View source for Netball

{{Short description|Seven-a-side ball sport}}
{{pp-sock|small=yes}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox sport
| image = MalawiFijiNetball.jpg
| alt = Six players in front of a netball basket. One is in the act of shooting, one is trying to block. Three are in red and three are in blue.
| imagesize = 
| caption = [[Malawi national netball team|Malawi]] (red) playing [[Fiji national netball team|Fiji]] (blue)<br />at the [[Netball at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|2006 Commonwealth Games]]
| union = [[World Netball]]
| nickname = 
| first = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1897}},<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zt3ybk7/revision/1|title=Netball - factfile|website=BBC|access-date=21 March 2023}}</ref> England
| registered = 561,000+{{#tag:ref|Numbers are taken where available from the 48 member nations of the International Federation of Netball Associations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.netball.org/MemberLanding.aspx|title=Member Associations|publisher=International Federation of Netball Associations|access-date=10 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505022511/https://www.netball.org/MemberLanding.aspx|archive-date=5 May 2011}}</ref> (Cook Islands 1,000,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-2732-0-0-0|title=About Us|publisher=Cook Island Netball Association|access-date=10 May 2011|archive-date=1 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201103111/http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-2732-0-0-0|url-status=dead}}</ref> Fiji 5,000,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.netball.org/FullMembers.aspx?id=54|title=Members: Fiji|publisher=International Federation of Netball Associations|access-date=10 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726192818/https://www.netball.org/FullMembers.aspx?id=54|archive-date=26 July 2011}}</ref> New Zealand 135,000,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mynetball.co.nz/netball-nz/organisation-profile.html|title=Netball New Zealand Organisation and Staff|publisher=Netball New Zealand|access-date=10 May 2011}}</ref> Papua New Guinea 10,000,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-1505-0-0-0&sID=46819|title=Netball PNG Profile|publisher=Papua New Guinea Netball Association|access-date=10 May 2011|archive-date=25 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925130437/http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-1505-0-0-0&sID=46819|url-status=dead}}</ref> Samoa 2,000,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-1506-0-0-0&sID=14342|title=Netball History|publisher=Samoa Netball Association|access-date=10 May 2011|archive-date=25 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925130544/http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-1506-0-0-0&sID=14342|url-status=dead}}</ref> England 75,000,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.englandnetball.co.uk/membership/Membership_Statistics|title=Membership Statistics|publisher=England Netball|access-date=10 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002013742/https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/membership/Membership_Statistics|archive-date=2 October 2011}}</ref> Scotland 1,800,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.netballscotland.com/AboutUs|title=About Us|publisher=Netball Scotland|access-date=10 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714165459/http://www.netballscotland.com/AboutUs|archive-date=14 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Australia 330,000,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.netball.asn.au/newsitem.asp?id=15205&orgID=1|title=Netball Australia joins forces with DealsDirect.com.au|date=9 March 2010|publisher=Netball Australia|access-date=10 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310184610/https://netball.asn.au/newsitem.asp?id=15205&orgID=1|archive-date=10 March 2011}}</ref> Hong Kong 1,200,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.netball.org.hk/2AboutAssocationLink.htm|title=About the association|publisher=Hong Kong Netball Association|access-date=10 May 2011|archive-date=5 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505054857/http://www.netball.org.hk/2AboutAssocationLink.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>). No current numbers are available for Vanuatu, Botswana, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Gibraltar, Malta, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Wales, Switzerland, China, India, Malaysia, Republic of the Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Argentina, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and the United States.|group=n}}
| clubs = <!--5,000 (Australia)<ref name="PofNSW-11179"/><br/> 37 (Barbados)<ref name=ifna-2011g>{{harvnb|International Federation of Netball Associations|2011g}}</ref><br/>11,000 (New Zealand)<ref name=Thompson-258/><br/>1,718 (Malaysia)<ref name=DaCosta-88 /><br/>-->
| contact = Limited
| team = Seven on-court players per team
| mgender = Yes, but usually in separate leagues/divisions
| category = Indoor/outdoor, [[ball sport]]
| equipment = Netball, bib
| venue = Netball court
| olympic = IOC-recognised federation, 1995<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.interagencygames.org/iag2014/files/Netball.pdf |title=Netball |website=www.interagencygames.org |author= |date=2014|access-date=23 May 2022|publisher=Inter Agency Games|language=en}}</ref>
| IWGA = [[1985 World Games|1985]]–[[1993 World Games|1993]]
}}

'''Netball''' is a [[list of ball games|ball sport]] played on a rectangular court by two teams of seven players. The primary objective is to shoot a ball through the defender's goal ring while preventing the opposing team from shooting through their own. It is one of a few [[Women's sports#Female sports|sports created exclusively for women]] and girls, and it remains primarily played by them, on indoor and outdoor courts, especially in schools, and most popularly in the [[Commonwealth of Nations]].

According to [[World Netball]], the sport is played by more than 20 million people in more than 80 countries.<ref name="INF-History" /><ref name="Thompson-258" /> World Netball comprises more than 70 [[List of national netball teams|national teams]] organized into five global regions. Major domestic leagues in the sport include the [[Netball Superleague]] in Great Britain, [[Super Netball]] in Australia, and the [[ANZ Premiership]] in New Zealand.

Four major competitions take place internationally: the [[World Netball Championships]] and [[Netball at the Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]], both quadrennial, and the [[Netball Quad Series|Quad Series]] and [[World Netball Series|Fast5 Series]], both annual. In 1995, the International Netball Federation (now known as World Netball) [[Netball and the Olympic Movement|became an International Olympic Committee recognised sport federation]], but netball has not been played at the Olympics.

{{TOC limit|limit=3}}

== Comparison with basketball ==
Netball's development traces back to American sports teacher [[Clara Gregory Baer]]'s misinterpretation of the [[basketball]] rule book in 1895. The book had lines of patrol drawn on it and she interpreted this to mean that players had to stay in those zones.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.netball.org/Netball.aspx?id=18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306141537/http://www.netball.org/Netball.aspx?id=18 | archive-date=6 March 2011 | title=IFNA : Development : History of Netball }}</ref> Baer's modifications proliferated and were later officially ratified into the rules for [[women's basketball]] by 1899. [[Martina Bergman-Österberg]] had also introduced basketball to her female students at her Physical Training College in [[England]] in 1893. In the beginning it was also described as "women's basketball", but by 1897 it started to evolve into a distinctly separate sport based on modifications developed at Bergman-Österberg's college combined with Baer's rules.

The first codified rules of Bergman-Österberg's new sport, ''netball'', were then published in 1901. By 1960, international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball, later renamed [[World Netball]], was formed to be the sport's [[List of international sports federations|international governing body]].

Netball differs in many ways from basketball, principally in the absence of the [[Backboard (basketball)|backboards]] from the [[Basket (basketball)|hoop or goal ring]] and the prohibition of [[dribbling]], bouncing, and running while in possession of the ball. Physical player contact is more controlled than in basketball. In addition, netball not only identifies the different positions of its players, but also defines where and in which areas of the court specific players are allowed to be when they compete.

