The beginning of basketball is believed to have started during Aztec times. Modern basketball as we know it began in 1891 by the creator Dr. James Naismith at a YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts. He developed the game for the football and lacrosse players to play during the winter with rules that had little physical contact. At first there were nine players on each team with a goalkeeper, two guards, three centers, two wings, and a home man. Initially soccer balls were used for the games. Dr. James Naismith also created the basketball, which at first had laces like a football. In the year 1892 Lew Allen made a cylinder with heavily woven wire to replace the old basketball rims which were peach baskets. Three years after the new rim was made they installed backboards to prevent fans from interfering with play.