School in Massachusetts. James decided to leave the Presbyterian College as an unordained minister to pursue a career entailing physical education. James spent some time learning about the Y.M.C.A s in Canada and the U.S. and then, in 1890, he left Almonte and travelled to Springfield to enroll in the Y.M.C.A Training School there. Here he furthered his education on spiritual and physical development.James took and taught many courses at and played rugby for the Y.M.C.A. At the time (1870-80), outdoor sports were on an increase in interest; football and baseball being two of the major outdoor sports. However, between football and baseball season, there was athletic emptiness. Most of the time, athletes spent this emptiness of sports doing exercises and training. Although training is a necessity it can also be very monotonous and intensive. James realized this and he and the other students were put to the task of inventing new games for indoor play. After much thinking, the end result was the game of basketball. His new game was a huge success and some people wanted it to be named to Naismith ball, however Dr. Naismith, being the humble man that he was, declined.In 1894, James marries Maude Shermann from Springfield. They had five children, Margaret, Helen, John, Maud, and James. Fourteen years later he became a professor and doctor at Kansas University. He received American citizenship in 1925. In 1937 his wife died and he retired from the University. In June 11, 1939 he married Florence Kincaid in Kansas. On November 19 of that same year, James suffered a brain haemorrhage and later died of a heart attack on November 28. He died at the age of 78 at his home, 1515 University Drive, Lawrence, Kansas. Throughout his whole life, James only played two games of basketball; once on March 11, 1892 in a public match in the International Y.M.C.A training school gym, and once at the University of Kansas in 1898. When asked why ...