==Description and rules==
{{Main|Rules of netball}}
[[File:Netball field diagram -en.svg|alt=Diagram of netball court. The court is divided into thirds. Dimensions and positions are listed on the diagram.|thumb|A netball court's dimensions. The court is divided into thirds and shooting circles are at each end.]]
The objective of a game is to score more goals than the opposition. Goals are scored when a team member positioned in the attacking "shooting circle" shoots the ball through the goal ring. The goal rings are {{convert|380|mm}} in diameter and sit atop {{convert|3.05|m|adj=on}}-high goal posts that have no backboards.<ref name=NA-court/> The {{convert|4.9|m|adj=on}}-radius semi-circular shooting circles are located at each end of the court, and contain the goal posts. Each team defends one shooting circle and attacks the other.<ref name=NA-court>{{cite web |author=Netball Australia |title=Court & venue specifications |publisher=[[Netball Australia]] |url=http://www.netball.asn.au/extra.asp?id=29&OrgID=1&menu=10706 |access-date=2 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227072539/http://netball.asn.au//extra.asp?id=29&OrgID=1&menu=10706 |archive-date=27 February 2011}}</ref> The netball court is {{convert|30.5|m}} long, {{convert|15.25|m}} wide, and divided lengthwise into thirds. The ball is usually made of leather or rubber, measures {{convert|680|to|710|mm}} in circumference (≈{{convert|22|cm}} in diameter), and weighs {{convert|397|to|454|g}}.<ref name=Netball-book>{{harvnb|Murrary|2008|p=186}}</ref><ref name=Davis-6>{{harvnb|Davis|Davis|2006|p=6}}</ref> A normal game consists of four 15-minute quarters<ref name=Netball-book/><ref name=Davis-5>{{harvnb|Davis|Davis|2006|p=5}}</ref> and can be played outdoors or in a covered stadium.

Each team is allowed seven players on the court.<ref name=International-Netball>{{cite web |author=International Netball |url=http://www.internationalnetball.com/netball_rules.html |title=netball rules |date=September 2006 |publisher=International Netball |access-date=28 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227083652/http://www.internationalnetball.com/netball_rules.html |archive-date=27 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Each player is assigned a specific position, which limits their movement to a certain area of the court. A "bib" worn by each player contains a one- or two-letter abbreviation indicating this position.<ref name=Davis-7>{{harvnb|Davis|Davis|2006|p=7}}</ref> Only two positions are permitted in the attacking shooting circle, and can therefore shoot for a goal. Similarly, only two positions are permitted in the defensive shooting circle to prevent the opposition from shooting goals. Other players are restricted to two-thirds of the court, with the exception of the centre, who may move anywhere on the court except for a shooting circle.<ref name=Hickey-34>{{harvnb|Hickey|Navin|2007|p=34}}</ref>

[[File:Australia v England Netball in Canberra 002.ogv|thumb|left|Australia v England 12 October 2011 [[Test match (netball)|test match]] held in Canberra]]
At the beginning of every quarter and after a goal has been scored, play starts with a player in the centre position passing the ball from the centre of the court. These "centre passes" alternate between the teams, regardless of which team scored the last goal. When the umpire blows the whistle to restart play, four players from each team can move into the centre third to receive the pass. The centre pass must be caught or touched in the centre third.<ref name=Shakespear-xiii>{{harvnb|Shakespear|Caldow|2009|p=xiii}}</ref><ref name=Slade-2009>{{harvnb|Slade|2009|p=98}}</ref>

The ball is then moved up and down the court through passing and must be touched by a player in each adjacent third of the court. Players can hold the ball for only three seconds at any time. It must be released before the foot they were standing on when they caught it touches the ground again.<ref name=Netball-book />

Contact between players is only permitted if it does not impede an opponent or the general play. When defending a pass or shot players must be at least {{convert|90|cm}} away from the player with the ball. If illegal contact is made, the player who contacted cannot participate in play until the player taking the penalty has passed or shot the ball.<ref name=Hickey-31>{{harvnb|Hickey|Navin|2007|p=31}}</ref> If the ball is held in two hands and either dropped or a shot at goal is missed, the same player cannot be the first to touch it unless it first rebounds off the goal.<ref name=Shakespear-15>{{harvnb|Shakespear|Caldow|2009|pp=15–19}}</ref>

==Equipment==
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2025}}
Aside from the court and nets, netball uses a ball that is around 70&nbsp;cm in circumference and weighs 400 to 450 grams. Balls are made from leather, rubber, or similar material.

A player typically wears a jersey or [[tank top (shirt)|tank top]] with a [[skort]] or shorts. Players may alternatively wear specialist one-piece netball dresses, particularly at higher levels. These are accompanied by socks and trainers. Specialist netball dresses and jerseys usually have [[Velcro]] to attach a fabric patch bearing their position letter(s), which can instead be worn on bibs when wearing clothes without Velcro.

==History==
{{Main|History of netball}}

Netball's early development emerged from [[Clara Baer]]'s misinterpretation of the early rules of [[James Naismith]]'s new sport of [[basketball]], and eventually evolved into its own sport. Basketball, invented in 1891, was initially played indoors between two teams of nine players, using an [[association football (ball)|association football]] that was thrown into closed-end peach baskets.<ref name=GrundyShackelford>{{harvnb|Grundy|Shackelford|2007|p=13}}</ref> Naismith's game spread quickly across the United States and variations of the rules soon emerged.

At the same time, [[physical education]] instructor [[Senda Berenson]] developed modified rules for women in 1892. Berenson's rules eventually gave rise to [[women's basketball]], and separate intercollegiate rules for basketball for men and women developed around the same time.<ref name=JoblingBarham-30>{{cite journal |last1=Jobling |first1=Ian |last2=Barham |first2=Pamela |title=The Development of Netball and the All-Australia Women's Basketball Association (AAWBBA): 1891–1939 |journal=Sporting Traditions, Journal of the Australian Society for Sports History |volume=8 |issue=1 |date=November 1991|pages=30–48 |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/SportingTraditions/1991/st0801/st0801e.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523161344/http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/SportingTraditions/1991/st0801/st0801e.pdf |archive-date=23 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Clara Baer]] was a sports teacher living in [[New Orleans]] when she wrote to Naismith asking for a copy of the rules for his game of basketball. Once she received them, they included a diagram of the court with lines across it which were meant to show the areas various players could best patrol. She misinterpreted the lines and believed they marked out restricted areas of play which players could not leave. Her mistake marks the beginning of netball. Baer's version for the rules of women's basketball defined these areas as restricted zones, an error which then became ratified into the rules for women's basketball in 1899 and proliferated.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://netball.sport/game/history-of-netball |title=History of netball |website=netball.sport|author= |date= |access-date=26 May 2022|publisher=World Netball|language=en}}</ref>

[[File:1910 Bournville Club Netball.jpg|thumb|right|Women in [[Netball in England|England]] playing netball on a grass court, 1910]]
[[Martina Bergman-Österberg]] introduced a version of basketball in 1893 to her female students at the Physical Training College in [[Hampstead]], London.<ref name=McIntosh-292>{{harvnb|McIntosh|1968|p=292}}</ref> The rules of the game were modified at the college over several years: the game moved outdoors and was played on grass; the baskets were replaced by rings that had nets; and in 1897 and 1899, rules from women's basketball in the United States were incorporated.<ref name=JoblingBarham-30/><ref name=aena-13>{{harvnb|All England Netball Association|1976|p=13}}</ref> Österberg's new sport acquired the name "net ball".<ref name=EnglandNetball-History>{{cite web |author=England Netball |title=History of England Netball (1891–2008) |url=http://www.englandnetball.co.uk/about-england-netball/history_of_england_netball |access-date=4 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719151135/https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/about-england-netball/history_of_england_netball |archive-date=19 July 2011}}</ref> The first codified rules of netball were published in 1901 by the Ling Association, later the Physical Education Association of the United Kingdom.<ref name="Taylor-2001">{{cite journal |last=Taylor |first=Tracy |title=Gendering Sport: The Development of Netball in Australia |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/SportingTraditions/2001/st1801/ST1801i.pdf |journal=Sporting Traditions, Journal of the Australian Society for Sports History |volume=18 |issue=1 |date=November 2001 |pages=57–74 |access-date=12 April 2010 |archive-date=2 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402011719/http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/SportingTraditions/2001/st1801/ST1801i.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=TheSportsBook165>{{harvnb|Summers|2007|p=165}}</ref> 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 [[Netball in Australia|Australia]] around 1900 and in [[Netball in New Zealand|New Zealand]] from 1906,<ref name="Taylor-2001"/><ref name=NNZ-History>{{cite web |author=Netball New Zealand |title=History |url=http://www.mynetball.co.nz/netball-nz/about-netball/111-history.html |date=3 August 2009 |access-date=8 March 2011 }}</ref> while "netball" was being played in Jamaican schools by 1909.<ref name=JNA-History>{{cite web |author=Jamaica Netball Association |title=The History of Netball |url=http://jamaicanetball.org.jm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=74 |access-date=13 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318105216/http://www.jamaicanetball.org.jm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=74 |archive-date=18 March 2011}}</ref>

