What is Netball?
Netball is a sport similar to basketball that is popular all over the world, mainly among women. It may not be very well known in Japan, but it is one of the most popular sports in the world.
History of Netball
Netball was born in the UK in 1891, after the American sport of basketball was developed and adapted to its rules. It initially spread as "women's basketball" and was particularly popular at women's educational institutions. An international tournament was held in 1910, and the game has now grown into a sport played in countries around the world. A strong competitive culture is particularly well-established in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and South Africa, where world championships are held every year.
Netball began to become popular in Japan in the 1990s, and the Japanese netball team has achieved some success at the Asian Games. However, awareness of the sport as a sport is still limited, and efforts to promote it are ongoing.
Currently, netball is played in some schools and clubs, and many netball lovers are gathering in Aichi Prefecture, with efforts underway to expand the number of people playing the sport.
Netball's sporting characteristics
While netball has elements similar to basketball, it also has some unique characteristics. The biggest difference is that players are only allowed to stand in certain areas. This makes tactics and team play important, with great emphasis placed on passing the ball and cooperation between players. Netball is characterized by its speedy and dynamic transitions between offense and defense, and its captivating play keeps spectators engaged.
Netball rules
Netball is a seven-a-side team sport played on a court that is 2m longer than a basketball court and divided into three quarters. A game is played in four quarters, each of which usually has a playing time of 15 minutes. Some of the distinctive rules of netball are:
Positions and Restricted Areas
There are seven positions (GS: Goal Shooter, GA: Goal Attack, C: Center, GK: Goalkeeper, GD: Goal Defense, WD: Wing Defense, WA: Wing Attack), and each player plays in a specific area (see diagram below).Ball possession limit: A player with the ball must pass or shoot within three seconds. Dribbling is also prohibited.
Shooting from the goal The goal has no backboard and consists only of a net and a ring, and a point is scored when the ball goes into the ring. Shooting is only allowed from within the goal circle.
Infringement and Penalties If a player makes illegal contact with an opponent or violates a rule, an infringement is called, and the opposing team is then given a free pass or a penalty pass. Please refer to the diagram below for the main infringements.
For more information, please visit the Japan Netball Association website .
Netball is a sport that requires teamwork and tactics, and tests the players' skills and concentration. Numerous tournaments are held both domestically and internationally, and professional leagues exist in Australia and New Zealand in particular, making the international level of competition very high.
The Aichi Prefecture Netball Association aims to popularize and develop netball, and is working to widely spread the appeal of the sport. If you're interested, we encourage you to give netball a try!
