YMCA 1891 James Naismith, a Canadian American, invented basketball while studying at the YMCA International Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts (later to be named Springfield College). Naismith had been asked to invent a new game in an attempt to interest pupils in physical exercise. The game had to be interesting, easy to learn, and easy to play indoors in winter. Such an activity was needed both by the Training School and by YMCAs across the country. Naismith and his wife attended the 1936 Summer Olympics when basketball was one of the Olympic events. In 1895 William G. Morgan from the YMCA
Jason Naismith a 72nd-minute substitute, replacing Marcus Fraser. The match ended in a 1–1 draw. Jason Naismith Jason Naismith (born 25 June 1994) is a Scottish professional footballer, who plays as a defender for EFL League One club Peterborough United. Naismith has previously played for St Mirren, Greenock Morton, Cowdenbeath and Ross County. He has also represented Scotland in youth internationals, including one game at under-21 level. Naismith was born in Paisley. A member of St Mirren's under-19 squad, Naismith made his first team debut as a substitute on 25 February 2012 against Aberdeen in the Scottish Premier League. In May 2012,