International Basketball and Variations

Basketball and variations of basketball are played in many different countries. As an example, netball was a ball sport played by two teams of seven players. Its development was derived from early versions of basketball and began in England in the 1890s. In some netball books, they claim it to be the same as basketball. Other sports have less similarity, but are could still be considered related. "Hoop Ball" was played by 6 men on each team. Either 5 or 3 hoops, each 28" in diameter, were suspended from gym ceilings at a height of 10-15 feet above the floor. It was said by WM. W. Hastings, Physical Director from the University of Nebraska, that Hoop Ball developed for the same reasons as basketball - the need for activity and recreation. The expanding popularity of basketball was evident around the world after World War 1. James Naismith became YMCA Secretary and worked in France for 19 months. It is no coincidence that the first international basketball tournament was the Inter-Allied Games, played between the U.S., France and Italy in Paris in 1919. This section of the website shows both basketball variations and also highlights various vintage basketball publications from around the world.

Argentina: Basketball 1946

Austrailia: Basket Ball 1958

Basket Ball and Net Ball 3rd ed. 1922-23

English Schools B-Ball Handbook 1961-62

English: Game of Net-Ball How to Play It 1925

English:Basket Ball and Net Ball 2nd ed. 1921

France: Code De Basket-Ball 1925

France: Le Basket-Ball 1925

Hoop Ball 1899

Japanese Instruction - Basketball 1924

Latvia: Basketbola Speles Noteikumi 1944

Mexico: Reglas de Basket-Ball 1918-19