Netball is a team sport similar to and derived from basketball. It was originally known as "women's basketball" and developed in the United States, and while basically unknown in its homeland, is the preeminent women's team sport (both as a spectator and participant sport) in Australia and New Zealand and is popular in Jamaica, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, and various other Commonwealth countries. Later, the name "netball" was adopted as women were beginning to play basketball proper, and the game started to attract male players.

Description and rules

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Like basketball, the game is played on a hard court with scoring rings at both ends, and with a ball resembling a basketball (but lighter, smaller and slightly softer in construction, and usually white in colour). The rings, whilst of similar height and dimension to basketball hoops, do not have a "backboard". The field is divided into thirds which regulate where individuals in each team are allowed to move, and two semi-circular "shooting circles" at each end from within which all scoring shots must be taken.

There are seven players on each team, who are given nominated, named positions (and in competitive netball must wear "bibs" or "patches" showing the abbreviations below indicating that position). They are only allowed in certain areas of the court: a player in a section of court that is not part of their playing area is deemed 'offside'. The positions are described below:

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