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Netball

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Netball
MalawiFijiNetball.jpg
Malawi (red) playing Fiji (blue) at the
2006 Commonwealth Games.
Highest governing body International Federation of Netball Associations
First played 1892, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, USA [1]
Registered players 360,000 (Australia)[2]
120,440 (New Zealand)[3]
1,300 (Northern Ireland)[4]
10,000 (Papua New Guinea)
80,000 (Singapore)[5]
Clubs 11,000 (New Zealand) [3]
1,718 (Malaysia)[6]
Characteristics
Contact Limited
Team members Seven on-court players per team
Mixed gender Local competitions only
Categorization Indoor or outdoor
Equipment Netball
Olympic No (IOC-recognised, 1995)

Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. The sport shares many similarities with basketball, having been derived from early versions of women's basketball. It developed as a distinct sport in the 1890s in England, from where it spread to other countries. Netball is popular in Commonwealth nations and is predominantly played by women.

Games are played on a rectangular court divided into thirds, with a raised goal at each short end. The object of the game is for teams to score goals, by passing a ball and shooting it into the opposing team's goal. Players are assigned "positions" that define their role within the team and restrict their movement on court. During general play, a player with the ball can take no more than one step before passing it, and must pass the ball or shoot for goal within three seconds. Goals can only be scored by the assigned shooting players. Netball games are 60 minutes long, divided into 15-minute quarters, at the end of which the team with the most goals scored wins.

The sport is administered globally by the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA), and is reportedly played by over 20 million people in more than 70 countries. Local-level participation is widespread in Commonwealth nations, particularly in schools, although international competition and domestic leagues only receive substantial recognition in a few countries. The highest level of international netball includes the Netball World Championships, the netball event at the Commonwealth Games, and the World Netball Series.

Contents

History

Main article: History of netball

Origins from basketball

School netball game in New Zealand, ca. 1910.

Netball emerged from early versions of women's basketball, evolving with the increasing participation of women in sport. Basketball was invented in 1891 by James Naismith, a Canadian physical education instructor working in Springfield, Massachusetts. His new game was played in his school's gymnasium between two teams of nine players, using an association football that was shot into closed-end peach baskets.[7] Senda Berenson, a teacher at a nearby women's college, developed women's basketball the following year, with modified rules designed to accommodate the social norms regarding appropriate conduct and attire for women, and contemporary notions on their limited physical capacity.[1][8]

Women's basketball spread across the United States over the next few years, with many variations arising in different parts of the country. In 1893, Clara Gregory Baer introduced her own version of the sport to her female students in New Orleans. Two years later, she released the first published rules for women's basketball, which she called "basquette".[9] Baer's game was substantially different to Berenson's, but was similarly designed to facilitate women's participation in sport.[10] The first unified rules of women's basketball was published by Berenson in 1901, which included a number of rules from Baer's game.[11] The rules of women's basketball eventually merged with those of the men's game, although these early versions of women's basketball gave rise to another sport: netball.[citation needed]

Early development of netball

Basketball spread to England within a few years of its invention. Martina Bergman-Österberg introduced one version of basketball in 1893 to her female students at her Physical Training College in London (later in Dartford). Subsequent revisions were made at the college two years later, and in 1897 rules were introduced from women's basketball in the United States. By that time, the game had moved outdoors and the baskets were replaced by rings that had nets; Madame Österberg's sport had also acquired the new name "net ball".[12] The first codified rules of netball were published in 1901 by the Ling Association (later the Physical Education Association of the United Kingdom).[10] From England, netball spread to other countries in the British Empire. Variations of the rules and even names for the sport arose in different areas: "women's (outdoor) basketball" arrived in Australia around the start of the 20th century and in New Zealand from 1906,[10][13] while "netball" was being played in Jamaican schools by 1909.[14]

Netball became a popular women's sport in countries where it was introduced, and spread rapidly through school systems. School leagues and domestic competitions emerged during the first half of the 20th century, and in 1924 the first national governing body was established. International competition was initially hampered by a lack of funds and varying rules in different countries. Australia and New Zealand contested the first international game of netball in Melbourne on 20 August 1938, which the host nation won 40–11.[13] Efforts began in 1957 to standardise netball rules globally: by 1960 international playing rules had been standardised, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball (later the International Federation of Netball Associations) was formed to administer the sport worldwide.[7]

