50 Facts About Senda Berenson

Senda Berenson Abbott was a figure of women's basketball and the author of the first Basketball Guide for Women.

Senda Berenson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor on July 1,1985, the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1987, and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.

Senda Berenson decided to move to the United States to raise his family according to his own beliefs, moving alone in 1874 to the West End of Boston.

Senda Berenson became a "poor peddler of pots and pans", selling his wares in nearby towns.

Senda Berenson did not have much interest in athletics as a child and preferred music, literature, and art.

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Senda Berenson was "frail and delicate" in her childhood, which interfered with her schooling.

Senda Berenson was partially home-schooled by her father and attended Boston Latin Academy, but did not graduate.

Senda Berenson briefly attended the Boston Conservatory of Music, but health issues forced her to leave the school.

Senda Berenson had tried painting and the piano, but her health limited both; she was unable to keep up the practice.

Senda Berenson moved out of the house and began a relationship with a man named David.

Senda Berenson ended up moving back home, for what were "probably economic reasons".

The relationship with David was serious enough to prompt a proposal of marriage, but Senda Berenson declined and they amicably ended their relationship near the end of 1888.

Senda Berenson's health continued to deteriorate, forcing her to give up her piano lessons at the Conservatory due to her back problems.

Senda Berenson slowed her writing to her brother, who worried about her health, and urged her to take a summer in the country.

Senda Berenson learned about the School of Gymnastics from a friend and decided to enroll briefly to improve her physical condition so that she could return to the Conservatory.

Senda Berenson met with Homans, and Homans took a liking to her and felt that her physical condition could be improved and that the result might serve as a testament to the school's approach.

Senda Berenson decided to give the exercises a "fair trial", and she saw improvement in three months.

Senda Berenson's brother was disappointed to hear that she had not returned to the Conservatory but did not fully comprehend how much she had improved at the gymnastics school.

Senda Berenson's condition improved so markedly that Homans sent her to the elementary school in Andover to teach the headmaster and faculty about the Swedish theory of gymnastics.

Senda Berenson promoted physical education outside of Smith College as well.

Senda Berenson introduced Swedish exercise and games such as basketball to the inmates at the Northampton Lunatic Asylum.

Senda Berenson sought to establish mandatory physical education in this atmosphere.

Senda Berenson spent considerable time presenting her position to the faculty and administration.

Senda Berenson had heard that some of the students felt the exercises were too boring, but she had six classes each day filled with "enthusiastic girls".

In 1892, after Senda Berenson realized that the gymnastic exercises were not as popular as she had originally thought, she looked for alternatives.

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Senda Berenson read about the new game of basketball, invented by James Naismith, in the YMCA publication Physical Education.

When Senda Berenson tossed the ball between the two opposing centers, she struck the outstretched arm of the freshman team's center, dislocating her shoulder.

Senda Berenson had introduced the game as an experiment, so she sought to determine how the students reacted to the game.

Senda Berenson polled her students, and all but one felt they had improved in many areas, including "endurance, lung capacity, alertness, courage, [and] toughness".

Senda Berenson threw a low ball against the wall at such an angle that it bounded back into the hands of one of her own players who was watching for it.

Senda Berenson was pleased with the reception to the game but felt some changes were needed.

Senda Berenson thought the game had a "tendency to roughness", so she sat down with her class to discuss how to modify the rules.

Senda Berenson divided the court into three regions and prohibited players from leaving their assigned region.

Senda Berenson formalized her rules into a set of official rules – Line Basketball or Basket Ball for Women, often referred to as Basket Ball for Women.

Senda Berenson organized the United States Basket Ball Committee in 1905, where she served as chairman until 1917.

Senda Berenson viewed the sport as "a complete educational experience" and did not allow players to play if they failed in subjects; the importance of education was paramount.

Senda Berenson encouraged her students to suggest alternative rules or different methods of play to improve the game.

Senda Berenson encouraged responsibility by naming captains, who helped serve as coaches for the players.

Senda Berenson was the physical education department director here at Smith College.

Senda Berenson's concerns were apt; the visit was strained whenever Mary was present, but Bernard took pleasure in showing his sister around Europe and introducing her to his friends.

When Senda Berenson returned, she continued to develop her gymnastics program as the Instructor in Gymnastics but pursued other interests with the aid of a part-time assistant.

Senda Berenson had visited a number of art galleries during her summer with Bernard, and she keep up her interest in art.

Senda Berenson corresponded with Bernard regularly, who was happy to hear of her interest in art.

Senda Berenson was not yet convinced that her career in gymnastics was wise, hoping that she would abandon it for a career in art.

Senda Berenson wrote often about art, partly to show Bernard she could keep up with him intellectually.

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Senda Berenson did not emphasize her work, although she did send him a picture of herself in her gymnastics outfit.

Senda Berenson was involved in campus theater, starting with play reading and continuing with appearances in several plays.

Senda Berenson played the lead role in a William Dean Howells play Unexpected Guest, which was so well-received, they performed it a second time.

Senda Berenson attended the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastic in Stockholm and organized the Gymnastics and Field Association at Smith in 1893.

Senda Berenson died in Santa Barbara, California, on February 16,1954.