[[File:Netball NZ 1920s.jpg|thumb|left|A goal is scored at a women's netball game in [[Netball in New Zealand|New Zealand]], circa 1920s.]]
From the start, it was considered socially appropriate for women to play netball; netball's restricted movement appealed to contemporary notions of women's participation in sports, and the sport was distinct from potential rival male sports.<ref name="Taylor-2001"/><ref name=McCrone-148149>{{harvnb|McCrone|1988|pp=148–9}}</ref> 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,<ref name=School-Sport>{{cite web |author=School Sport Australia |title=Netball |url=http://www.schoolsport.edu.au/about/sportinfo/netball.aspx |year=2011 |access-date=6 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309011101/https://www.schoolsport.edu.au/about/sportinfo/netball.aspx |archive-date=9 March 2011}}</ref><ref name=ifna-2010e>{{cite web |author=International Federation of Netball Associations |title=Netball Weekly Roundup |url=http://www.netball.org/news.aspx?id=441 |date=10 December 2010e |access-date=5 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314004800/http://www.netball.org/news.aspx?id=441 |archive-date=14 March 2011}}</ref> and in 1924 the first national governing body was established in New Zealand.<ref name=NNZ-History/> International competition was initially hampered by a lack of funds and varying rules in different countries. [[Australia national netball team|Australia]] hosted [[New Zealand national netball team|New Zealand]] in the first international game of netball in [[Melbourne]] on 20 August 1938; Australia won 40–11.<ref name=NNZ-History/> 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 Netball Federation]] (INF), was formed to administer the sport worldwide.<ref name=INF-History>{{cite web |author=International Federation of Netball Associations |title=About IFNA |url=http://www.netball.org/ifna.aspx |access-date=23 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110308132327/http://www.netball.org/IFNA.aspx |archive-date=8 March 2011}}</ref>

Representatives from England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the West Indies were part of a 1960 meeting in Sri Lanka that standardised the rules for the game.<ref name=ifna-2008>{{cite web |author=International Federation of Netball Associations |date=15 June 2008 |title=History of Netball |url=http://www.netball.org/Netball.aspx?id=18 |access-date=2 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306141537/http://www.netball.org/netball.aspx?id=18 |archive-date=6 March 2011}}</ref> The game spread to other African countries in the 1970s.<ref name=Massoa-120>{{harvnb|Massoa|Fasting|2002|p=120}}</ref><ref name=BNSC-2011>{{Cite news |author=BNSC |title=Botswana Netball Association |publisher=BNSC |url=http://www.bnsc.co.bw/bnsc-sports.php?sports_name=10 |date=11 May 2011 |access-date=4 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706162755/http://www.bnsc.co.bw/bnsc-sports.php?sports_name=10 |archive-date=6 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> South Africa was prohibited from competing internationally from 1969 to 1994 due to [[apartheid]].<ref name=Keim-33>{{harvnb|Keim|2003|p=33}}</ref><ref name=Booth-99>{{harvnb|Booth|1998|p=99}}</ref> In the United States, Netball's popularity also increased during the 1970s, particularly in the New York area, and the [[United States of America Netball Association]] was created in 1992.<ref name=USNA-2010b>{{cite web |author =United States of America Netball Association (USANA), Inc. |publisher =[[United States of America Netball Association]] |title =History of the USANA |url =http://www.usanetball.org/AboutUs/HistoryOfUSANA.aspx |year =2010 |access-date =13 March 2011 |url-status =dead |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110316173739/http://www.usanetball.org/AboutUs/HistoryOfUSANA.aspx |archive-date =16 March 2011}}</ref> The game also became popular in the Pacific Island nations of the Cook Islands, Fiji and Samoa during the 1970s.<ref name=Lal-258>{{harvnb|Lal|Fortune|2000|p=458}}</ref> [[Netball Singapore]] was created in 1962,<ref name=NS-body>{{cite web |author=Netball Singapore |year=2011 |title=About Us |url=http://www.netball.org.sg/about-us |access-date=1 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301100412/http://www.netball.org.sg/about-us |archive-date=1 March 2011}}</ref> and the [[Malaysian Netball Association]] was created in 1978.<ref name=NetballAsia-2011>{{Cite news |author=Netball Asia |title=Malaysia |publisher=Netball Asia |url=http://www.netballasia.com/index.php?id=25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501100625/http://www.netballasia.com/index.php?id=25 |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 May 2011 |year=2011 |access-date=24 March 2011 }}</ref>

In Australia, the term ''women's basketball'' was used to refer to both netball and basketball.<ref name=Jack-Pollard>{{harvnb|Pollard|1968|p=59}}</ref> During the 1950s and 1960s, a movement arose to change the Australian name of the game from ''women's basketball'' to ''netball'' in order to avoid confusion between the two sports. The [[Basketball Australia|Australian Basketball Union]] offered to pay the costs involved to alter the name, but the netball organisation rejected the change.<ref name="Jack-Pollard"/> In 1970, the Council of the All Australia Netball Association officially changed the name to "netball" in Australia.<ref name="Taylor-2001"/>

In 1963, the first international tournament was held in [[Eastbourne]], England. Originally called the World Tournament, it later became known as the [[World Netball Championships]].<ref name=aena-19>{{harvnb|All England Netball Association|1976|p=19}}</ref> Following the first tournament, one of the organisers, Miss R. Harris, declared,{{Blockquote|England could learn from the mistakes in the past from the empty stands at Eastbourne. To get the right publicity and the right status desired, the game must emerge from the school playground. Netball should be part of a sports centre where social events could also be held.<ref name=aena-19/>}}
The World Netball Championships have been held every four years since then. The [[World Youth Netball Championships]] started in [[Canberra]] in 1988, and have been held roughly every four years since. In 1995, the [[International Olympic Committee]] [[Olympic sport#Recognized sports|recognized]] the International Federation of Netball Associations.<ref name="Taylor-2001"/> Three years later netball debuted at the [[1998 Commonwealth Games]] in [[Kuala Lumpur]].<ref name=INF-History/> Other international competitions also emerged in the late 20th century, including the [[Nations Cup (netball)|Nations Cup]] and the [[Asian Netball Championship]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org.my/museum/hof/ind/nors.htm|title=Norminshah Sabirin|publisher=Olympic Council of Malaysia|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022064519/https://www.olympic.org.my/museum/hof/ind/nors.htm|archive-date=22 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="NC2006">{{cite web|url=http://www.netball.org/news.aspx?id=147|title=Singapore victorious in 4 Nations Netball Cu|date=23 December 2006|publisher=International Federation of Netball Associations|access-date=22 June 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927121636/https://www.netball.org/news.aspx?id=147|archive-date=27 September 2011}}</ref>

=== Sex category ===
The sport was created for girls and women and remains most popular among this demographic, with women's netball at elite and national levels receiving outside funding. Though [[Men's netball|male netball]] teams exist in some areas, men's and mixed-sex teams are largely self-funded.<ref name=Turk-men/> Men's netball started to grow in Australia during the 1980s, with the first men's championship being held in 1985.<ref name=Tagg-409>{{harvnb|Tagg|2008|p=409}}</ref><ref name=Turk-men>{{cite web |last=Turk |first=Peter |title=History of Men's Netball |url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=1-2729-0-0-0&sID=26574 |publisher=International Mens and Mixed Netball Challenge Cup |access-date=24 August 2011 }}</ref> Other countries with men's national teams include Canada, Fiji, Jamaica, Kenya, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.<ref name=Tagg-411>{{harvnb|Tagg|2008|p=411}}</ref>

====Other====
[[File:Mixed netball Brisbane.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|right|Men and women play together during a mixed [[Netball in Australia|netball game in Australia]].]]

