Nepedia
Back to Discover
Fluent Reader
📖

Netball

sports Maturity 7-9 Vital Level 3 Next article →

Netball is a fast and exciting ball sport played on a rectangular court.

Netball field diagram -en
Netball field diagram -en

Two teams of seven players face off to score goals. The main goal is to shoot the ball through a ring. This ring sits on top of a tall post. Unlike basketball, these posts do not have a backboard behind them. Netball is special because it was created just for women and girls. Today, it is a sport that many people love and play together.

Mixed netball Brisbane
Mixed netball Brisbane

Playing netball requires careful movement and quick passing. The court is divided into thirds, and each player has a specific job. Players wear a bib with letters that show their position. These letters tell them which parts of the court they can visit. For example, only two positions can enter the shooting circle to score. If a player goes into a zone they are not allowed in, they are called offside.

You cannot hold the ball for more than three seconds. You must also pass the ball before you move your foot from its spot.

The history of netball began with a curious mistake. In 1895, a teacher named Clara Baer looked at basketball rules. She saw lines on a court diagram and misunderstood them. She thought those lines meant players were stuck in certain zones. This idea grew into a new way to play.

1910 Bournville Club Netball
1910 Bournville Club Netball

Later, Martina Bergman-Österberg helped change the game in England. She moved the game outdoors to play on grass. She also replaced baskets with rings that had nets. By 1901, the first official rules for netball were published.

Netball is now a huge sport played all over the world. More than 20 million people play in over 80 different countries.

Reygersdal netball
Reygersdal netball

Many people play in schools or big professional leagues. Australia has a league called Super Netball. New Zealand has the ANZ Premiership. There are also big international contests like the World Netball Championships. These championships happen every four years. In 1995, the sport was recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Even though it is not in the Olympics yet, it is very important.

You might recognize some parts of netball from other sports. It shares some roots with basketball, which was invented in 1891. However, the rules make netball its own unique game. It is very popular in the Commonwealth of Nations. You can find people playing it in places like Australia, New Zealand, and Jamaica.

Netball NZ 1920s
Netball NZ 1920s

From small school games to big stadiums, netball brings people together. It is a sport built on skill, teamwork, and following the rules.

422 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (9)
File:Netball field diagram -en.svg
Netball field diagram -en.svg
Australia v England Netball in Canberra 002.ogv
File:1910 Bournville Club Netball.jpg
1910 Bournville Club Netball.jpg
File:Netball NZ 1920s.jpg
Netball NZ 1920s.jpg
File:Mixed netball Brisbane.jpg
Mixed netball Brisbane.jpg
Indoor Netball Finals 2014 - Last Quarter.webm
File:Reygersdal netball.jpg
Reygersdal netball.jpg
File:Natalei netball.jpg
Natalei netball.jpg
File:Erin Bell 2009.jpg
Erin Bell 2009.jpg
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.