this presentation displays the history and origin of netball. the playing positions and rules of the game with adequately provided pictures and pointers

1. A Game OF NETBALL
by: Kenya Moyston

2. What is Netball?
Netball is a ball sport played by women from two teams of seven
players. It is commonly played on a rectangular court with raised goal
rings at each end into which a ball must be thrown in to score a point .
Each person has a different playing position and is important in gaining
a Point for their team.

3. The origin and history of netball
 In 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts a 30-year-old Canadian immigrant to the USA, James
Naismith, was ordered to invent an indoor game for high-spirited young men at the School for
Christian Workers (later the YMCA).
 Most games tried ended with injury rates of staggering proportions! So Naismith conjured up a
game whereby a ball had to be lobbed into a high peach basket (his reasoning being that if a ball
had to dropped into the “goal”, it couldn’t be thrown at breakneck speed).
 Basketball was born, with the original game featuring nine players – three forwards, three centres
and three guards – simply because Naismith had 18 youths to keep amused.
 Women’s indoor basketball began exactly two days later when female teachers to the gym were
captivated by the game but it wasn’t until 1895 that the current game of netball was well and truly
shaped. When Clara Baer, a sports teacher in New Orleans, wrote to Naismith asking for a copy of
the rules, the subsequent rules package contained a drawing of the court with lines penciled across
it, simply to show the areas various players could best patrol. But Baer misinterpreted the lines and
thought players couldn’t leave those areas! In 1899 her mistake was ratified into the rules of
women’s basketball as zones.

4. Equipment
 Goal post- A vertical goal post stands 3.05m talland is placed at the midpointof each goal
line. Unlike the one used in basketball,this goalposthas no backboard.It only has a metal
ring with an internaldiameter of 38cm, from which the net hangs, protruding outwards from
the top of the post. The shooters of the team are required to shoot the ballthrough the rim
to score a goal.
 Ball- The next equipmentneeded for play is of course, the netballitself. It has a
circumference ranging from 69-71 cm and a weight ranging 0.4-0.45 kg. The netball is striped,
with the new colour combination beingorange, white and blue.
 Player attire- In a competitivesetting, members of teams are dressed in uniformed sports
attire, which can be either jerseys pairedwith a bottom or simply a dress. They both allow for
fluid movement. Each member dons a bib during game time to indicatetheir playing
positions.
 Safety gear- Playersmay also choose to wear knee or ankle guards for greater stabilityor
to prevent sustainingor worsening injuries.

5. Playing positions
There are set positions in a netball team and these positions will limit where the player
can be on the court.
 Goal shooter (GS)
 Goal Attack (GA)
 Wing Attack (WA)
 Centre (C)
 Wing Defence (WD)
 Goal Defence (GD)
 Goal Keeper (GK)

6. Roles of the playing positions
 Goal shooter
The main role of the Goal Shooter (GS) is to score, by shooting the ball into
the hoop. This can only be done within the goal circle. The GS is not allowed
to score a goal beyond the perimeters of the goal circle. The outcome of the
game depends on the number of shots put in by the GS.
 Goal attack
The Goal Attack (GA) is responsible for setting up offensive plays and scoring
goals. She also feeds the ball to the GS to shoot. She works very closely with
the GS, and it is not uncommon to see exceptional camaraderie between the
duo.

7. Roles of the playing positions contd.
 Wing attack
The Wing Attack (WA) is chiefly responsiblefor moving the balldown from the centre third to the
goal third and for feeding the ball intothe shooters’ hands, which includes both the GS and the
GA. Theirjob is to create as many chances to score as possible.
 Centre
The Centre starts and restarts the game from the centre circle each time a goal is scored. She
dictatesthe pace of her team’s play, creates space on court and is depended upon for both
attackingand defending. She is required to take the offensive by shifting the ball from the
defensive area to the attacking side, and also switches to take a defensive stance when required.
She is also required to feed the ball to the shooters in the goal circle.
 Wing defence
The Wing Defence (WD) is alwayson the defensive, unless there’s a turnover and she has to bring
the ball down to her attackingside. She is responsible for defending the opposing team’s players,
mainly the WA, and for stopping the ball from reaching the goal circle. She is to intercept at any
possible chance.

