NETBALL

Netball is a popular invasion game that has been known to be mainly a girls sport
but has recently began to be played by boys as well. The aim of each team in this
game is to score as many points as possible by shooting the ball through an
opposing team’s goal and to stop them from scoring points in their basket.

MARKINGS OF THE NETBALL COURT

The netball court is rectangular in shape. It is divided into 3 equal parts namely:
centre third and 2 goal thirds. The goal third has goal posts which are placed in the
centre of each goal-line. The goal third also has a semicircle called goal area. The
centre third is in between the two goal thirds, it has a centre circle which is used to
mark the centre of the court.

NETBALL BASIC RULES

A. During and start of the game

 A game consists of four quarters. Each quarter lasts for about 15minutes.
 The centre player is the one responsible for starting the game by passing the
ball to his/her team mates after the whistle is blown.

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 B. Players
 Only seven players per team can play on the court at one time.
 Nails must be kept short
 Players must remove all jewellery before the start of a match to avoid injury
to themselves as player and their opponents.

C. Match officials
 In a competitive game the match officials include: two umpires, two scorers,
and two time keepers. The duty of the umpire is to enforce the rules of the
game. The scorers record the points scored by each team and lastly the time
keepers keep track of time (e.g. break and injury time)

D. Playing Rules
 Players are not allowed to move from their designated areas before the
whistle is blown at the beginning of the game.
 During the game players are supposed to stick to their designated areas.
 A player is not allowed to hold the ball for more than three seconds at a time.
 A player can only take one step while holding the ball, and must pass it to a
team mate before putting the other foot down.
 Once the player has landed while holding the ball, he or she must keep at
least one foot in contact with the ground. A player is not allowed to step up,
jump up, or drag that landing foot.
 During defence situations, the defence and offense players should be at least
one meter away from each other.
 No physical contact between players is allowed during play. If contact is
made, the team of the player that caused the contact loses the ball.
 During a penalty pass/shot, the opposing player will be out of play and should
stand next to the player taking the penalty.
 If the penalty is taken in the goal circle, the goal shooter and the goal attack
are allowed to either pass the ball to a team mate or shoot for a goal.

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  A throw in is awarded to the opposing team if the player of the other team
causes the ball to go out of bounds. The player responsible for the throw in
should stand close to the side line where the ball went out from and throw
the ball within three seconds.
 Re-played ball is not allowed.

PLAYING POSITIONS

The following are 7 different playing positions in netball and each of them signify
different areas of play:

 Goal Shooter (GS)

 Goal Attack (GS)
 Wing Attack (WA)
 Wing Defence (WD)
 Centre(C)
 Goal Defence(GD)
 Goal Keeper(GK)

PLAYER POSITION ROLE COURT COVERAGE

To get past the goal Plays in the attacking
Goal Shooter keeper of the other team third of the court,
and shoot to score a goal. including the goal circle.

Guard the goal defence of Plays in the attacking goal

Goal Attack the opposing team. third, centre third and the
Assist the goal shooter of goal circle.
their team with scoring.

Wing Attack Guard the wing defence Plays in the attacking and
of the other team centre thirds.
Centre Guards the centre player Covers the whole court
of the opposition except for the goal
circles.

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 Defend the wing areas by Plays in the centre and
Wing defence guarding the wing defending third and is not
attacker of the opposition. allowed in the goal circle.

Defends by guarding the Plays in the centre and

Goal defence goal attacker of the defending third, including
opposition. Also assist the the goal circle.
goal keeper of their team
to keep the ball away
from their goal circle and
the goal shooter from
scoring.
Prevents the goal shooter Plays in the defending
Goal keeper of the opposition from third including the goal
scoring. third.

NETBALL POSITIONS IN THE COURT

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SENDING AND RECEIVING SKILLS IN NETBALL

Netball requires players to send and receive the ball using their hands only. The
players need to develop the skill to send and receive the ball correctly and
accurately.

A. Receiving Skills: The main receiving skill in netball is catching. When

performing this receiving skill the player/receiver needs to have their hands
ready to receive the ball, when the ball touches the receivers hands the
thumbs should be behind the ball and pulled close to the chest to protect it
from the player of the other team.

