Netball is one of the most popular women’s sports in the UK, and it is also played in many countries around the world. It is an excellent form of exercise, as it requires a combination of good aerobic fitness and strength and suppleness. Netball is also a great way to make friends and develop good teamworking skills.
It is no surprise that today’s game is thriving, at both a professional and competitive level, and also for more informal recreational purposes. But when was the game of netball first invented? Here’s a brief history.
The game of netball was formed as a version of basketball for women. Basketball was invented by James Naismith of International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, in the USA in 1891. It proved to be an instant hit, and female PE teachers soon began to adapt it for their students.
The BBC explains that in 1897, the game was introduced to England by an American teacher, but with the basketball hoops replaced by netted rings, which gave rise to the name netball. By 1900, the rules were formalised by the Physical Education Association, and in 1926, the All England Netball Association was formed.
Throughout the following decades, the game began to be played competitively at a national and international level. By 1960, the current rules, position titles, and the length of matches were established.
There are now consistent rules about the size of official netball courts, the proportions of the netball posts and rings, the sizes of the goal and centre circles, and the position each player occupies on court. The game can be played either indoors or outdoors.
There are also a set of rules stating what each player and team can and cannot do, and how points can be scored.
If you are looking for information about Putney netball performance, please visit our website today.