for the ultimate tournament winner.

Women's college basketball has certainly evolved from those grass court days of the 1800's, making today's sport an exciting part of modern day professional athletics.

 

Women's College Basketball - History and Background

It is well known that basketball was invented in 1891 by Dr. James Nesmith, but what is not so well known is the history of women's basketball. The inaugural women’s college basketball session was actually part of a physical education class at Smith College for girls in Conneticut.

womens basketball, college basketball for women, basketball history

It is well known that basketball was invented in 1891 by Dr. James Nesmith, but what is not so well known is the history of women's basketball. The inaugural women’s college basketball session was actually part of a physical education class at Smith College for girls in Conneticut.

The very first women’s college basketball game took place at Smith College for girls in 1893 where the freshman played against the sophomores. Unlike women’s college basketball games today, the game actually took place behind locked doors and men were prohibited from watching.

The rules of this first women’s college basketball game were altered from those of the original men’s version to enhance teamwork. The court had 3 zones and three players from each team of nine were allowed in each zone but could not move out of their zone. Funnily enough, these early restrictions in the women’s college basketball game are strikingly similar to the game of netball that is played by schoolgirls and women all over Europe.

Women’s college basketball began to spread quickly and the first game between two different women’s college basketball teams was played in April 1896 with Stanford beating Berkley. There were still 9 players on each women’s college basketball team in this inter-college game but instead of keeping the original rule where a player could only hold the ball for 3 seconds and must dribble it 3 times before passing this was changed so that a player could not run more than 5 feet before having to pass the ball. Once again, however, as with the first women’s college basketball game, men were not allowed to watch the game.

The formal rules of women’s college basketball were first produced in 1901 and went through numerous changes before developing into the game that is played today. One of the most interesting aspects of the early women’s college basketball games is that the basket was sewn shut so that the umpire had to remove the ball from it every time it was put through the hoop.

The familiar indoor basketball court that today’s women’s college basketball teams play on was not always made available to the women for a couple of decades after the sport began. Some women’s college basketball teams had to play on grass courts outside and did not have the chance to play on an indoor court at all.

 

Women's College Basketball - History and Background

It is well known that basketball was invented in 1891 by Dr. James Nesmith, but what is not so well known is the history of women's basketball. The inaugural women’s college basketball session was actually part of a physical education class at Smith College for girls in Conneticut.

womens basketball, college basketball for women, basketball history

It is well known that basketball was invented in 1891 by Dr. James Nesmith, but what is not so well known is the history of women's basketball. The inaugural women’s college basketball session was actually part of a physical education class at Smith College for girls in Conneticut.

The very first women’s college basketball game took place at Smith College for girls in 1893 where the freshman played against the sophomores. Unlike women’s college basketball games today, the game actually took place behind locked doors and men were prohibited from watching.

The rules of this first women’s college basketball game were altered from those of the original men’s version to enhance teamwork. The court had 3 zones and three players from each team of nine were allowed in each zone but could not move out of their zone. Funnily enough, these early restrictions in the women’s college basketball game are strikingly similar to the game of netball that is played by schoolgirls and women all over Europe.

Women’s college basketball began to spread quickly and the first game between two different women’s college basketball teams was played in April 1896 with Stanford beating Berkley. There were still 9 players on each women’s college basketball team in this inter-college game but instead of keeping the original rule where a player could only hold the ball for 3 seconds and must dribble it 3 times before passing this was changed so that a player could not run more than 5 feet before having to pass the ball. Once again, however, as with the first women’s college basketball game, men were not allowed to watch the game.

The formal rules of women’s college basketball were first produced in 1901 and went through numerous changes before developing into the game that is played today. One of the most interesting aspects of the early women’s college basketball games is that the basket was sewn shut so that the umpire had to remove the ball from it every time it was put through the hoop.

The familiar indoor basketball court that today’s women’s college basketball teams play on was not always made available to the women for a couple of decades after the sport began. Some women’s college basketball teams had to play on grass courts outside and did not have the chance to play on an indoor court at all.