B. Sending skills: this includes; chest pass, shoulder pass, bounce pass and
overhead pass.

Chest pass: Is a very fast and flat pass. It enables a team to move quickly in the
court in a precise and accurate fashion.

a. Ready Position
 Stand with feet shoulder width apart.
 Knees slightly bent.
b. Skill Execution
 Place hands on the sides of the ball with the thumbs directly behind the ball
and fingers comfortably spread.
 The ball should be held in front of the chest.
 When releasing the ball step in the direction of the pass.
 Push the ball from the chest with both arms (not from one shoulder).
 Fingers are rotated behind the ball and the thumbs are turned down and
also elbows are forced to stick out.
c. Follow Through
 Finish up with your arms fully extended, the back of the hands facing one
another, fingers pointing at the target and thumbs pointing to the floor.
[Link]

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  Overhead pass: can be used to make a long pass and to evade defenders
especially if the defender is shorter than player with the ball. To make this
pass, you lift the ball with both hands over your head, feet shoulder with
apart with one slightly forward. Aim your team mate’s head and straighten
your arms fully when releasing the ball. Check out the video below:
[Link]

 Shoulder pass: A shoulder pass is a very dynamic, fast and long pass. Below
is a step by step of how to perform a shoulder pass:
a. Ready position:
 Player's feet should be shoulder width apart in opposition.
 Opposite foot forward to throwing arm.
 Knees slightly bent.
b. Skill Execution
 Hold the ball at head height, slightly behind your head.
 Elbow should be at a 90° angle.
 Fingers spread behind the ball.
 Step in the direction of the pass by transferring your body weight from back
foot to front foot.
 Pull the arm through with the elbow leading.
c. Follow Through
 Fully extend your arm and wrist.
 Point your fingers in the same direction as the pass, with palms facing
down.

[Link]

Bounce pass: A bounce pass is a short pass that enables the player to find a
teammate in a crowded area. The height of the ball makes it difficult for the
opposition to reach and intercept. How to perform a bounce pass:

a. Ready position
 Feet shoulder-width apart
 Knees bent slightly.

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 b. Skill Execution
 Place hands each side and slightly behind the ball, with the fingers
comfortably spread.
 Hold the ball at waist level, with elbows tucked in.
 When releasing the ball step in the direction of the pass and extend your
arms forward.
 The wrist and fingers should be forced through the ball releasing it off the
first and second fingers of both hands.
 The ball should bounce ¾ away from the thrower.
c. Follow Through
 The arms should be fully extended, fingers pointing at the target and
thumbs pointing to the floor.
 [Link]

C. Other skills in netball

Pivoting: movement that allows the player to move on a fixed axis to either pass or
shoot. How to pivot smoothly:

 Run towards the ball and jump by extending your legs.

 Keep your eyes firmly fixed on the ball.
 Bring your hands out in front of your body at chest height with fingers
spread open and pointing up.
 In the air catch the ball with thumbs an inch or two apart making a ‘W’
shape.
 Land on the ball of one foot on the ground.
 Flex your knee and ankle as your foot hits the floor.
 Stand with knees slightly bent and your feet shoulder width apart.
 Bring the ball into your body to protect it.
 Pivot by rotating yourself on the ball of your landing foot.
 Keep your upper body straight and head up.
 Make sure the hip of your pivoting leg is pointing in the direction you are
aiming to pass the ball.

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  You can move or step with the other foot any number of times.
 You are not allowed to lift the foot you are pivoting on before you release
the ball.
[Link]

Shooting:
How to shoot smoothly:
 Place your feet in a comfortable forward facing position, not too far apart
 Balanced position, with equal weight on both feet and hips facing forward
 The ball should be held by dominant hand and placed high above the head.
 Fingers spread around the ball.
 Second hand is placed at the side of the ball to steady its position
 Elbows slightly flexed, lined in the direction of the post.
 Focus on a point above the ring to give height to your shot
 Power through the ankles by pushing up through slightly flexed knees
 Maintain balanced position
 Flex elbows not allowing the ball to drop behind your head
 Wrist flicks as the ball is released off the fingers in order to create a
backwards spin
 Fingers follow the ball on a high trajectory towards the post, dropping into
the ring
 Aim to drop the ball through the net without it touching the ring
[Link]

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