In 2004, New Zealand and Fiji sent teams to compete in the Australian Mixed and Men's National Championships.<ref name=Turk-men/> By 2006, mixed netball teams in Australia had as many male participants as [[rugby union]].<ref name=Davis-4>{{harvnb|Davis|Davis|2006|p=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SPORT/10/07/rugby.wcup.bground/|title=Humble start spawns global giant|newspaper=CNN|author= Craig Francis|date=9 October 2003}}</ref>

An all-[[transgender]] netball team from Indonesia competed at the [[1994 Gay Games]].<ref name=Altman-100>{{harvnb|Altman|2001|p=100}}</ref> The team had been the [[Indonesia]]n national champions.<ref name=Altman-100/>

At the Gay Games VI in Sydney in 2000, netball and [[volleyball]] were the two sports with the highest rates of transgender athletes participating.<ref name=Symons-122>{{harvnb|Symons|Hemphill|2006|p=122}}</ref> There were eight teams of indigenous players, with seven identifying as transgender.<ref name=Symons-122 /> They came from places like [[Palm Island, Queensland|Palm Island]] in northern [[Queensland]], [[Samoa]], [[Tonga]] and [[Papua New Guinea]].<ref name=Symons-122 /> Teams with transgender players were allowed to participate in several divisions including men's, mixed and transgender; they were not allowed to compete against women's teams.<ref name=Symons-122 />

==Variants==
===Indoor netball===
<!--Not to be confused with standard netball games played indoors.-->
{{Main|Indoor netball}}
[[File:Indoor Netball Finals 2014 - Last Quarter.webm|thumb|Indoor Netball, 2014]]
Indoor netball is a variation of netball, played exclusively indoors, in which the playing court is often surrounded on each side and overhead by a net. The net prevents the ball from leaving the court, permitting faster play by reducing playing stoppages.<ref name=Alswang-2>{{harvnb|Alswang|2003|p=2}}</ref>

Different forms of indoor netball exist. In a seven-per-side version called "action netball", seven players per team play most standard rules, except a game is split into fifteen-minute halves around a three-minute break. This version is played in Australia,<ref name=INA>{{cite web |title=Indoor Netball Australia Rule Book |author=Indoor Netball Australia |year=2003 |url=http://www.indoornetball.org.au/images/stories/rules/INARULEBOOK_V2010.PDF |access-date=7 March 2011 }}</ref> New Zealand,<ref name=NZISa>{{cite web |author=New Zealand Indoor Netball |title=7-a-side Indoor Netball Official Rule Book |url=http://www.nzindoorsports.org.nz/fileadmin/templates/rules/7aside_NZIS_Indoor_Netball_Rules_2008.pdf |date=January 2008 |access-date=7 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724200641/https://www.nzindoorsports.org.nz/fileadmin/templates/rules/7aside_NZIS_Indoor_Netball_Rules_2008.pdf |archive-date=24 July 2011}}</ref> South Africa<ref name=alswang-2003>{{harvnb|Alswang|2003}}</ref> and England.<ref name=AN-England>{{cite web |author=Action Indoor Sports (England) |title=Action Netball: 7 A-Side |url=http://www.actionsportuk.com/action-netball |access-date=7 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707081058/https://www.actionsportuk.com/action-netball |archive-date=7 July 2011}}</ref>

A six-per-side version of the sport is also played in New Zealand. Two Centres per team can play in the whole court except the shooting circles; the remaining attacking and defending players are each restricted to one half of the court, including the shooting circles. The attacking and Centre players may shoot from outside the shooting circle for a two-point goal.<ref name=NZIS>{{cite web |author=New Zealand Indoor Netball |title=Indoor Netball Official Rule Book (6-a-side) |url=http://www.nzindoorsports.org.nz/fileadmin/templates/rules/6_aside_NZIS_Indoor_Netball_Rules_Oct_2009.pdf |date=October 2009 |access-date=7 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724200646/https://www.nzindoorsports.org.nz/fileadmin/templates/rules/6_aside_NZIS_Indoor_Netball_Rules_Oct_2009.pdf |archive-date=24 July 2011}}</ref><ref name=Planet-Sport>{{cite web |url=http://www.planetsports.co.nz/wa.asp?idWebPage=36815&idDetails=165 |author=Planet Sport |title=Indoor Netball at Planet Sports |access-date=3 March 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110724194100/http://www.planetsports.co.nz/wa.asp?idWebPage=36815&idDetails=165| archive-date =24 July 2011}}</ref>

A five-per-side game is also common in indoor netball. Players can move throughout the court, with the exception of the shooting circles, which are restricted to certain attacking or defending players.

===Fast5===
{{Main|Fast5}}
Fast5 (originally called Fastnet) is a variation on the rules of netball designed to make games faster and more television-friendly. The [[World Netball Series]] promotes it to raise the sport's profile and attract more spectators and greater sponsorship.<ref name=JamaicaStar>{{Cite news |author=The Jamaica Star |title=Rhone excited about World Netball Series |publisher=The Jamaica Star (online) |url=http://www.jamaica-star.com/thestar/20090112/sports/sports4.html |date=12 January 2009 |access-date=1 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303072747/http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20090112/sports/sports4.html |archive-date=3 March 2011}}</ref><ref name=UKSport>{{Cite news |last=Irvine |first=Mairi |title=New Style Netball to be Held in the UK |publisher=UK Sport |url=http://www.uksport.gov.uk/news/netball_as_never_seen_before/ |date=12 January 2009 |access-date=10 February 2009}}</ref> The game is much shorter, with each quarter lasting only six minutes and only a two-minute break between quarters.<ref name=wns-rules>{{cite web |author=World Netball Series |title=Rules |url=http://www.worldnetballseries.com/rules |year=2010 |access-date=3 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718113753/http://www.worldnetballseries.com/rules |archive-date=18 July 2011}}</ref> The coaches can give instructions from the sideline during play, and unlimited substitutions are allowed.<ref name=wns-rules/> Like six-per-side indoor netball, attacking players may shoot two-point goals from outside the shooting circle.<ref name=wns-rules/><ref name=IFNA-2009e>{{cite web |author=International Federation of Netball Associations |title=Fastnet: Official Rules of the International Federation |url=http://www.netball.org/documents/FAST%20NET_RULES_SUMMARY_270709.doc |date=27 July 2009e |access-date=14 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726192945/https://www.netball.org/documents/FAST%20NET_RULES_SUMMARY_270709.doc |archive-date=26 July 2011}}</ref> Each team can separately nominate one "power play" quarter, in which each goal scored by that team is worth double points and the centre pass is taken by the team that conceded the goal.<ref name=wns-rules/>

===For children===
[[File:Reygersdal netball.jpg|thumb|upright|Children playing [[netball in South Africa]]]]
Netball has been adapted in several ways to meet children's needs. The rules for children are similar to those for adults, but various aspects of the game (such as the length of each quarter, goal height, and ball size) are modified.