In Australia, netball competed with women's basketball. The two sports shared a name. There was a movement during the 1950s and 1960s to change the name of the game in the country from women's basketball to netball in order to avoid confusion between the two sports. [15] The Australian Basketball Union offered to pay costs involved to alter the name but this was rejected by the netball organization prior to 1968. [15]

The global game

In 1963, the first international tournament was held in Eastbourne, England; this was originally called the World Tournament, and eventually became known as the Netball World Championships. It has been held every four years since, most recently in 2007. The World Youth Netball Championships started in Canberra in 1988, and have been held roughly every four years since. In 1995, netball became an Olympic-recognised sport, allowing its inclusion in future games. Three years later it debuted at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.[7] Other international competitions also emerged in the late 20th century, primarily contested between second- and third-tier netball nations: these include the Nations Cup and the Asian Netball Championship.[citation needed]

School leagues and nationwide club competitions have existed in countries such as England, Australia, New Zealand and Jamaica since the early 20th century. However, franchise-based netball leagues only emerged in the late 1990s. The most prominent of these competitions are the ANZ Championship in Australia and New Zealand, and the Netball Superleague in the United Kingdom. These competitions sought to increase the profile of the sport in their respective countries, which despite widespread local-level participation remains largely amateur. In 2008, efforts were started to include netball in the Olympic Games from as early as 2012.[16] A new format of the game, called fastnet, was also announced in December that year, one that featured shorter matches with modified rules designed to make the game more appealing to spectators and television audiences.[17]

Description and rules

Objective

The objective of a game of netball is for players to pass the ball to a teammate within the opposition's goal circle and score goals, which the opposing team will attempt to prevent. The team with the most goals at the end of a game is the winner.

Court and its dimensions

A netball court is divided into thirds.
A netball court.

Like basketball, netball is played on either a hard or soft court with scoring hoops or "rings" at both ends. The court is slightly larger than a basketball court, being 30.48 metres (100.0 ft) long and 15.24 metres (50.0 ft) wide.[18] The longer sides are called "side lines" and the shorter sides are called "goal lines"or "back lines". Court markings are no more than 50 millimetres (2.0 in) wide. The court is divided into thirds which regulate where individuals of each position are allowed to move. A 90 centimetres (35 in)-diameter "centre circle" is located in the centre of the court. At each end of the court there is a 4.9 metres (16 ft)-radius semi-circular "shooting circle" or "goal circle" from within which all scoring shots must be taken. The goal posts are 3.05 metres (10.0 ft) high from the top of the ring to the ground and have no backboards. The rings have an internal diameter of 381 millimetres (15.0 in),[18] and are located 150 millimetres (5.9 in) forward from the post and are made of 15 millimetres (0.59 in) diameter steel. The height is the same as a basketball hoop, but in netball the diameter of the rings is 3 inches (76 mm) smaller.[citation needed] It is possible to play netball using a basketball hoop but if there is any contact between the ball and the backboard, the ball is considered out of play. If a goal is scored off the backboard it does not count.[citation needed]Some versions of the rules allow a goal to be scored from a backboard rebound if a player who can catch the ball throws the ball in without touching the ground.[citation needed]

The court can be played on any hard surface, including asphalt or wood floors.[19] There are versions that do not require this, such as beach netball that is played in places like Singapore.[5]

Ball

The ball is made of leather, rubber or similar material, measures 680 millimetres (27 in) to 710 millimetres (28 in) in circumference and weighs 397 grams (14.0 oz) to 454 grams (16.0 oz) .[18][20] This is known as a size 5 netball.[citation needed] For IFNA sanctioned competitions, Gilbert is the official supplier of netball balls.[18]

Playing time

A game is played in four quarters, each lasting fifteen minutes.[18][19] There are intervals of three minutes between the first and second quarters, and between the third and fourth quarters and an interval of five minutes at half time.[21] If an umpire or player calls time, the time keeper pauses the timer. When play resumes, the timer is restarted. A maximum of two minutes is allowed for an injury.[citation needed]

