🏐 Netball 🏐

What is Netball?

Netball is a ball sport played by two teams of 7 players. Netball is most popular in many Commonwealth countries and predominantly played by women. Games are played on a rectangular court with raised goal rings at each end.

Each team attempts to score goals by passing the ball down the court and shooting it through the goal ring. Players are assigned specific positions, which define their roles within the team and designates the areas on the court they are restricted from entering. During play, a player with the ball can only hold the ball for 3 seconds before shooting or passing the ball to another player. Games are 60 minutes long, split into 15 minute quaters.

How do you play Netball?

When a goal is scored or at the start of a quarter/overtime, play is resumed from the centre of the court using 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 two Centre players are allowed in the centre third: when the umpire blows the whistle to restart play, the Goal Attack, Goal Defence, Wing Attack and Wing Defence players can move into the centre third to receive the pass. The centre pass must be caught or touched in the centre third.

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. Players are entitled to balance on the other foot if the landing foot is lifted. 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.

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