Did you know that basketball was born at the YMCA?
According to NBA.com, basketball was invented in 1891 at a YMCA in Massachusetts by a Canadian named James Naismith.
Naismith was asked to create a new sport for a physical education class, so he hung a peach basket 10 feet off the floor -- creating the first basketball hoop!
The first-ever game was played by university students from Quebec -- proving that basketball is a VERY Canadian sport!
To this day, basketball remains a core activity at the YMCA of Greater Toronto. It is played by children, youth and adults at all of our eight centres across the GTA.
Here are just a few of the ways that we have incorporated basketball into every-day life at the Y:
Structured basketball games run from Thursday to Sunday at our Central YMCA:
Thursday
4:45 -6 p.m. - teen basketball (13 to 18 years old)
Friday
4-6:45 p.m. - teen basketball (13 to 18 years old)
Saturday
9:30-10:15 a.m. - teen basketball (13 to 18 years old)
9:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. - child basketball (10 to 16 years old)
10:15-11 a.m. - child basketball (six to nine years old)
12-1 p.m. - child basketball (10 to 12 years old)
Sunday
12-1 p.m. - child basketball (10 to 12 years old)
1-2 p.m. - child basketball (six to nine years old)
4:30-6:30 p.m. - teen basketball (13 to 18 years old)
Basketball is also a huge part of our Teen Nights!
The basketball courts are always the most popular spots at our Teen Nights every Friday or Saturday, during which teens ages 13-18 are allowed free access to our facilities! We aim to provide a safe space where teens are empowered to make their own decisions and build self-esteem and confidence. Contact your local Y centre to find out whether their Teen Night is run on a Friday or Saturday, and make sure you bring your photo ID (and some friends!) with you!
According to NBA.com, basketball was invented in 1891 at a YMCA in Massachusetts by a Canadian named James Naismith.
Naismith was asked to create a new sport for a physical education class, so he hung a peach basket 10 feet off the floor -- creating the first basketball hoop!
The first-ever game was played by university students from Quebec -- proving that basketball is a VERY Canadian sport!
To this day, basketball remains a core activity at the YMCA of Greater Toronto. It is played by children, youth and adults at all of our eight centres across the GTA.
Here are just a few of the ways that we have incorporated basketball into every-day life at the Y:
Structured basketball games run from Thursday to Sunday at our Central YMCA:
Thursday
4:45 -6 p.m. - teen basketball (13 to 18 years old)
Friday
4-6:45 p.m. - teen basketball (13 to 18 years old)
Saturday
9:30-10:15 a.m. - teen basketball (13 to 18 years old)
9:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. - child basketball (10 to 16 years old)
10:15-11 a.m. - child basketball (six to nine years old)
12-1 p.m. - child basketball (10 to 12 years old)
Sunday
12-1 p.m. - child basketball (10 to 12 years old)
1-2 p.m. - child basketball (six to nine years old)
4:30-6:30 p.m. - teen basketball (13 to 18 years old)
Basketball is also a huge part of our Teen Nights!
The basketball courts are always the most popular spots at our Teen Nights every Friday or Saturday, during which teens ages 13-18 are allowed free access to our facilities! We aim to provide a safe space where teens are empowered to make their own decisions and build self-esteem and confidence. Contact your local Y centre to find out whether their Teen Night is run on a Friday or Saturday, and make sure you bring your photo ID (and some friends!) with you!
