Tactical Masterclass: A Rookie’s Guide to Netball

In this series, we explore sports from every corner of the globe and break them down so that even complete beginners can follow along and get involved. Our goal is to make every sport fun and accessible for everyone.

Netball is a fast-paced team sport! Similar to basketball, but not the same - instead of dribbling, fast passes and leaps through the air, get you into the attacking semi-circle.

(Image Credits: nswswifts.com.au)

Netball was first created to be a women’s version of basketball in 1895, but it’s evolved into a unique sport played by over 20 million people of all genders in more than 80 countries today.

Today, netball has evolved to modernise the sport. It is a non-contact sport, with many rules to allow safety for all players. The objective is to progress the ball down the court toward a team’s goal third at one end of the court. Both teams aim to intercept the ball and turn over the play. Players must stay within their positions' limited areas with no player having to play the entire court. The teams consist of seven players each, allowed in different thirds of the court.

(Image Credits: https://www.moriver.co.za/netball-positions-netball-posisies/)

In Netball, you can not step with the ball, you can however pivot on your landing foot to turn in different directions. Players are allowed a maximum of three seconds with the ball before they must pass it to a teammate. If they don’t pass within the time, the ball will turn over with a holding call. Defenders must stay three feet away from opponents when holding the ball - if too close, the umpires will call an obstruction, and the defending player will be removed from the play.

(Image Credits:netball.sport)

Each game has two umpires who control a single sideline and baseline each. To start play, a centre will pass from the centre circle to teammates, to progress toward their goal third. A quarter of netball goes for 15 minutes, with short breaks in between.

Netball is a physically demanding sport that requires speed, agility, and power to jump, pass, and run laps of the court, making fast and tactical plays to outsmart your opponents and manipulate the game in your favour to score goals.

Article written by Erin Sims and Ellie Swain