Started in the late 1800s by Canadian James Naismith, basketball has come a long way from throwing a ball into a peach basket nailed on the wall. There are professional leagues around the world, youth leagues in every community and basketball nets above garages in neighborhoods everywhere. A very inexpensive sport, basketball is a great way to get active.
The most important part of basketball is the ball. Around one foot across and made of tanned leather, an affordable ball can be found for under $20. Cheaper models are made of rubber and can often be found for less than $10. The ideal air pressure is usually nine PSI, which provides enough rebound to send the ball back to your hand. There are eight sections on the ball, which make placing your hands easy for aiming and shooting at the net.
The net is a basket weave of mesh, just less than two feet wide at the top with a tapered bottom. It is suspended from a metal rim so there is a solid shape to shoot into. The hoop attaches at a right angle to the backboard, which is four feet tall by five feet long. This allows rebound shots to be bounced into the netting in order to score. The net is usually ten feet off of the ground.
There are numerous basketball uniform companies, Adidas being the official manufacturer of jerseys and shorts in the NBA. Basketball uniforms are made of lightweight nylon-polyester blends that breathe, allowing moisture to escape and air to pass through in order to keep the player comfortable. Basketball uniform logos are heat-pressed (since the mesh is hard to stitch into) and typically include a team crest and player number on the front, with the player's name and number on the back.
Basketball is a great sport to play outside that one anyone can afford. It builds on cardiovascular strength, coordination and balance used in other outdoor activities like skateboarding. It is easy for people of any skill level to shoot hoops, as most parks offer basketball court equipment for anyone to use. It can be a one-person sport or a great group activity. Either way, basketball is an awesome way to get active while enjoying the outdoors.