BASKETBALL IN SCHOOLS

Basketball started in the YMCA and was quickly adopted by American Colleges as a "Major" sport. The natural progression was to introduce the game to High Schools. In the early twentieth century American High Schools were typically small and community based. Basketball was an ideal activity for inter-school competition. State Championships were held but efforts to introduce a nationwide US High School Championship were resisted.

Various educational reports led to a policy of the 'Consolidation of High Schools' on the basis that larger schools serving a larger catchment area would lead to a more economic use of educational funds and a broader curriculum. The trend has continued. Typical modern day US urban Community High Schools have a population exceeding 2,000 pupils. Along with financial incentives for new larger school buildings came improved facilities for sport and physical education. Spectator accommodation was invariably part and parcel of sports facilities. Sports Halls in many current High Schools seat several hundred spectators.

The situation in Scotland was quite different. Physical Education in the school was mainly gymnastics and exercises. Games afternoons prepared students for Saturday morning outdoor team sports or athletics.

There was little or no interest in basketball by schools in the 1940 decade. Indeed few even had baskets installed in the gymnasium. Resistance to the introduction of "NEW" sports was widespread in Physical Education Departments. Many saw them as a threat to the traditional winter sports of rugby (predominant in private and grant aided schools) and soccer. Notable exceptions to that rule were George Heriot's and The Royal High School which had baskets installed in their gymnasia and flourishing Former Pupil's Teams playing in the local league.

Young male PE Graduates from Jordanhill College in the 1950's had received an introduction to basketball in their diploma course. Some believed basketball to be an exciting new sport and saw an opportunity to make an impact in the schools to which they were appointed. Schools installed baskets in gymnasia and informal fixtures with like minded PE Departments in the neighbourhood were arranged. As more young PE graduates left Jordanhill College, inter-school competition mushroomed and organised leagues were established in local education authority catchment areas.

Progress was more difficult for schoolgirl basketball. A few male PE Teachers established a schoolgirl programme but development was sporadic. Dunfermline College of Physical Education (DCPE) was responsible for the training of all female PE teachers. The College focus was on netball, a modified version of basketball which had been adopted by female sports enthusiasts in London in 1895. Netball quickly spread throughout the British Empire and is now played exclusively in the British Commonwealth. Basketball received little attention in the DCPE curriculum until the mid 1970's when lecturers with a basketball background were appointed.

The ABAS was keen to encourage the development of Schools Basketball and in 1966 offered a cup for a National Schools Competition. A group of enthusiastic teachers called a meeting to form the Scottish Schools Basketball Association (SSBA) with a view to organising the inaugural Scottish Schools Cup, a competition for under 19 boys. The event proved to be very successful and within a few years there were National Cup Competions for Open, Under 16, under 15 and under 14 boys and girls.

A thriving schools programme was developing in England and the first International between Scotland & England was played in the Perth City Town Hall. Internationals with England, Wales & Ireland for under 19 and under 16 boys and girls were established and became annual fixtures. Regional Tournaments were organised on a yearly basis and were used to select National Teams.

The growth of Schools Basketball was so great that it was proving well nigh impossible for working teachers to cope with the administrative load. The ABAS had recently appointed a full time officer and the SSBA agreed to amalgamate with the parent association while maintaining their own autonomous committee.


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