Positions

There are seven players on each team,[21] who are given nominated, named positions (some junior/training variants have only five players per team, and the indoor short version has 6 players). Each player must wear a "bib" showing one of the abbreviations below, indicating that player's position.[22] Each player is only allowed in certain areas of the court: a player in a section of court that is not part of their playing area is deemed "offside".[23] The positions are described below:

Netball positions
Position Name Abbreviation comments
Goal Shooter GS This player must get past the Goal Keeper of the other team. He or she can move within the "attacking" goal third, including the shooting circle.[21][24]
Goal Keeper GK This player must stop the GOAL SHOOTER from scoring. He or she can move within and across the defensive goal third and the shooting circle.[21][24][25]
Goal Attack GA This player acts as the "goal attack," and can move within and across the "attacking" goal third, shooting circle, and centre third areas.[21][24]
Goal Defence GD This player must protect against the GOAL ATTACK player, and can move within and across the "defensive" goal third and centre third, as well as within the shooting circle.[21][24]
Wing Attack WA This player functions as the "wing attack," and can move within and across the "attacking" goal third and centre third, but not in the shooting circle. This player is defended by the WD.[21][24]
Wing Defence WD This player"s function is to "defend" the wing areas, so he or she can move within and across the "defensive" goal third and centre third, but never in the shooting circle. This player defends the WA.[21][24]
Centre C This player can move in all areas except the shooting circles.[21][24]

Scoring goals

By the combination of the above, only the Goal Attack and Goal Shooter are able to score goals directly,[26] and this may only be done from the inside of the semi-circle. The job of the Goal Defence and Goal Keeper is to block the Goal Attack and Goal Shooter from shooting; however, they must be three feet or more away from the landing foot of the shooter, otherwise it is called an obstruction. In this, the Goal Keeper or Goal Defence must stand by the shooter's side for a penalty pass or shot and are now not allowed to block. A ball that passes through the hoop, but has been thrown either from outside the circle or by a player not the GA or GS, is deemed a "no goal". Furthermore, a shooter (GA or GS) may not shoot for a goal if a "free pass" has been awarded for an infringement such as stepping, offside, or using the post.[citation needed]

If a player misses and the ball does not touch the rim or any part of the post, the player cannot catch it otherwise it is called replay. This results in a free pass to the other team.[citation needed]

Each goal scored is worth only one point.[26]

Starting and restarting play

A netball game in Australia.
A netball game in action.

At the beginning of every quarter or after a goal is scored, play starts from the centre of the court with a "centre pass". These passes alternate between the teams, regardless of which team scored the last goal. A centre pass is made by a player in the "centre" position who must have one foot grounded within the centre circle. As the game restarts, only the player in the 'Centre' position from each team are allowed in the centre third of the court. When the umpire blows the whistle to restart play, players in the positions "Goal Attack", "Goal Defence", "Wing Attack" and "Wing Defence" can move into the centre third, where the centre pass must be caught or touched.[citation needed]

If the ball touches the ground outside the court boundaries, then a member of the team that was not the last to touch the ball before it went out is able to throw the ball back into the court to restart play.[citation needed]

Stepping, footwork, and passing

Netball rules do not permit players to let their landing foot touch the ground again if it is lifted at all while in possession of the ball, so players can take 1.5 steps while holding the ball. Pivoting does not count as a step.[18] Players are entitled to balance on the other foot if the landing foot is lifted. Consequently, the only way to move the ball towards the goal is to throw the ball to a team-mate. The ball can be held by a player for less than three seconds at any time.[18] A player may tap or deflect the ball let it bounce and then take possession and throw it. The player cannot catch the ball with both hands, drop it and pick it up again; this is called a replayed ball. The duration before it is called a drop is determined by the umpire. These rules, combined with the restrictions on where one player of a particular position can move, ensure that everyone on the team is regularly involved in play.[citation needed]

Contact and obstruction

Contact is only permitted provided it does not impede with an opponent or the general play and players must be at least .9 metres (2 ft 11 in) away from a player with the ball while attempting to defend. If impeding contact is made, a penalty is given to the team of the player who was contacted, and the player who contacted must stand "out of play", meaning they cannot participate in play until the player taking the penalty has passed the ball.[25]

