About Netball America

Mission

Netball America is committed to the development and growth of Netball in the USA with an emphasis on participation, individual progress, team unity and good health.

Vision

  • To compliment the work of the International Netball Federation in establishing Netball as a vibrant and exciting global sport.
  • To have Netball become a recognizable force in sporting circles throughout the United States of America.
  • To have Netball included into the core curriculum of educational systems of the United States of America.
  • To have the United States of America become leaders, both in vision and execution of the sport of Netball internationally.

Values

  • Netball America is committed to achieving high quality outcomes by
    • Promoting open communication with members
    • Working together in a spirit of cooperation
    • Continually striving for excellence
    • Drawing on best practices
    • Evaluation and analysis of operational practices in a continual effort to improve and progress
  • Netball America will not discriminate and welcomes members regardless of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age or disability.
  • Netball America will operate with a high regard to moral and ethical standards in the treatment of its members and in the development and growth of Netball in the United States of America.

What is Netball?

Netball is a fast, exciting, true team sport which involves running, jumping, throwing, intercepting and catching.    

Netball is played in over 80 countries around the world by millions of men, women and children.  Netball originated in the United States and is said to be an interpretation of Naismith's basketball rules (see Wikepedia).  This version, called Netball, was exported to Great Britain and gained popularity with the Commonwealth countries. 

Netball is similar to basketball except there is no dribbling or moving when you have possession of the ball, there is no backboard behind the basket and requires players to pass or shoot the ball within three seconds.

The winning formula for netball is simple - good team-work and the ability to score lots of goals!  

There are  seven (7) players per team that take the court.  Each member of the team has their own job to do on the netball court.  The aim of the game is to rack up a bigger score than your opposition. Although each team has seven players to help achieve this, only TWO players are allowed to try and score goals...and to make sure they do that job players are only allowed to go into certain zones on the court.  Hence, the need for TRUE TEAMWORK. 

BASIC RULES OF NETBALL

Starting a Game

First possession of the ball is decided by a coin toss.  The winner of the coin toss gets to decide either to start with the ball first or choose a goal end.  The game starts with the possessing Center (C) in the center circle of the court and the umpire blows the whistle for commencement of play.  This is called a Center Pass.  After each goal is scored and at the beginning of each quarter by a center pass is taken alternatively by the two centers, regardless of who score the goal.  The umpire’s whistle indicates the beginning and the end of each quarter

Scoring a Goal

A goal is scored when a Goal Shooter or Goal Attack with no contact with the ground outside the circle throws the ball completely through the goal ring.  The umpire’s whistle signals the goal is scored.

Contact

Netball is considered a non-contact sport.  A player cannot accidentally or deliberately come into contact with another player in a way which impedes their play.  For example, pushing, charging, tripping, throwing the body against an opponent or using the ball to push or contact an opponent.  Players must not hold an opponent, nor keep their elbows against an opponent with or without the ball.

Obstruction

A player with arms extended cannot defend closer than 3 feet.  This distance is measured from the first landed foot of the attacking player to the nearer foot of the defending player.  A player may stand closer to an opponent provided their arms are not extended and they are not impeding the thrower or goaler.  If the attacking player lessons the distance in their throwing or shooting action, then defending player is not considered to be obstructing because it was the attacking player and not the defending player who shortened the distance.  A player must not use intimidating actions against an opponent with or without the ball.

Held Ball

A player must pass the ball or shoot for goal, within 3 seconds.

Offside

Player must stay within their designated playing area

A player may reach over and take the ball from an offside area provided that no part of their body touches the ground in that area.

Over a Third

The ball cannot be thrown over a complete third without being touched by a player in that third.

Out of Court

When the ball goes out of court it is thrown in by an opponent of the team which was last to touch it.  The player taking the throw in should place one or both feet behind the point where the ball crossed the line and make sure all other players are on the court before throwing the ball.

If a player has no contact with the ball they may stand or move out of the court but must make contact with the playing area and have no other contact with anything outside the court before attempting to touch the ball again.

Footwork (Stepping)

One Foot Landing

When a player lands on one foot they may step with the other foot, lift the landing foot, but must throw before regrounding.

They may use the grounded foot as a pivoting foot, stepping in any direction with the other foot as many times as they wish.  Once the pivoting foot is lifted they must pass or shoot before regrounding the foot.

A player may jump from the landing foot onto the other foot and jump again, providing they throw the ball before regrounding wither foot.

NB: a player cannot drag or slide the landing foot, hop on either foot.

Two Foot Landing

If a player catches the ball and lands on both feet simultaneously, they may step in any direction with one foot, lift the other foot but must throw or shoot before regrounding this foot. 

They may pivot on one foot.

They may jump from both feet onto either foot, or step and jump but must throw or shoot before regrounding either foot.

Playing the Ball (replay)

A player who has possession of the ball may not bounce the ball and replay it.

If a player does not catch the ball cleanly, it may be bounced once to gain possession or batted or bounced to another teammate.

After throwing the ball, a player cannot play it again until it is touched by another player, or rebounds off the goal post.