8. Roles of the playing positions contd.
 Goal Defence
The chief role of the Goal Defence (GD) is to defend the ballfrom reaching the opposing
shooters in a spot where they are comfortable to shoot. They must alwaysbe on the look out
for chances to intercept the ball and achieve turnovers. They also keep a close look on the
opposing team’s GA.
 Goal keeper
The Goal Keeper’s (GK) primary function is to guard the goal circle, defend the opposing
shooters and prevent them from scoring goals. She is also responsible for taking throw-ins at
the base line. She can be considered as the last line of defence. The GK usuallyhas strong
camaraderiewith the GD and they work together to defend the opposing shooters, intercept
ballsand catch rebounds.

9. Rules of The Game
 The team
Teams shall consist of 7 players. There must be at least 5 players, one of whom must
play centre, to enable the fixture to go ahead.
 Substitution
Substitutions can only be made at half time or when a player is injured. There is no limit to
the number of substitutions that a team can make.If you start a match with 5 or 6 players
but more members of your team arrive after the game has started, they must wait until the
next centre pass before being allowed to join the game.
 Starting the game
The first centre pass is decided between the two captains by the toss of a coin. The
centre passes then alternate between the teams, regardless of which team has
scored.

10. Rules of the game contd.
 Foot work
A player can receive the ball:
With both feet grounded or jump to catch the ball and land on two feet simultaneously.
You may then take a step in any direction with one foot (but not both) and pivot on the
spot with the other foot. Once one foot is moved, the other is considered to be the
landing foot.
With one foot grounded or jump to catch the ball and land on one foot. The landing
foot cannot be moved, other than to pivot on the spot, whilst the other foot can be
moved in any direction. Once the landing foot is lifted, it must not be re-grounded until
the ball is released.
Hopping or dragging the landing foot is not allowed.

11. Rule of the game contd.
 Shooting
Only the GS and GA are able to score goals for your team. They must be wholly inside the
goal circle to shoot.
 Taking free passes
You have 3 seconds from setting the free pass/penalty in which to take it. If you decide that
another player would be better taking it, you must place the ball back on the floor.
 Obstruction
A player attempting to intercept or defend the ball must be at least 3ft (0.9m) away from the
player with the ball. This distance is measured from the landing foot of the player in
possession of the ball. The defender may jump to intercept or defend the ball from this
0.9m (3ft) feet distance but you must ensure if you do jump to defend a ball, you don’t land
any nearer that 3ft or this is obstruction
 Nails and jewelry
Nails must be kept short and Should not be seen from the underside of the finger. Jewelry
must be removed before the start of the game.

12. The Roles of umpires in netball
To become an umpire for netball matches, you must learn the rules
and regulations of the game along with the hand signals that
communicate an infringement. Your decisions are final, except when
the umpires disagree. The scorer of the netball game assists the you
when a disagreement occurs.
 Pre-game inspections
You must complete a thorough check of the court and the team players before the match
begins. The officials inspect the netball court and ball to ensure regulation size and check the
goal posts for correct placement and size. All players on the netball teams must pass an
inspection from the umpires. You check the players for inappropriate fingernail size, jewelry
and uniforms. If you conclude that the court and players are within regulations, the netball
match begins.

13. Roles of the umpires contd.
 Gear
While no official uniform exists, the International Federation of Netball Associations
makes umpire clothing recommendations. You should wear colors that differ from the
color of the uniforms of the two netball teams playing in the match and a light color
such as white or cream, the federation advises. Athletic shoes are the safest and most
common footwear for umpires. A whistle is part of your uniform and along with hand
signals, alerts the netball players to elements of the match, such as the end of a
quarter or a penalty.
 Toss up
A toss-up occurs when two players of opposing teams violate the offside rule,
according to the online site UNSW Netball. If you call a player in a netball match
offside, this means the player crossed the line of the court section that designates that
position's area. When two players are caught offside at the same time, you stand
between the two players, holding the ball. The players stand still until you release the
ball into the air and blows the whistle. The players attempt to possess the ball or hit
the ball to a team member.

14. Role of the umpires contd.
 Safety
As the umpire, you're responsible for controlling the players on the court if there is an
injury. If a player becomes ill or is injured during a match, you inform the players to remain
on the court and resumes the match the affected player leaves the court or becomes able
to resume play. In case of an emergency, you're responsible for stopping the game with a
whistle blow.
 Decisions
Decisions such as calling penalties or awardinga throw in to a team are a part of a netball
umpire's responsibilities. If an infringement of the rules occurs, you alert the players with a
whistle blow and rewards the non-offending team with a free pass or shot. In the event that
the netball travels out of bounds, or off the court during play, you decide which team
member had possession of the ball before the ball fell out of bounds. You stop play and
awards the team member with a throw-in, which is a pass from outside the court.