Variants

Indoor netball

Main article: Indoor netball

Indoor netball is a variation of netball, played exclusively indoors, in which the playing court is surrounded on each side and overhead by a net. The net prevents the ball from leaving the court, reducing the number of playing stoppages. This gives indoor netball a faster pace than netball. In places where indoor netball courts are not available, this version of the game can be played in a smaller hall (such as a school gymnasium) using the walls instead of a net.[citation needed]

This version of the game is played with six players: two attackers, two centre players and two defenders. The attacking and defending players can each go in one half of the court including the goal circle, while the centre players can play in the whole court except the goal circle. A unique feature of this form of the game is that players can shoot from outside the goal circle for a two-point goal, while shots taken inside the goal circle still earn one point.[citation needed]

Fastnet

Main article: Fastnet (netball)

Fastnet is a variations on the rules of netball designed to make games faster and more television-friendly. It is employed in the World Netball Series with the ultimate aim of raising the sport's profile and attracting more spectators and greater sponsorship.[27][28][29] The modified rules are outlined below.

Variations for children

Fun Net

Fun Net is Netball Australia's play based motor skills program for 5-7 year olds.The emphasis is on the acquisition of basic netball skills, in a fun environment of games and activities.[32] The Fun Net program runs for 8–16 weeks. There are no winners or losers. The goal posts are 2.4m high and a size 4 netball is used.[citation needed]

Netta

Netta is Netball Australia's modified netball game for 8-11 year olds.[33] A size 4 ball is used and the goal posts are 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) high.[33] The game was created to develop correct passing and catching skills with up to six seconds allowed between catching and passing the ball, instead of the three seconds permitted in the adult game.[33] All players rotate positions throughout the game so that they can experience the differences between each position.[citation needed] The program of Netta allows children to acquire important skills necessary in the game of netball in a fun and exciting environment.[citation needed] The aim of Netta is to ensure each child leaves with the confidence and skills ready to play Netball.[33]

High Five Netball

High Five Netball ensures that children gain experience at all positions on the court, and to understand the physical and tactical skills necessary to play seven to a side netball. Like Netta, it is aimed 9 to 11 year-old girls.[34]

There are five positions and the players must swap around these positions during the game, allowing them to try out every position.[citation needed] The game is played over four quarters, with each quarter lasting six minutes.[34] When a player is not on the court, they are expected to help the game in some other way, such as being the timekeeper or scorekeeper.[34]

High Five Netball has been heavily promoted by the All England Netball Association.[34]

Worldwide popularity

Netball is a popular participant sport, particularly in countries of the Commonwealth of Nations such as Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Malawi, Jamaica, Zambia and the United Kingdom.[3] Over 20 million people play netball in more than 70 countries.[26] Netball is commonly played by Commonwealth children during their years at school.[3]

Oceania

Main articles: Netball in Australia and Netball in New Zealand

In Australia and New Zealand, netball is one of the most popular sports played by women.[19][35][36] It is played by amateurs, semi-professionals and professionals in both New Zealand and Australia. The ANZ Championship is a Trans-Tasman semi-professional competition that has been broadcast on television in both New Zealand and Australia since 2008.[37] The sport's name of netball became official in Australia in 1970.[38][39]

Australia

Netball is the most popular women's team participation sport in Australia.[40] In 1977, there were 200,000 schoolgirls playing netball.[38] In 1978, there were 273,000 players.[41] In 1979, there were 300,000 players in Australia.[39] In 1995, there were over 360,000 Australian netball players.[2] For netball players 18 years and older, their demographic profile is 18 to 24, unmarried, Australian-born and they are employed full time.[40] The average netball player in New South Wales has played the game for 10.8 years.[42] Most New South Wales based school aged netball players play for school and friends.[42] Girls from non-English speaking backgrounds were more likely to play for fun than their English speaking counterparts, who often played for school or parents.[43] Non-English speaking girls were less likely to have mothers who played netball, 18.2% compared to 35.2% for their English speaking counterparts.[43] Most New South Wales based adult players played netball for fun and for the physical benefits of the sport.[43]

During the 1930s in Australia, much of the participation in netball at universities was not organized and players were not required to register.[44] It was believed that this was a positive for netball as it allowed people to participate who might not have participated otherwise.[44]

