Historic Rules of Basketball

Before 1897, games were primarily played with 9 players on each team, as 18 students had originally showed up for James Naismith's class.

Initially, players were not allowed to re-enter the game. It wasn't until 1945 that a player could re-enter an unlimited number of times.

Peach baskets were originally used before rims were introduced in 1892, forcing the ball to be retrieved. Nylon nets were added in 1912.

Introduced in 1909, backboards were at first flat against walls. A gap was later inserted to prevent players from running up walls for easy layups.

Leather basketballs with laces replaced soccer balls as the first balls used. in 1929, the ball was redesigned for better dribbling.

The first field goal was originally counted as one point until 1896. The three-point line was adopted by the NBA in 1977.

The first games were played as two 15-minute halves with no overtime. When OT was introduced, it was sudden death until the 1960s.

A player who committed 2 fouls was disqualified until someone scored until 1911. Traveling was originally counted as a foul until 1922.

At an original distance of 21 feet, any player could shoot free throws when his or her team was fouled. This rule was changed in 1924.

Dribbling was not allowed until 1901, when players could dribble one time but could not shoot after dribbling. Current dribbling rules began in 1909.

Until 1913, out-of-bounds rules stated that the first team to touch the ball after it went out of bounds would be awarded possession.

In 1937, a center jump ball followed every basket.

Coaching was not allowed during games or timeouts until 1949.