Dr. James Naismith invented basketball in 1891 in Springfield, Mass., while football is the evolution of rugby and other sports, with the first football game played in 1869 between Rutgers and Princeton.
Which is older basketball or football?
Basketball has a very distinct creation story. The sport was invented by James Naismith, a gym teacher at a YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1891. … Football is an older sport and came about in a more evolutionary way than basketball.
What is the oldest US sport?
With a history that spans centuries, lacrosse is the oldest sport in North America. Rooted in Native American religion, lacrosse was often played to resolve conflicts, heal the sick, and develop strong, virile men. To Native Americans, lacrosse is still referred to as “The Creator’s Game.”