80% of all netball played in Australia is played at netball clubs.[2] The number of netball clubs around Australia has been in decline since the 1940s. Between 1940 and 2003, netball clubs were closed in several Western Australian towns including Aldersyde.[45] Between 1985 and 2003, only two towns decreased the distance that netball players had to travel in order to compete; these towns were Brookton and Pingelly.[46]

Throughout most of Australia's netball history, the game has largely been a participation sport; it has not managed to become a large spectator sport.[47] In 2005 and 2006, 56,100 Australians attended one to two netball matches. Of these, 41,600 were women.[48] 46,200 attended three to five netball matches, with 34,400 of those spectators being women.[48] 86,400 attended six or more netball matches, with 54,800 spectators being female.[48] Overall, 188,800 people attended netball matches, with 130,800 being female.[48] In 2005 and 2006, netball was the 10th most popular spectator sport for women with Australian rules football (1,011,300), horse racing (912,200), rugby league (542,600), motor sports (462,100), rugby union (232,400), soccer (212,200), harness racing (190,500), cricket (183,200) and tennis (163,500) all being more popular.[48]

Prior to the creation of the ANZ Championship, the National Netball League was the major competition in Australia.[49] It included teams from the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.[49]

The country has hosted several major important international netball events including:

Australia's national team is one of the best in the world. It won the first world championships in 1963 in England.[39]

New Zealand

In New Zealand, netball is the most popular participation sport; there are over 11,000 teams and 120,440 players.[3] The only sport that comes close is golf, which includes both male and female players; golf has 128,860 players.[3] Netball is extremely popular amongst Maori women, who are more active in sport in general than their white counterparts.[52]

Unlike Australia, New Zealand has a history of netball being a spectator sport with the games being televised on NZTV.[3] The 1999 Netball World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand was the highest rated, most watched program ever on New Zealand television.[3]

New Zealand has also hosted several important netball events, including:

Cook Islands

The Cook Islands are another major netball playing country in Oceania. They hosted the IFNA Netball World Youth Championship in 2009.[50] Unlike some countries, the growth of men's netball is hampered by cultural bias against it; when parents see their boys playing it, they actively discourage them from continuing.[53]

Asia

China

In 1994, 1st Asian Youth Championship were held in Hong Kong.[50]

Malaysia

Netball is promoted in Malaysia at the Sport Carnival for All (KESUMA).[6] In 1998, 113 districts held netball competitions.[6] That same year, there were 1,718 registered netball teams in the country.[6]

In 2001, netball was sufficiently popular in southeast Asia for it to be included in the 21st SEA Games held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[50]

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea Netball Federation was created in the 1960s.[54] There are over 10,000 registered netball players in the country.[54]

Singapore

There are 80,000 netball players in Singapore.[5] There are several variations of netball played in the country, including beach netball.[5]

In Singapore, the SSC is responsible for maintaining 8 netball courts.[55]

Singapore has several national squads: Opens, 21 & Under, 19 & Under (Post School), 19 & Under (Schools), 17 & Under, and 14 & Under.[56] The national team competed in its first major tournament in 1967 at the Netball World Championships.[50]

Netball Singapore is the official governing body for the sport in Singapore.[5] It was created in 1962, with 63 registered clubs.[5]

Several important netball events have taken place in the country, highlighting its importance in the global netball community.[5] In 1983, the country held the 1983 Netball World Championships.[5] In 2001, Singapore hosted the INFA World Congress.[5] In 2005, the country hosted the Asian Netball Championships.[5] In 2006, Netball Singapore created and hosted the first major Asian netball tournament: The Nations Cup.[5] The World Netball Championships will be held in Singapore in 2011.[5]

In 2000, netball was sufficiently popular that the professional Netball Super League (NSL) was formed.[50] In 2004, the audience was big enough that the Netball Super League was broadcast on television.[50]

Africa

South Africa

Netball is one of the most popular women's participation sports in South Africa.[57]

Tanzania

Netball was one of the most popular sports in Tanzania.[58] Almost all primary schools in the country have a court.[58] Recruitment for the national team and other high level teams started at that level.[58] Netball's popularity declined during the 1990s as a result of economic liberalization.[58] Courts were not maintained, leagues were closed and there were fewer competitions.[58] Trying to raise netball's popularity in the country again has been hampered by the fact that sport is culturally more acceptable for men.[58]