Fun Net is a version of netball developed by [[Netball Australia]] for five- to seven-year-olds. It aims to improve basic netball skills using games and activities.<ref name=Netball-Injury-50>{{harvnb|McGrath|Ozanne-Smith|1998|p=50}}</ref> The Fun Net program runs for 8–16 weeks. There are no winners or losers. The goal posts are {{convert|2.4|m}} high, and a smaller ball is used.<ref name=nsw-fun>{{cite web |author=NSW Department of Sport & Recreation |title=Netball |year=1997 |url=http://www.cybersydney.com.au/kids/sar/netball.html |access-date=3 March 2011 }}</ref>

Netball Australia also runs a modified game called Netta aimed at 8- to 11-year-olds.<ref name=Netball-Injury-51>{{harvnb|McGrath|Ozanne-Smith|1998|p=51}}</ref> The goal height and ball size are the same as for adults, but players rotate positions during the game, permitting each player to play each position.<ref name=Plaisted>{{cite web |last=Plaisted |first=Val |title=A comparison of the effectiveness of the modified with the traditional approach to junior netball |url=http://eprints.vu.edu.au/15665/1/Plaisted_1989compressed.pdf |year=1989 |publisher=Victoria University |access-date=4 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306222244/http://eprints.vu.edu.au/15665/1/Plaisted_1989compressed.pdf |archive-date=6 March 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Netta was created to develop passing and catching skills. Its rules permit six seconds between catching and passing the ball, instead of the three seconds permitted in the adult game.<ref name=Netball-Injury-51/> Most players under 11 play this version at netball clubs.<ref name=Plaisted/>

A version called High Five Netball is promoted by the [[All England Netball Association]].<ref name=BBCSA /> It is aimed at 9- to 11-year-old girls and includes only five positions.<ref name=BBCSA>{{Cite news |author=BBC Sport Academy |title=Get playing high five netball! |publisher=BBC Sport Academy |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/netball/give_it_a_go/newsid_2933000/2933617.stm |access-date=27 February 2011 |date=11 April 2003}}</ref> The players swap positions during the game.<ref name=egh5n-2010>{{cite web |author=East Grinstead High Fives Netball |url=http://www.egjnl.org.uk/High_Five.html |title=Hi-5 Information |date=17 November 2010 |access-date=4 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307110439/https://www.egjnl.org.uk/High_Five.html |archive-date=7 March 2011}}</ref> When a player is not on the court, she is expected to help the game in some other way, such as being the timekeeper or scorekeeper.<ref name=BBCSA /> High Five Netball has four six-minute quarters.<ref name=BBCSA /><ref name=egh5n-2010/>

===Walking netball ===
{{main|Walking netball}}
Walking netball is a slower-paced version of netball designed to encourage participation by older or less fit players. The rules forbid running or jumping, and allow an extra step with the ball and 4 seconds, rather than 3, to hold the ball.<ref>{{cite web |title=Walking Netball |url=https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/play/walking-netball/ |website=England Netball |access-date=7 August 2023}}</ref><ref name=kinnafick>{{cite journal |last1=Kinnafick |first1=F. E. |last2=Brinkley |first2=A. J. |last3=Bailey |first3=S. J. |last4=Adams |first4=E. J. |title=Is walking netball an effective, acceptable and feasible method to increase physical activity and improve health in middle- to older age women?: A RE-AIM evaluation |journal=International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |date=19 October 2021 |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=136 |doi=10.1186/s12966-021-01204-w |issn=1479-5868|doi-access=free |pmid=34666782 |pmc=8524399 }}</ref>

==Governance==
The recognised international governing body of netball is [[World Netball]], based in [[Manchester]], England.<ref name=TheSportsBook165/> Founded in 1960, the organisation was initially called the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball.<ref name=INF-History/> World Netball is responsible for compiling [[INF World Rankings|world rankings]] for national teams, maintaining the rules for netball and organising several major international competitions.

As of April 2025, World Netball has 63 full and 12 associate national members in five regions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Regions & Members |url=https://netball.sport/inside-world-netball/regions-members/ |access-date=14 April 2025 |publisher=World Netball}}</ref> Each region has a World Netball regional federation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.netball.org/IFNA.aspx?id=31|title=IFNA Regional Federations|publisher=International Federation of Netball Associations|access-date=24 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726193021/https://www.netball.org/IFNA.aspx?id=31|archive-date=26 July 2011}}</ref>
{| class=wikitable
|-
! INF region !! Regional federation
|-
| [[Netball in Africa|Africa]] || [[Confederation of African Netball Associations]]
|-
| [[Netball in the Americas|Americas]] || [[Americas Federation of Netball Associations]]
|-
| [[Netball in Asia|Asia]] || [[Netball Asia]]
|-
| [[Netball in Europe|Europe]] || [[Netball Europe]]
|-
| [[Netball in Oceania|Oceania]] || [[Oceania Netball Federation]]
|}

World Netball is affiliated with the [[General Association of International Sports Federations]], the [[International World Games Association]] and the [[Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations]].<ref name="INF-History"/> It is also a signatory to the [[World Anti-Doping Agency#World Anti-Doping Code|World Anti-Doping Code]].<ref name=IFNA-antidoping>{{cite web |author=International Federation of Netball Associations |title=IFNA: Anti-doping |url=http://www.netball.org/IFNA.aspx?id=110 |access-date=23 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316164443/http://www.netball.org/IFNA.aspx?id=110 |archive-date=16 March 2011}}</ref>

==International competition==
{{Main|Netball around the world}}
[[File:Natalei netball.jpg|thumb|A pass takes place during a women's [[Netball in Fiji|netball game in Fiji]].]]
Netball is a popular participant sport in countries of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]].<ref name=TheSportsBook162>{{harvnb|Summers|2007|p=162}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Using Sport Studies and Physical Activities to Internationalize the K-12 Curriculum|author=Richard V. Mcgehee and Shirley H.M. Reekie|journal=The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance|volume=70|year=1999|url=https://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst?docId=5002326142}}</ref> Non-Commonwealth entities with full IFNA membership include Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Argentina, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and the United States, along with former Commonwealth members Zimbabwe, Ireland and Hong Kong.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.netball.org/FullMembers.aspx|publisher=International Federation of Netball Associations|title=Full Members|access-date=22 June 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602152337/https://www.netball.org/FullMembers.aspx|archive-date=2 June 2011}}</ref> According to the IFNA, over 20&nbsp;million people play netball in more than 80 countries.<ref name="INF-History" /><ref name=Thompson-258>{{harvnb|Thompson|2002|p=258}}</ref> International tournaments are held among countries in each of the five IFNA regions, either annually or every four years. School leagues and national club competitions have been organised in England,<ref name=games-for-girls>{{Cite news |author=Western Argus |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article34246126 |title=GAMES FOR GIRLS. |newspaper=[[Western Argus|Western Argus (1916–1938)]] |location=Kalgoorlie, Western Australia|date=24 October 1922 |access-date=1 March 2011 |page=1 |publisher=National Library of Australia }}</ref> Australia,<ref name="Taylor-2001"/> New Zealand<ref name=NNZ-History/> and Jamaica<ref name=JNA-History/> since the early twentieth century. Franchise-based netball leagues did not emerge until the late 1990s. These competitions sought to increase the profile of the sport in their respective countries. Despite widespread local interest, participation was largely amateur.<ref name=BBCSport>{{cite news |author=BBC Sport |title=Campaign for netball at Olympics |work=BBC Sport |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/netball/7710698.stm |date=6 November 2008|access-date=12 April 2010 }}</ref>

