WOMENS BASKETBALL

The first recorded world wide basketball game played by Women was in 1892. It involved the University of California and Miss Head's School. The sport spread like wildfire among American Colleges and by 1895 Inter-Collegiate games were being played. Protocol in those days demanded that women playing sports should wear outfits that were considered feminine. Long skirts and voluminous blouses were obligatory. This restricted the ability to run and pass or dribble the ball. Indeed decorum required many of these early games to be played behing closed doors and spectators were barred. Various versions of women's basketball rules with similarities to netball were in operation in the United States until quite recently.

Perhaps the biggest impact on women's basketball was the legislation introduced by US President Richard Nixon in 1972 when Title IX of the Civil Rights Act was passed into law. It required, amongst a host of other civil rights, that educational institutions would treat male & female sports programmes on an equal financial basis. High School and College basketball programmes for girls then began to flourish.

When FIBA was established in 1932 it assumed responsibility for men's and women's basketball throughout the world. It established a Commission charged with the responsibility of developing Women's Basketball. The first European Women's Championship was organised in 1938. The Italian Federation hosted the event which was played in Rome. Only five countries took part. It was 1950 before the next Championship took place, this time in Budapest, Hungary when twelve teams participated. FIBA Europe now organises European Cups and a bi-ennial European Championship for Women. On the world level FIBA organises the Olympic basketball tournament and the World Championships for Women on a four year cycle.

At the formation of the ABAS in 1947 a Women's Committee had been established. The committee was responsible for the promotion and encouragement of basketball for ladies. It operated as an autonomous group, electing its own Secretary and Chairman. Wives & girl friends of the Polonia Mens Club started a ladies section and arranged "friendly" matches with several local men's teams. A Scottish Women's Cup was presented by Maryhill Club President James Muirhead in 1948. The leading clubs in those early days were King's Park and Maryhill in the West of Scotland and Polonia, Latter Day Saints and Shooting Stars in the East. Members of the Polonia Club frustrated by a lack of competition broke away to establish a new club which they named Auld Reekie. Competing with a formidable netball structure in the West of Scotland, women's basketball declined in that part of the country.

Auld Reekie became the dominant club in those early years, winning the Scottish Women's Cup seven years in a row from 1950. Younger members of Auld Reekie, following the pattern established by their mentors, resolved to form a new club. The All Blacks were born. Meanwhile established men's clubs formed Women's sections as Boroughmuir, Dalkeith and Paisley entered a highly competitive environment. The Women's National League was started in 196?.

In 1956 the Scottish Women's Team had entered the European Championships which were held in Prague. It was a huge challenge requiring the team members to raise all the funds for the cost of travel and equipment. Sixteen countries entered and although the Scots finished last they had encouraging results against Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.


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