Netball is a sport that originated from basketball. Although not as popular, the netball game is generally associated with women and is the premier women’s sport in the United Kingdom, Australia/New Zealand and the Asian subcontinent. As the netball game is shown on television it is a lot more popular than other sports like tchoukball and paddleball, however it still has a long way to go before it reaches the popularity that modern games like soccer, basketball and cricket experience.

As for the rules, the netball game is fairly similar to basketball. The court is of a similar size, however it is divided into three parts which regulate where players in teams are allowed to move. Both ends of the court contain basketball hoops, and there are half-circles around each basket- where shots must be taken within. The court used for the netball game is slightly larger than a standard basketball court.

Unlike basketball, each netball team has seven players (although junior teams may have only five). Each player has to wear a shirt with their position allocated on it; such as GS (Goal Shooter), WA (Wing Attack) or C (Centre). Each player must stay within their allocated zone for the netball game, and should they not do so they are given offside.

Due to the rule that baskets can only be scored from within the half-circles and the rule that deems players only capable of being in their third of the court, only the GS (Goal Shooter) or GA (Goal Attacker) may score baskets. If a player that is not the Goal Shooter or the Goal Attacker scores, the basket is not counted.

Players of the netball game are only allowed to take one step at a time; any more than that and the ball is given to the other team. Netball players are not allowed to hold the ball for more than three seconds, and these combined rules means that players will always be involved in the netball game.

Netball games are played in four quarters; each quarter going on for fifteen minutes. There are three minutes break between the first two and the last two quarters while a five minute break is given for half time (between the second and third quarter). At the start of each quarter, or after a basket is scored the ball begins in the middle of the court with a centre pass. The centre pass alternates between both the teams, no matter which team scored.

The netball game was thought of by Clara Gregory Baer. After James Naismith invented basketball, Baer changed the rules so that women could play it easily, and thus the netball game was born. The first exhibition netball game was held on 6th June, 1907 between the women and men of Polytechnic Netball Club. Poly Netball Club is thus known as the world’s oldest netball club. As the netball game grew in popularity eventually the International Federation of Women’s Basketball and Netball was created, and regular tournaments took place (which Australia have dominated). There are now many versions of the netball game, designed to make it easier for children. Netball is very popular in the United Kingdom and Australia, as well as Jamaica- where 10,000 people play the netball game.