Short Pass

There must always be room for a third player to move between the hands of the thrower and those of the receiver when passing.  Passes that do not have this room are called short passes.

A player cannot:        Punch, roll, kick or fall on the ball.

Pass the ball in any way while lying, sitting or kneeling on the ground.

Use the goal post as a way to regain balance or as a support while stopping the ball from going out of court.

The Toss Up

A toss up is used to put the ball into play when:

  • Opposing players simultaneously contact each other.

  • Opposing players simultaneously knock the ball out of court.

  • Opposing players simultaneously gain possession of the ball.

  • The umpire is unable to decide who touched the ball out of court.

  • Opposing players are simultaneously offside with one possession of the ball.

  • The two players stand 3feet apart, facing each other and their own goal ends.  Their arms should be straight with hands by their side.  Once in position, they must not move until the umpire has tossed up from just below shoulder height of the shortest player and blown whistle.

  • The ball may be caught or batted except directly at an opponent.

  • A Goal Shooter or Goal Attack may shoot for goal from a successful possession at a toss up.

Penalties

There are three types of penalties

            1. Free pass

            2. Penalty pass

            3. Penalty pass or shot

1. Free Pass

  • A free pass is awarded for all other infringements on the court.

  • The pass is taken where the infringement occurred by any player who is allowed in the area.

  • The offending player does not have to stand beside the thrower taking the pass.

  • If a free pass is awarded in the goal circle, the goalers may only pass the ball – not shoot for goal.

2. Penalty Pass

  • A penalty pass is awarded for contact, intimidation and obstruction infringements.

  • The pass is taken where the infringer was standing, except if it places the non-defending team at a disadvantage.

  • The pass can be taken by any player who is allowed in that area.

  • The penalized player must stand “out of play”.  That is, beside and away from the player taking the pass and make no attempt to take part in play until the ball has left the throwers hands.

3. Penalty Pass or Shot

  • If a penalty is given to a Goal Attack or Goal Shooter in the goal circle they are awarded a “penalty pass or shot”.

THE NETBALL DIMENSIONS

Netball Court:

·         The Court must have a firm surface

·         Ceiling Height 28 feet (8.53 meters)

·         Side Lines 100 feet (30.5 meters)

·         Goal Lines 50 feet (15.25 meters)

·         Goal Circle (radius) 16 feet (4.90 meters)

·         Centre Circle (diameter) 3 feet (0.90 meters)

·         Width of Court Lines 2 inches (50 mm)

·         Gradient 1% cross fall both directions

Goal Post:

·         Vertical Height 10 feet (3.05 meters)

·         Thickness: in diameter 2.6 inches (65 mm)

·         The back of the goalpost should be placed on the outside of the goal line at the midpoint.

·         May be inserted into the ground or supported by a metal base as long as it does not project onto the court

·         Should be white

 

Netball Ring:

·         Ring (internal diameter) 15 inches (381 mm)

·         Attachment connecting ring to post 5.9 inches (150 mm)

·         Ring thickness .6 inches (15 mm)

·         Fitted with a net open at both ends

 

NETBALL POSITIONS

Netball Court Positions

Goal Keeper (GK) – Defensive Player.  Defends the opposing teams Goal Shooter (GS).  Works with the Goal Defense (GD) to prevent the Goal Shooter and Goal Attack from scoring goals.  Is only allowed in the Goal Circle and Goal Third on their defending end of the court.

Goal Shooter (GS) – Offense Player.  Is defended by the opposing teams Goal Keeper (GK).  Specialized shooter.  Works along with the Goal Attack (GA) to score goals.  Is only allowed in the Goal Circle and Goal Third on their offense end of the court.

Goal Defense (GD) - Defense Player.  Defends the opposing teams Goal Attack (GA).  Works with the Goal Keeper (GK) to prevent the Goal Shooter and Goal Attack from scoring goals.  Is only allowed in the Center Third, Goal Third and the Goal Circle on their defending end of the court.

Goal Attack (GA) - Offense Player.  Is defended by the opposing teams Goal Defense (GD).  Is a shooter.  Works along with the Goal Shooter (GS) to score goals.  Is only allowed in the Center Third, Goal Third and Goal Circle of attacking end of the court.

Wing Defense (WD) - Defense Player.  Defends the opposing teams Wing Attack (WA) to prevent the attacking side to feed the shooters the ball to score.  Is only allowed in the Center Third and Goal Third of the attacking end of the court.  Is not allowed in the Goal Circle.

Wing Attack (WA) - Offense Player.  Is defended by the the opposing teams Wing Defense (WD).  Aim of the Wing Attack is to feed the shooters the ball to score.  Is only allowed in the Center Third and Goal Third of the attacking end of the court.  Is not allowed in the Goal Circle.

Center (C) - Offense and Defense player.  The Center runs the full court with the exception of the Goal Circles.  The Center is the link player between both defense and offense.  This player will usually help control the games pace and work at balancing the court with the goal of always providing an option for a pass if need be.