During the 1970s and 1980s, there was a major push by the International Olympic Committee and the British Council to promote sport and women's sport in Tanzania.[59] Despite netball being the most popular women's sport at the time, there was no investment made into the sport.[59]

Top level teams in the country, prior to the 1990s, have included Tanzania Harbour Authority, and Tanzania Postal and Telecommunication.[59]

Europe

United Kingdom

In the UK, netball management has been traditionally run by women.[60] This is different than many other sports for women in the United Kingdom where men have managed women's sport.[60]

South Asian women are under-represented in the United Kingdom's netball community based on their representation in the whole of the United Kingdom's population.[61] African-Caribbean women in the United Kingdom are more involved with netball as many of them have a tradition of playing from their home countries.[61]

The United Kingdom has played host to several important netball events:

England

In England, netball has been popular enough to be included as part of the physical education curriculum.[62] Its inclusion had been at times controversial; during the 1910s and 1920s, schools worried about the potential negative impact of physical exercise like netball participation on the health of girls.[63]

Wales

The Welsh Netball Association (Cymdeithas Pêl Rwyd Cymru) was created in 1945.[64] In 2011, the Welsh national team was ranked 9th.[64]

Like other national associations, the Welsh have created a modified version of the game for children called 'Dragon Netball'.[64] It is geared for seven to eleven year olds.[64]

Male participation in netball in Wales has been increasing in the past several years.[64]

Northern Ireland

The rate of comparative participation for netball to other sports differs from key-stage to key-stage (year levels in school) in Northern Ireland.[65] For girls, netball is the third most popular participation sport in key-stage 2 with a 7% participation rate.[65] For keystage 3 and keystage 4, it is the most popular girls participation sport with rates of 20.2% and 14.0%.[65] In the sixth form, netball is the fifth most popular girls' participation sport with a rate of 6.7%.[65] The total number of school participants is about 900.[4] In Northern Ireland, about 1,300 women play competitive netball in club based leagues.[4]

North America

The popularity of netball is increasing in the United States and Canada.[19] It is popular enough that Canada has a men's national team.[66]

United States

The United States of America Netball Association was created in 2010 in New York City.[67] It has affiliates in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, District of Columbia, Tennessee, Nevada, Washington, Arizona and Virginia.[67]

When the United States association was first formed, the country ranked 64th in the world.[26] By 2003, the country was ranked 9th in the world.[26]

The United States has hosted several important netball competitions. They include:

West Indies

Approximately 10,000 people play netball in Jamaica,[citation needed] and it remains the favoured women's sport in that country.[68] Antigua and Barbuda is also very active in the netball, with cricket being the only sport more popular.[citation needed]

Netball is popular enough in Jamaica for the country to have held several major international netball competitions including the 2003 Netball World Championships.[51]

Demographic appeal

Appealing to men

Netball requires speed, strategy, team work and co-ordination, thus its appeal is not limited to women.[69] Representative men's teams exist, but attract less attention.[69] At primary home level, mixed teams are not uncommon and are very popular in Australia.[49] Men's national teams do exist for countries including Canada, Dubai, England, Fiji, Jamaica, Kenya and Pakistan.[66] Participation rates for men vary by region.[citation needed] In 1997, male participation rates for netball in England were at 0.6% of the total netball playing population in the country.[70]

As adults, men and women can compete with each other on reasonably fair terms as the restrictions on defence, limitations of numbers and positions of male players, and the women's greater familiarity with the game, prevent those men of superior strength and size gaining an overly large advantage.[citation needed]

Appealing to transgenders

Netball is a popular sport for transgenders.[71] At Gay Games VI, netball and volleyball were the two sports with the highest rate of transgenders participating.[71] There were eight teams of indigenous players, with seven identifying as transgenders.[71] They came from places like Palm Island in northern Queensland, Samoa, Tonga and Papau New Guinea.[71] Teams and players who were transgendered could participate in several divisions including men, mixed and transgendered; they could not compete against the biological women's teams.[71]

Major competitions

Netball World Championships

Main article: Netball World Championships

The most important competition in netball is the Netball World Championship which is held every four years. The Australian Netball Diamonds are the current world champions having won the 2007 Championship in New Zealand. Past winners include the Silver Ferns of New Zealand and joint 1979 winner the Calypso Girls of Trinidad and Tobago, though England, the Proteas of South Africa and the Sunshine Girls of Jamaica have all also placed.[citation needed]

See list of national netball teams for a complete list of national netball teams.

