Evolution of athletes and sports competitors

First African-American to play MLB

1884

Moses Fleetwood Walker

First time women allowed to play in the olympics

1900

For the first time, women participated in the Games in Paris, France. Twenty-two women (2.2 per cent) out of a total of 997 athletes competed in five sports: tennis, sailing, croquet, equestrian and golf. https://www.olympic.org/women-in-sport/background/key-dates

First women soccer game

1920

First soccer game played by women in front of a crowd http://www.historyofsoccer.info/women_soccer.html

First african americans to play in the NFL

1946

Bill Willis, Marion Motley, Kenny Washington, and Woody Strode

Allowed more personal fouls in the NBA

1947

Player fouls allowed per game increased from five to six. http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_history.html

The first African-Americans to play in the NBA

1950

The season also marked the first appearance of black players in the league. http://www.nba.com/history/season/19501951.html

Shot clock

1954

When the shot clock became a rule. http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_history.html

The number of referees increased

1978

Number of referees officiating game increased from two to three. http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_history.html

The three point line is official

1979

Three-point line established 22 feet in the corners extending to 23 feet, nine inches at the top of the key. http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_history.html

No jewelry allowed in

1980

Officials shall not permit any players to play with any type of hand, arm face, nose, ear, head, or neck jewelry. http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_history.html

And-1's finally counted

1983

If a shot is taken simultaneously with a whistle for an illegal defense, and is successful, the basket shall count and no penalty shall be imposed. http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_history.html

Hand checking was not allowed outside the post

1994

Hand-checking eliminated from the end line in the backcourt to the opposite foul line. http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_history.html

WNBA founded

1996

Women were finally allowed to play basketball professionally. http://www.wnba.com/history/

More timeouts allowed

2000

The number of timeouts per team per game was changed to six from seven. http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_history.html

Defensive three second rule

2001

A new defensive three-second rule will prohibit a defensive player from remaining in the lane for more than three consecutive seconds without closely guarding an offensive player. http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_history.html