Early women's basketball players were forbidden from crossing the court to avoid nervous fatigue
Victorian-era women's basketball was governed by strict rules that restricted movement between three distinct court zones to prevent players from experiencing physical exhaustion and perceived nervous fatigue.
In 1892, Senda Berenson modified the rules of basketball at Smith College to align with Victorian ideals of female frailty. Believing that excessive exertion led to nervous fatigue, she divided the court into three zones that players were forbidden from crossing. This restricted movement ensured that athletes remained in their designated areas as guards, centers, or forwards.
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