History webpage - http://www.netball.org/netball.aspx?id=18

• First game played in England in 1895.
• 1960 = international code (rules).
• 1963 = 1st world championship was played in England.
• Netball's origins stem from basketball.
• Netball is most popular in Australia and New Zealand.
• Netball is much more popular among women.
• The actual game of netball has only a goal post and a ring which a net hangs down from (no backboards).
• Each team has seven players on the court .
  • Goal Keeper
  • Goal Defense
  • Wing Defense
  • Center
  • Wing Attack
  • Goal Attack
  • Goal Shooter
• A coin toss determines which team may choose to either take the first center pass or defend the goal of its choice.
• To begin play, only the two teams' centers may be in the center third of the court. the game begins with one of the centers making a center pass from inside the center circle. The opposing team's center may not obstruct the throw. The opposing center may go anywhere within the center third of the court, as long as they are not within 3 feet of the other team's center.
• The center pass may only go to the following four teammates:
  1. Goal Attack
  2. Wing Attack
  3. Wing Defense
  4. Goal Defense
  • The player must catch the ball in the center third of the court, moving in any direction to do so.
• The team controlling the ball continues to pass or roll the ball, attempting to get the ball to one of it's shooters.
  1. Goal Shooter
  2. Goal Attack
• The Goal Shooter or Goal Attack (the only player allowed to shoot) may only shoot the ball within the GOAL CIRCLE.
• When the Goal Shooter or Goal Attack throws the ball through the ring within the goal circle, a goal is scored.
• When a player catches a ball, they may take one step with it before passing. (ex - step with your opposite foot to pass the ball).
• A player is not allowed to bounce the ball to themselves.
• A player is allowed to roll the ball to themselves, as long as there is no bounce in the roll.
• A player may not roll the ball again while the ball is on the ground. That player must pick the ball up above their waist, then they are allowed to roll the ball again.
• If a player drops a ball, they may not retrieve it. Another teammate or opponent must pick the ball up.
• A pass cannot cross two lines (center third) without someone touching the ball.
• A player who possesses the ball must pass or shoot it within 3 seconds.
• When a player scores a goal, the ball is brought back out to the center circle, where a center pass is taken (by the center player) to restart the game. In the actual game, center passes are taken alternately by the center player. In our class, the center pass is taken by the center player whose team was just scored upon.
• The ball is declared out of court when it touches outside the court or touches a person in contact with the ground outside the court. A THROW IN is awarded to the opposing team.
• Defensive obstruction occurs if a defensive player is within 3 feet of the player with the ball and they interfere with the pass or shooting action.
• The defensive player may attempt to intercept or defend the ball by jumping toward the player with the ball, so long as they don't land within 3 feet of that player.
• The penalty for obstruction is a PENALTY PASS or PENALTY SHOT taken from where the fault occurred. The offending player must stand out of play behind the thrower until the pass or shot has been taken.
• A FREE PASS is awarded for rule infringements other than obstruction (contact). A player may not shoot from a free pass in the goal circle.