Netball was first included in the [[1998 Commonwealth Games]] and has been included ever since; it is currently one of the "core" sports that must be contested at each edition of the Games.<ref>{{cite web|author=Commonwealth Games Federation|url=https://www.thecgf.com/sports/spotlight/netball/guide.asp|title=Spotlight on sport – netball|year=2014|access-date=10 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310201358/https://www.thecgf.com/sports/spotlight/netball/guide.asp|archive-date=10 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Confederation of African Netball Associations]] organises a major African tournament, which invites teams from [[Botswana national netball team|Botswana]], Namibia, Zambia, [[Malawi national netball team|Malawi]], [[South Africa national netball team|South Africa]], Kenya, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and the Seychelles to take part.<ref name = "Sinkala">{{cite news|url=http://www.times.co.zm/news/viewnews.cgi?category=17&id=999287094|title=Seychelles invited for netball tourney|author=Clara Sinkala|newspaper=Times of Zambia|date=6–14 September 2001| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20051112054427/http://www.times.co.zm/news/viewnews.cgi?category=17&id=999287094| archive-date =12 November 2005}}</ref> The tournament is hosted by a country within the region; senior and under 21 teams compete.<ref name = "Sinkala"/> The tournament has served as a qualifier for the World Championships.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Herald|title=Zimbabwe: Mighty Warriors|date=1 October 2009|author=Ellina Mhlanga|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200910010039.html}}</ref> South Africa launched a new domestic competition in 2011 called Netball Grand Series. It features eight regional teams from South Africa and is aimed at increasing the amount of playing time for players. It runs for 17 weeks and replaces the [[National Netball League (South Africa)|National Netball League]], which was played over only two weeks. According to [[South Africa national netball team|Proteas]] captain Elsje Jordaan, it was hoped that the competition would create an opportunity for players to become professional.<ref>{{cite news|title=Netball moves towards professionalism|date=16 April 2011|newspaper=Supersport|url=http://www.supersport.com/xtra/xtra/news/110416/Netball_moves_towards_professionalism}}</ref>

[[File:Erin Bell 2009.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Erin Bell (netball player)|Erin Bell]] from the [[New South Wales Swifts]] (red) prepares to shoot for a goal against the [[Melbourne Vixens]].]]
The [[Americas Federation of Netball Associations]] (AFNA) hosts two tournaments each year: the Caribbean Netball Association (CNA) Under 16 Championship and the AFNA Senior Championship.<ref name=ifna-2010f>{{cite web |author=International Federation of Netball Associations |year=2010 |title=Regional Federations – Americas |url=http://www.netball.org/FullMembers.aspx?id=131 |access-date=5 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726192011/http://www.netball.org/FullMembers.aspx?id=131 |archive-date=26 July 2011}}</ref> The CNA championship involves two divisions of teams from the Caribbean islands. In 2010 five teams competed in two rounds of [[round-robin tournament|round robin]] matches in the Championship Division, while four teams competed in the Developmental Division.<ref name="Pemberton">{{cite news|date=15 April 2011|title=St. Lucia Poised to Win Caribbean Netball Association U 16 Title|author=Enver Pemberton|newspaper=The St. Kitts-Nevis Observe|url=http://www.thestkittsnevisobserver.com/2011/04/15/netball-competition.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204034552/http://www.thestkittsnevisobserver.com/2011/04/15/netball-competition.html|archive-date=4 February 2013}}</ref> Jamaica, which has lost only once in the tournament,<ref>{{cite news|title=Young Netballers March On|date=10 April 2008|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080410/sports/sports9.html|work=Jamaican Gleaner|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008052540/https://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080410/sports/sports9.html|archive-date=8 October 2012}}</ref> decided not to play the 2011 tournament.<ref name="Pemberton"/> The AFNA Senior Championship includes Canada and the US along with the Caribbean nations. The tournament serves as a qualifier for the World Championship. Jamaica, with its high ranking, does not have to qualify; this leaves two spots to the other teams in the tournament.<ref>{{cite web|title=St Lucia to host AFNA championships in July|date=27 May 2010|url=http://go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=19648|access-date=14 June 2011}}</ref>

The [[Asian Netball Championship]] is held every four years. The seventh Asian games were held in 2009 and featured [[Singapore national netball team|Singapore]], Thailand, Maldives, Taiwan, Malaysia, [[Sri Lanka national netball team|Sri Lanka]], Hong Kong, [[India national netball team|India]] and Pakistan.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://redsports.sg/2009/06/12/singapore-netball/|date=12 June 2009|title=Singapore to defend Asian Netball Championship title in Kuala Lumpur|author=Darren Ng|newspaper=Red Sports}}</ref> There is also an Asian Youth Netball Championship for girls under 21 years of age, the seventh of which was held in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|work=Daily News and Analysis|date=2 July 2010|title=Netball popularity on the rise in India: Federation president|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report_netball-popularity-on-the-rise-in-india-federation-president_1404279}}</ref>

The major netball competition in Europe is the [[Netball Superleague]], which features teams from England, Wales and Scotland.<ref name=vitality-netball>{{cite web|author=Vitality Netball Superleague|title=Superleague home page|url=https://www.netballsl.com/}}</ref><ref name=egnet-2010a>{{cite web |author=England Netball |title=The FIAT Netball Superleague |year=2010 |url=http://www.englandnetball.co.uk/competitions/2011-12/fiat-netball-superleague_32 |access-date=19 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112144854/https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/competitions/2011-12/fiat-netball-superleague_32 |archive-date=12 January 2012}}</ref> The league was created in 2005.<ref name=EnglandNetball-History/> Matches are broadcast on Sky Sports.<ref name=ifna-2006>{{cite web |author=International Federation of Netball Associations |date=25 October 2006 |title=Sky Sports to show Netball Superleague |url=http://www.netball.org/news.aspx?id=131 |access-date=19 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726192256/http://www.netball.org/news.aspx?id=131 |archive-date=26 July 2011}}</ref>

Netball has been featured at the [[Pacific Games]], a multi-sport event with participation from 22 countries from around the South Pacific.<ref name=mckinnon-51>{{harvnb|McKinnon|2009|p=51}}</ref> The event is held every four years and has 12 required sports; the host country chooses the other four. Netball is not a required sport and has missed selection, particularly when former French or American territories host the games.<ref>{{cite news|title=Netball misses selection for 2011 South Pacific Games|date=15 September 2010|newspaper=ABC Radio Australia|url=http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201009/3012716.htm?desktop|access-date=15 June 2011|archive-date=29 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829225541/http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201009/3012716.htm?desktop|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

The [[ANZ Championship]] was a [[Trans-Tasman]] competition held between 2008 and 2016 that was broadcast on television in both New Zealand and Australia. It was contested among ten teams from Australia and New Zealand. It began in April 2008, succeeding Australia's [[Commonwealth Bank Trophy]] and New Zealand's [[National Bank Cup]] as the pre-eminent netball league in those countries.<ref name=NetAus2396>{{cite web |author=Netball Australia |date=11 March 2007 |publisher=[[Netball Australia]] |title=New look trans-Tasman netball competition |url=http://www.netball.asn.au/newsItem.asp?orgID=1&ID=2396 |access-date=3 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901022904/http://www.netball.asn.au/newsitem.asp?id=2396&orgID=1 |archive-date=1 September 2007}}</ref> The competition was held annually between April and July, consisting of 69 matches played over 17 weeks. The ANZ Championship saw netball become a semi-professional sport in both countries, with increased media coverage and player salaries.<ref name=Sportal>{{cite web |title=New netball venture steps forward |publisher=Sportal |url=http://sportal.co.nz/Netball-news-display/new-netball-venture-steps-forward-40682 |date=21 December 2007 |access-date=22 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517095632/http://sportal.co.nz/Netball-news-display/new-netball-venture-steps-forward-40682 |archive-date=17 May 2009}}</ref><ref name=NZH-Glitz>{{cite news |last=Johannsen |first=Dana |title=Glitz and hype turn netball into money game |work=The New Zealand Herald |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10500820 |date=29 March 2008 |access-date=22 October 2011}}</ref> The competition was replaced by new leagues in 2017, the [[Super Netball]] (Australia) and [[ANZ Premiership]] (New Zealand).

