After the originating of this sport that was discouraged by the American society has now become the number one women’s sport. Netball has developed a known, promising reputation that people look forward to play or watch. Apart from women now men are also interested in playing this game. Netball is a game where you learn to get compatible with team-work, co-ordination and quickness. It’s all about jumping, running, throwing, defending, scoring goals, stopping goals and attacking.
The way to play netball is basically just like basketball where there are seven players on each time and the aim of the game is to get the ball in to the hoop of the opposing team. This has to be done in a sixty-minute match. The netball court is 100 ft long by 50 ft wide, approximately the size of a tennis court. The court is split by two lines that divide the court into thirds. At both ends of the court there is a shooting semicircle and a ten feet goal post with no back board. Each team member has a specific position that is restricted to an area on the court. These restricted areas have an attacking and defending player in them, each from an opposing team. Once the ball is in the hands of the player he/she is allowed to take only two more steps with the ball, throwing the ball within three seconds. But lately they have changed the rules and allow only one step for the player who has the ball in his/her hands.
Australia has now introduced Fun Net that teaches the basics of Netball to kids of five to seven years of age. The emphasis is to teach the kids the basic rules of netball in a fun environment of games and entertainment. The length of the FunNet games can be from 8-16 weeks, although this is flexible depending on the school of the child, association and individual needs.
Another organization called “Netta” has been set up to teach Netball for kids aged seven years or older. A size 4 for a ball is used in this institute for kids to perfection in catching and throwing with up to six seconds of time instead of three seconds permitted in adult game. All players rotate positions so that they can experience each position individually finding their talent in one of them. Netta allows children to learn netball in a friendly, fun environment ensuring that a child leaves with the skills and confidence ready to play Netball.
Netball is all about giving women a closure to play, exercise and stay healthy by participating in this game. It allows women to develop confidence and skills to play a sport that has happened to have so much popularity. This game is now being included in most of the biggest sporting event including Commonwealth Games.