the first game of "basket ball" was played in december 1891. the teams had nine players, and used a soccer ball. the goals were a pair of peach baskets: "when mr. stubbins brot [sic] up the peach baskets to the gym i secured them on the inside of the railing of the gallery. this was about 10 feet from the floor, one at each end of the gymnasium. i then put the 13 rules on the bulletin board just behind the instructor's platform, secured a soccer ball and awaited the arrival of the class... the class did not show much enthusiasm but followed my lead... i then explained what they had to do to make goals, tossed the ball up between the two center men &amp; tried to keep them somewhat near the rules. most of the fouls were called for running with the ball, though tackling the man with the ball was not uncommon."