==Major championships==
{{See also|World Netball Championships|Netball at the Commonwealth Games|Netball Quad Series|Fast5 Netball World Series|Netball and the Olympic Movement|Netball at the SEA Games}}
There are four major international netball competitions; the [[Netball World Cup]], [[Netball at the Commonwealth Games]], [[Netball Quad Series]] and [[Fast5 Netball World Series]]. Netball is also played at large regional multi-sport events such as the [[Netball at the SEA Games|Southeast Asian Games]].

Netball's important competition is the [[Netball World Cup]] (previously known as the World Netball Championships), held every four years.  It was first held in 1963 at the [[University of Brighton|Chelsea College of Physical Education]] at [[Eastbourne]], England, with eleven nations competing.  Since its inception the competition has been dominated primarily by the Australian and New Zealand teams, which hold ten and four titles, respectively. Trinidad and Tobago is the only other team to win a championship title. That title, won in 1979, was shared with New Zealand and Australia; all three teams finished with equal points at the end of the round robin, and there were no finals.<ref name=NWC-singapore>{{cite web|author=World Netball Championships 2011 Singapore |title=History |url=http://www.wnc2011.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=160&Itemid=213 |year=2011 |access-date=3 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314064619/http://www.wnc2011.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=160&Itemid=213 |archive-date=14 March 2011 }}</ref>

The Fast5 Series is a competition among the top six national netball teams, as ranked by the [[INF World Rankings]].<ref name=SamoaObserver>{{cite news |title=Samoa prepares for World netball series |newspaper=Samoa Observer |url=http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2424:samoa-prepares-for-world-netball-series&catid=34:sports&Itemid=54 |date=18 December 2008 |access-date=5 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607145949/http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2424%3Asamoa-prepares-for-world-netball-series&catid=34%3Asports&Itemid=54 |archive-date=7 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is organised by the INF in conjunction with the national governing bodies of the six competing nations, [[UK Sport]], and the host city's local council.<ref name=ifna-2009c>{{cite web |author=International Federation of Netball Associations |title=Netball as never seen before |publisher=International Federation of Netball Associations |url=http://www.netball.org/news.aspx?id=271 |date=14 January 2009c |access-date=6 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202193044/http://www.netball.org/news.aspx?id=271 |archive-date=2 February 2009}}</ref> The All England Netball Association covers air travel, accommodation, food and local travel expenses for all teams, while the respective netball governing bodies cover player allowances.<ref name=Kaminjolo-2010>{{Cite news |last=Kaminjolo |first=Singayazi |title=Queens leave for Liverpool on Sunday |work=The Nation (Malawi) |url=http://www.nationmw.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9256:queens-leave-for-liverpool-on-sunday&catid=33:national-sports&Itemid=31 |date=12 November 2010 |access-date=19 November 2010|url-status=usurped | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110724104120/http://www.nationmw.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9256:queens-leave-for-liverpool-on-sunday&catid=33:national-sports&Itemid=31| archive-date =24 July 2011}}</ref> It is held over three days, with each team playing each other once during the first two days in a [[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]] format. The four highest-scoring teams advance to the semi-finals; the winners face each other in the Grand Final.<ref name=ifna-2009d>{{cite web |author=International Federation of Netball Associations |title=Calling All Netball Fans! |publisher=International Federation of Netball Associations |url=http://www.netball.org/news.aspx?id=293 |date=3 April 2009d |access-date=11 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314190028/http://www.netball.org/news.aspx?id=293 |archive-date=14 March 2011}}</ref> The competition features modified fastnet rules and has been likened to [[Twenty20]] cricket and [[rugby sevens]].<ref name=NZB>{{cite news |author=Newstalk ZB |title=Innovative World Series planned for next year |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/netball/news/article.cfm?c_id=69&objectid=10546104 |date=2 December 2008 |access-date=6 February 2009}}</ref><ref name=NZH-Marshall>{{cite news |last=Marshall |first=Jane |title=Kiwis keen on novel netball variant |newspaper=The Press |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/4838104a1823.html |date=5 February 2009 |access-date=6 February 2009 |archive-date=7 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207111943/http://www.stuff.co.nz/4838104a1823.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> A new format featuring shorter matches with modified rules was designed to make the game more appealing to spectators and television audiences.<ref name=NZB/> The World Netball Series was held annually in England from 2009 to 2011.

Netball's governing federation gained [[Olympic sports#Recognized sports|Olympic recognition]] in 1995 after 20 years of lobbying.<ref name="Taylor-2001"/><ref name="Smartt-2009">{{Cite journal |last1=Smartt |first1=Pam |last2=Chalmers |first2=David |title=Obstructing the goal? Hospitalisation for netball injury in New Zealand 2000–2005 |journal=The New Zealand Medical Journal |date=29 January 2009 |volume=122 |number=1288 |pages=62–75 |pmid=19182843 |url=http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/122-1288/3438/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901064026/https://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/122-1288/3438/ |archive-date=1 September 2011}}</ref> Although it has never been played at the [[Summer Olympics]], politicians and administrators have been campaigning unsuccessfully to have it included.<ref>{{cite news|title='Fast' version of netball introduced in an effort to secure Olympic Games inclusion|author=Emily Benammar|date=13 October 2009|newspaper=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/netball/6316625/Fast-version-of-netball-introduced-in-an-effort-to-secure-Olympic-Games-inclusion.html|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Inclusion of Netball in the Olympic Games|url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20040921018|publisher=Parliament of New South Wales|access-date=24 June 2011|date=21 September 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829053911/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20040921018|archive-date=29 August 2011}}</ref> Its absence from the Olympics has been seen by the netball community as a hindrance in the global growth of the game by limiting access to media attention and funding sources.<ref name="Massoa-120"/><ref name=Jones-143>{{cite journal |last=Jones |first=Diane |title= Half the Story? Olympic Women on the ABC News Online |url=http://eprints.usq.edu.au/608/2/Jones_MIA_2004_PV.pdf |journal=Media International Australia Incorporating Culture and Policy |volume=110 |number=110 |pages=132–146 |date = February 2004|access-date=15 March 2011 |doi=10.1177/1329878X0411000114 |s2cid=54039376 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110409071451/http://eprints.usq.edu.au/608/2/Jones_MIA_2004_PV.pdf |archive-date=9 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Crocombe-156>{{harvnb|Crocombe|1992|p=156}}</ref> Some funding sources became available with recognition in 1995,<ref name=Shooting-2004>{{Cite news |author=Shooting for Success |title=IFNA Recognition Confirmed |publisher=International Federation of Netball Associations |url=http://www.netball.org/documents/newsletter/July%202004.pdf |date=July 2004 |access-date=24 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110409185932/http://www.netball.org/documents/newsletter/July%202004.pdf |archive-date=9 April 2011}}</ref> including the [[International Olympic Committee]], national Olympic committees, national sport organisations, and state and federal governments.<ref name="Shooting-2004"/><ref name=ascstatus-92>{{harvnb|Australian Sport Commission|Office of the Status of Women|1985|p=92}}</ref>

==See also==
* {{Portal inline|Sports}}
*[[Injuries in netball]]
* [[List of national netball teams]]
* [[List of netball players]]
* [[Wheelchair netball]]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{Reflist|group=n}}