World Netball Series

Main article: World Netball Series

The World Netball Series is an international netball competition which was contested for the first time in October 2009. The new competition features Fastnet rules (which has been likened to Twenty20 cricket and rugby sevens[17][72]). The competition is scheduled to be held annually in Manchester, England until at least 2011, and will be contested by the six top national netball teams in the world, according to the IFNA World Rankings.[73]

World Youth Netball Championships

Australia beat the Silver Ferns to win the World Youth Netball Championships in July 2009 in the Cook Islands.[53] The 2005 Youth Championship was held in Miami, Florida and was won by New Zealand.[citation needed]

Commonwealth Games

As netball is popular in the Commonwealth, it has been included in the Commonwealth Games since 1998. Australia have taken gold home twice since then, the Silver Ferns of New Zealand also on two occasions (including the recent 2010 Games held in India). England and Jamaica are the two other teams that have placed.[citation needed]

Asian Netball Championship

Main article: Asian Netball Championship

The Asian Netball Championship is a competition held between Asian countries. It occurs every four years. The winners in 2009 were the Sri Lankan team, with a win over the Singaporean team with a score of 77-48 in the final. The sixth Asian Netball Championship was held in 2005, and was won by the Singaporean team [74] with a win over the Malaysian team with a score of 53–39 in the final. The fifth Asian Netball Championships was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2001. Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Maldives, Singapore, Thailand and Sri Lanka competed.[75] It was won by one goal by Sri Lanka over Singapore.[74] The 1997 Asian Netball Championship was held in Singapore and included 12 teams.[citation needed] The Malaysian Netball Association hosted the first Asian Netball Championship in 1985, and the 3rd Asian Youth Netball Championship.[citation needed]

South Pacific Games

Netball is one of the sports at the Pacific Games (formerly known as the South Pacific Games). The Pacific Games is a multi-sport event, much like the Olympics, (albeit on a much smaller scale), with participation exclusively from countries around the South Pacific. It is held every four years and began in 1963.

The Nations Cup

Main article: Nations Cup (netball)

The Nations Cup (also known as the 4 Nations Netball Cup, the 5 Nations Netball Cup) is an international organised by Netball Singapore. In 2007, the competition included the Singapore national netball team, Canada, Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka and Trinidad & Tobago. The 2008 Nations Cup was between the Botswana national netball team, Barbados, Northern Ireland, the Samoa national netball team and Singapore.[citation needed]

ANZ Championship

Main article: ANZ Championship

The ANZ Championship is the elite netball competition contested between five teams each from both Australia and New Zealand. It began in April 2008, succeeding Australia's Commonwealth Bank Trophy and New Zealand's National Bank Cup as the highest level of competitive netball in those countries.[76] The 2010 champions are the Adelaide Thunderbirds.[citation needed]

Fisher and Paykel Series

The Fisher and Paykel Series is a test series played between several nations including Barbados,[77] Jamaica,[78] New Zealand[79] and Australia.[78][79] The series is generally held in June and July.[77][78] The test series in named after and sponsored by Fisher & Paykel.[80] This sponsorship dates back to at least 2001.[80]

From 2001 to 2005, Australia went winless in this competition in matches played in New Zealand.[79] Australia ended their losing streak in 2006.[79] At the time in 2007 when the Fisher and Paykel Series was held, New Zealand was ranked first in the world, Australia second and Jamaica was ranked third.[78] Some national team players have made their debut to the senior squad during this series. They include Christina Solmon of Jamaica's Sunshine Girls.[78]

Netball Superleague

Main article: Netball Superleague

The Netball Superleague is the elite netball competition in England, Wales and Scotland. The league, which runs from November to June, features nine teams from all areas of Britain. It is regularly shown on sports broadcaster Sky Sports, thanks to a major television deal signed in 2006. Naming rights to the competition were secured by The Co-operative. The league includes players from Fiji, New Zealand, England, Wales and Scotland.[citation needed]

