Amanda Knapp
Netball and basketball share a common origin. Basketball was invented by Dr James Naismith in 1891, and the following year, women's basketball was introduced, with modified rules to accommodate social conventions regarding women's participation in sports. This early version of netball was played with a court divided into thirds and only three players per team. Over the next few years, the rules of women's basketball were further modified at Madame Österberg's college in England, giving rise to a new sport called net ball or netball, which was designed to encourage physical activity among young women. Netball was first played outdoors on grass courts, and the equipment was changed from basketball hoops to netted rings without backboards. The first codified rules of netball were published in the early 20th century, and the sport spread throughout the British Empire, although it was still often known as women's basketball in many countries until the 1970s.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of creation | 1891/1892 |
| Creator | Dr. James Naismith |
| Original name | Women's basketball |
| Reason for creation | To encourage female physical activity while maintaining female etiquette and accommodating social conventions |
| First played | 1892 at Smith College |
| First codified rules | 1900 or 1901 |
| Renamed netball | 1909/1970 |
| First international game | 1938 between Australia and New Zealand |
| International governing body | International Federation of Women's Basketball and Netball (now the International Netball Federation) |
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What You'll Learn
Netball's roots in basketball
Netball's roots can be traced back to the early development of basketball. Basketball was invented in 1891 by Dr James Naismith, an American physical educator. The sport was originally designed for men, but in 1892, it was adapted for female students at Smith College to maintain female etiquette and accommodate social conventions regarding women's participation in sports. This modified version of basketball, known as women's basketball, became very popular and quickly spread across the United States, with variations of the rules emerging in different areas.
The transition from basketball to netball occurred at Madame Österberg's college (later moved to Dartford, Kent, England) in 1895-1897. The rules of the game were modified over several years, with substantial revisions made during a visit in 1897 from an American teacher, Miss Porter. She introduced rules from women's basketball in the United States, including an outdoor court and netted rings instead of basketball hoops. The playing court was divided into three zones, and the game was renamed "net ball" due to the use of netted rings.
By the late 1890s, women's basketball, or netball, had emerged as an identifiable sport with its own set of rules. The court was divided into three zones, the number of players was increased to nine, a smaller ball was used, and there were two umpires, two scorers, and two timekeepers. Netball was introduced to Australian women during this time, with games first played in schools around Melbourne. The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) played a significant role in promoting the game in Australia in the early 20th century.
In most countries, the sport was still known as "women's basketball" until the early 20th century when it officially adopted the name "netball". The first codified rules of netball were published in 1900 or 1901 by the Ling Association (later the Physical Education Association). From England, the game spread throughout the British Empire, including Australia, New Zealand, and Jamaica. However, it was not until 1970 that Australia and New Zealand officially changed the name of the sport from "women's basketball" to "netball".
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Netball's early rules
Netball was derived from early versions of basketball in the 1890s. The rules of the game were modified at Madame Österberg's college in Dartford, Kent, England, over several years. The first game of women's basketball was played in 1892 at Smith College, and by 1895, it had spread across the United States, with variations of the rules emerging in different areas.
In 1897, an American teacher, Miss Porter, introduced rules from women's basketball in the United States to Madame Österberg's college. The game moved outdoors onto grass courts, and the playing court was divided into three zones. The baskets were replaced with rings that had nets, and the sport was renamed "net ball".
The first codified rules of netball were published in 1900 or 1901 by the Ling Association (later the Physical Education Association), and 250 copies were printed. From England, the game spread throughout the British Empire. In some countries, the sport retained the name "women's (outdoor) basketball".
The early rules of netball included:
- Two teams of seven players each, with a minimum of five players per team for the game to proceed.
- Each team member has a specific position, limiting where they can move on the court.
- Players cannot hold the ball for more than three seconds and cannot take more than 1.5 steps when in possession of the ball.
- Only the Goal Shooter or Goal Attack can score goals and they must be within the semi-circle when shooting.
- The ball must be passed and moved around the court to the Goal Shooter and Goal Attack, who attempt to shoot from inside the semi-circle.
- A match consists of four 15-minute quarters.
- To prevent footwork violations, players receiving the ball can land with both feet on the ground, choosing one as their leading foot, or with one foot at a time, keeping that foot planted.
- Players must avoid obstruction, such as using arm movements that limit the possible movements of an opponent within 3 feet.
- Nails must be short and smooth, preferably no longer than 1mm, to protect other players from injury.
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How netball got its name
The name netball has an interesting history, which is closely linked with the development of the sport itself. The game evolved from basketball, which was invented in 1891 by Dr James Naismith, a Canadian physical education instructor. Basketball was originally designed for men, but the following year it was adapted for female students at Smith College, with the aim of maintaining female etiquette.
Over the next few years, the rules of women's basketball were modified at Madame Österberg's college in Dartford, England, to form an entirely new sport. These changes included moving the game outdoors, dividing the court into three zones, and replacing the basketball hoops with netted rings. This equipment change gave rise to the name 'netball', which was first used in 1897. The first codified rules of netball were published in 1900 or 1901, and from there the sport spread throughout the British Empire.