== Citations ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== General bibliography ==
{{refbegin|30em}}

* {{Cite book |author=All England Netball Association |title=Golden Jubilee: 1926–1976 |publisher=All England Netball Association|year=1976 |oclc=39500756 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Alswang |first=Joel |title=The South African dictionary of sport |year=2003 |publisher=Spearhead |isbn=0-86486-535-X |oclc=249075345 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Altman |first=Dennis |editor-last=Blasius |editor-first=Mark |title=Sexual identities, queer politics |chapter=Global Gaze / Global Gays |publisher=University Press |isbn=0-691-05866-0 |oclc=439890293 |year=2001 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/sexualidentities0000unse/page/96 96–117] |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/sexualidentities0000unse/page/96 }}
* {{Cite book |author1=Australian Sport Commission |author2=Office of the Status of Women |title=Women, Sport and the Media |year=1985 |publisher=Australian Government Publishing Services |isbn=0-644-04155-2 |oclc=221598253 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Booth |first=Douglas |author-link=Doug Booth |title=The Race Game: Sport and Politics in South Africa |series=Sport in the Global Society |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=1998 |isbn=0-7146-4799-3 |oclc=361505975 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/racegamesportpol0000boot }}
* {{Cite book |last=Crocombe |first=R G |title=Pacific neighbours : New Zealand's relations with other Pacific Islands : Aotearoa me Nga Moutere o te Moana Nui a Kiwa |year=1992 |publisher=Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury : Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific |isbn=982-02-0078-4 |oclc=28814021}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Davis|first1=Luke |last2=Davis|first2=Damien |title=Netball |publisher=Macmillan Education |series=Getting into |year=2006 |isbn=0-7329-9987-1 |oclc=156762948 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Dix |first=Noleen |title=Australian Netball Skills|publisher=Five Mile Press |year=1984 |location=Hawthorn, Victoria |isbn=0-86788-066-X |oclc=27589776 }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Grundy |first1=Pamela |last2=Shackelford |first2=Susan |title=Shattering the Glass: The Remarkable History of Women's Basketball |publisher=University of North Carolina Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-8078-5829-5 |oclc=58431871 }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Hickey |first1=Julia |last2=Navin |first2=Anita |title=Understanding netball |publisher=Coachwise |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-905540-12-9 |oclc=174094782 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Keim |first=Marion |title=Nation building at play : sport as a tool for social integration in post-apartheid South Africa |publisher=Meyer and Meyer Sport |year=2003 |isbn=1-84126-099-1 |oclc=249142681 }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Lal |first1=Brij Vilash |last2=Fortune |first2=Kate |title=The Pacific islands : an encyclopedia |publisher=University of Hawai'i press |year=2000 |isbn=0-8248-2265-X |oclc=468583962 }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Massoa |first1=Prisca |last2=Fasting |first2=Kari |editor1-last=Pfister |editor1-first=Gertrud |editor2-last=Hartmann-Tews |editor2-first=Ilse |title=Sport and Women: Social Issues in International Perspective |chapter=Women and sport in Tanzania |series=International Society for Comparative Physical Education & Sport |publisher=[[Routledge]] |date=December 2002|isbn=0-415-24628-8 |oclc=50204306 }}
* {{Cite book |last=McCrone |first=Kathleen E. |title=Sport and the Physical Emancipation of English Women |publisher=Routledge |location=London |year=1988 |pages=148–9 |isbn=0-415-00358-X |oclc=16804385 }}
* {{Cite book |last1=McGrath |first1=Alicia C. |last2=Ozanne-Smith |first2=Joan |series=Report No. 130 |title=Attacking the Goal of Netball Injury Prevention: A Review of Literature |date=May 1998|publisher=Monash University Accident Research Centre |citeseerx=10.1.1.129.6986 |url=http://www.monash.edu.au/miri/research/reports/muarc130.html |access-date=15 March 2014}}
* {{Cite book |last=McIntosh |first=Peter C. |title=Physical Education in England Since 1800 |year=1968 |publisher=Bell |location=London |isbn=0-7135-0689-X |oclc=41636 }}
* {{Cite book |last=McKinnon |first=Rowan |title=South Pacific [the only guide to the entire South Pacific] |year=2009 |publisher=Lonely Planet |isbn=978-1-74104-786-8 |oclc=610105853 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/southpacific0000unse }}
* {{Cite book |last=Murrary |first=Peter |title=Netball, The International Sport |publisher=Murray Books (Australia) |year=2008 |location=Bath, England |isbn=978-1-4075-2962-2 |oclc=700886957 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Pollard |first=Jack |author-link=Jack Pollard |title=AMPOL book of Australian Sporting Records|publisher=The Pollard Publishing Co. |year=1968 |location=Sydney |oclc=71140 }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Scully |first1=Deidre |last2=Clarke |first2=Jackie |editor1-last=Kremer |editor1-first=John |editor2-last=Ogle |editor2-first=Saun |editor3-last=Trew |editor3-first=Karen |title=Young people's involvement in sport |chapter=Gender Issues in Sports Participation |publisher=[[Routledge]] |date=July 1997|location=London |isbn=978-0-415-16650-8 |oclc=36225511 }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Shakespear |first1=Wilma |last2=Caldow |first2=Margaret |title=Netball : steps to success |publisher=Human Kinetics |year=2009 |location=Champaign, Illinois |isbn=978-0-7360-7984-6 |oclc=251227987 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/netballstepstosu0000shak }}
* {{Cite book |last=Slade |first=Dennis |title=Transforming Play: Teaching Tactics and Game Sense |year=2009 |publisher=Human Kinetics |location=Champaign, Illinois |isbn=978-0-7360-7518-3 |oclc=423215335 }}
* {{cite book |last=Summers |first=David |title=The Sports Book |year=2007 |publisher=DK Publishing |location=New York |isbn=978-0-7566-3195-6 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/sportsbookgamesr0000unse_f5t8/page/162 162–165] |url=https://archive.org/details/sportsbookgamesr0000unse_f5t8/page/162 }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Symons |first1=Carol |last2=Hemphill |first2=Dennis |editor1-last=Caudwell|editor1-first=Jayne |title=Sport, sexualities and queer/theory |chapter=Netball and transgender participation |publisher=[[Routledge]] |series=Routledge Critical Studies in Sport |date=November 2006|pages=122–124 |location=London |isbn=0-415-36761-1 |oclc=66392801 }}
* {{Cite journal |last=Tagg |first=Brendon |doi=10.1177/1012690208099875 |title='Imagine, a Man Playing Netball!' : Masculinities and Sport in New Zealand |date=December 2008|pages=409–430 |journal=[[International Review for the Sociology of Sport]] |volume=43 |s2cid=145493659 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Thompson |first=Shona M. |editor1-last=Pfister |editor1-first=Gertrud |editor2-last=Hartmann-Tews |editor2-first=Ilse |title=Sport and Women: Social Issues in International Perspective |chapter=Women and sport in New Zealand |series=International Society for Comparative Physical Education & Sport |publisher=[[Routledge]] |date=December 2002|location=New York |isbn=0-415-24628-8 |oclc=50204306 }}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Netball}}
{{Wiktionary}}

*[http://www.netball.org/ International Federation of Netball Associations]
*[https://www.netballsl.com/ The Vitality Netball Superleague]

{{Netball}}
{{Sports of the World Games program}}
{{Team Sport}}
{{Women's sports}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Netball| ]]
[[Category:Ball games]]
[[Category:Forms of basketball]]
[[Category:Sports originating in England]]
[[Category:Team sports]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Women's sports]]
[[Category:History of women's sports]]
[[Category:Mixed-sex team sports]]