Netball Super League

Main article: Netball Super League

The Netball Super League is a five-month long, 15-round netball tournament developed to cater for elite players in Singapore[citation needed]. It was established and is governed by Netball Singapore and six teams compete.[50] The 2010 competition was won by the Malaysian Arowanas.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Jenkins
  2. ^ a b c DaCosta 2006, p. 66
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Thompson 2006, p. 258
  4. ^ a b c Mahoney 1997, p. 103
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Netball Singapore 2011
  6. ^ a b c d DaCosta 2006, p. 88
  7. ^ a b c International Federation of Netball Associations
  8. ^ Grundy 2007, p. 13
  9. ^ Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
  10. ^ a b c Jenkins 2001
  11. ^ Borish 2000, p. 63
  12. ^ England Netball
  13. ^ a b Netball New Zealand
  14. ^ Jamaica Netball Association
  15. ^ a b Pollard 1968, p. 59
  16. ^ BBC Sport 2008
  17. ^ a b Newstalk ZB 2008
  18. ^ a b c d e f g Murrary & 2008, p. 186
  19. ^ a b c d Davis 2006, p. 5
  20. ^ Davis 2006, p. 6
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i International Netball 2006
  22. ^ Davis 2006, p. 7
  23. ^ Hickey 2007, p. 34
  24. ^ a b c d e f g Hickey 2007, p. 21
  25. ^ a b Hickey 2007, p. 30
  26. ^ a b c d e f United States of America Netball Association (USANA), Inc. 2010a
  27. ^ The Jamaica Star 2009
  28. ^ Irvine 2009
  29. ^ International Federation of Netball Associations 2009b
  30. ^ a b Medhurst 2009
  31. ^ Warren 2008
  32. ^ McGrath 1998, p. 50
  33. ^ a b c d McGrath 1998, p. 51
  34. ^ a b c d BBC Sport Academy
  35. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics & 2006}
  36. ^ Phillips 2011
  37. ^ ANZ Championship 2010
  38. ^ a b NETBALL. 1977
  39. ^ a b c SPOT THE BALL and win a trip to Disneyland. 1979
  40. ^ a b Taylor 1998, p. 6
  41. ^ Netball team in a jubilee challenge. 1978
  42. ^ a b Taylor 1998, p. 13
  43. ^ a b c Taylor 1998, p. 14
  44. ^ a b UNIVERSITY SWIMMING. 1934
  45. ^ Atherly 2006, p. 352
  46. ^ Atherly 2006, p. 356
  47. ^ DaCosta 2006, p. 37
  48. ^ a b c d e Australian Bureau of Statistics 2007
  49. ^ a b c Davis 2006, p. 4
  50. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Netball Singapore 2011b
  51. ^ a b Hickey 2007, p. 35
  52. ^ Thompson 2006, p. 257
  53. ^ a b Momoedonu 2008
  54. ^ a b Netball Papua New Guinea
  55. ^ DaCosta 2006, p. 198
  56. ^ Netball Singapore 2010
  57. ^ DaCosta 2006, p. 217
  58. ^ a b c d e f Massoa 2006, p. 121
  59. ^ a b c Massoa 2006, p. 120
  60. ^ a b White 2006, p. 46
  61. ^ a b Taylor 1998, p. 4
  62. ^ White 2006, p. 37
  63. ^ GAMES FOR GIRLS. 1922
  64. ^ a b c d e International Federation of Netball Associations 2011
  65. ^ a b c d Mahoney 1997, p. 109
  66. ^ a b Tagg 2008, p. 411
  67. ^ a b United States of America Netball Association (USANA), Inc. 2010
  68. ^ Zephaniah 2009
  69. ^ a b Tagg 2008, p. 409
  70. ^ Scully 1997, p. 26
  71. ^ a b c d e Symons 2006, p. 122
  72. ^ Marshall 2009
  73. ^ Samoa Observer 2008
  74. ^ a b Ng 2010
  75. ^ Government of Sri Lanka 2001
  76. ^ Netball Australia 2007
  77. ^ a b Aitken 2002
  78. ^ a b c d e Bogle 2007
  79. ^ a b c d Lloyd 2006
  80. ^ a b Paykel 2003

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