In some countries, the sport retained the name 'women's (outdoor) basketball' upon its arrival. For example, in Australia and New Zealand, the term 'women's basketball' was used to refer to both netball and basketball. It wasn't until 1970 that these countries officially changed the name of the sport to netball. This change was made to avoid confusion between the two sports and to standardise the terminology internationally.
Today, netball is a popular sport played by over 20 million people worldwide, mainly in the Commonwealth of Nations. It remains primarily a women's sport, although male and mixed netball competitions have become increasingly popular in recent times.
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Netball's spread and growth
Netball was first played at Madame Österberg's Physical Training College in Hampstead, London, in 1893. The rules of the game were modified at the college over several years, and it moved outdoors and was played on grass. The baskets were replaced by rings with nets, and rules from women's basketball in the US were incorporated. This new sport acquired the name "net ball". The first codified rules of netball were published in 1900 or 1901 by the Ling Association, later the Physical Education Association of the United Kingdom. From England, netball spread to other countries in the British Empire.
Netball spread to Australia around 1900 and New Zealand in 1906, retaining the name ""women's (outdoor) basketball" in both countries. By 1909, netball was being played in Jamaican schools. In 1924, the first national governing body for netball was established in New Zealand, followed by similar organisations in other countries, including the All England Net Ball Association in 1926, the All Australia Women's Basketball Association in 1927, and the Jamaican Netball Association in 1957.
In 1938, Australia and New Zealand played the first international game of netball in Melbourne, with Australia winning 40-11. In 1956, Sri Lanka played its first international match against Australia's national team. Efforts to standardise the rules of netball globally began in 1957, and by 1960, international playing rules had been agreed upon by representatives from key netball-playing countries, including England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the West Indies. This meeting also resulted in the creation of the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball, now the International Netball Federation, and the Netball World Cup, held every four years.
In the 1970s, netball spread to other African countries and became popular in the Pacific Island nations of the Cook Islands, Fiji, and Samoa. The sport's governing federation gained Olympic recognition in 1995, further boosting its profile. Today, netball is a popular participant sport in various parts of the world, particularly in Commonwealth nations. According to the IFNA, over 20 million people play netball in more than 72 countries.
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Netball's international recognition
Netball's roots can be traced back to the early development of basketball. In 1891, Dr James Naismith invented basketball, which was originally designed for men. However, in 1892, it was adapted for female students at Smith College to maintain female etiquette. This modified version of basketball, known as women's basketball, became very popular and quickly spread across the United States, with variations of the rules emerging in different areas.
The transition from basketball to netball occurred at Madame Österberg's college (later known as Madame Österberg Physical Training College) in Dartford, England, in 1897. An American teacher, Miss Porter, introduced rules from women's basketball, and the game moved outdoors onto grass courts. The playing court was divided into three zones, and the baskets were replaced with rings that had nets. This equipment change led to the sport being named "net ball." The first codified rules of netball were published in 1900 or 1901 by the Ling Association (later the Physical Education Association), and the sport spread throughout the British Empire.
As netball gained popularity, national netball associations were established from the 1920s onwards to administer organised netball leagues and competitions. The first such organisation was the New Zealand Basketball Association, formed in 1924, followed by similar organisations in England, Australia, and Jamaica in the subsequent years.
Recognising the need for standardised rules to facilitate international competition, representatives from key netball-playing countries, including England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the West Indies, came together in 1957 to discuss the creation of an international governing body. In 1960, the International Federation of Women's Basketball and Netball (later the International Netball Federation or INF) was formed to govern the sport globally and maintain a standardised set of rules. This organisation is now known as World Netball, comprising more than 70 national teams organised into five global regions.
World Netball organises several major international competitions, including the Netball World Cup (previously the World Netball Championships), held every four years, and the Netball World Youth Cup (for players under 21), held in alternating years with the World Cup. The first international tournament was held in 1963 in Eastbourne, England, and has since been a platform for international competition and the growth of netball worldwide.
In 1995, the International Netball Federation gained recognition from the International Olympic Committee, but despite lobbying and ongoing campaigns, netball has not yet been included as an event at the Summer Olympics. Nevertheless, the sport continues to gain global recognition, with over 20 million players in more than 80 countries, and efforts are ongoing to expand its reach and inclusion in prominent sporting events.
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Frequently asked questions
No, netball was derived from basketball. The game of basketball was invented by Dr. James Naismith in 1891. A year later, in 1892, the sport was modified for women, giving rise to women's basketball.
Netball was designed as a less physically demanding alternative to basketball for women. The rules of netball were modified over several years to form an entirely new sport. Netball courts are divided into three zones, and the game is played with a smaller ball. In addition, there is no dribbling in netball, and players cannot hold the ball for more than three seconds.
The name "netball" was adopted in the early 20th century, replacing the original name "women's basketball." However, the name change occurred gradually, and the sport was still referred to as "women's basketball" in some countries until the 1970s.
Netball spread globally through the British Empire, with the game being introduced to countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Jamaica. The sport was also spread by organizations like the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) and was included in events like the Commonwealth Games.
