Netball

For Winston :)


First, a little history, courtesy of Wikipedia.

Netball traces its roots to basketball, which explains why its rules are related. When James Naismith devised basketball in 1891 for his students in the School for Christian Workers (later called the YMCA), female teachers got curious and started to formulate a version for girls. The outfits of women back in the day hindered them from effectively executing important basketball moves such as running and dribbling, so the game had to be modified to accommodate these restrictions. Women’s basketball, or 'netball,’ was conceptualized.

Netball was first played in England in 1895 at Madame Ostenburg's College and quickly spread to all the British Commonwealth territories, but it did not yet have hard-and-fast rules. So loose were the regulations, in fact, that some games were played by nine players in each team, while some were played with only five players in each. The nets used were also ineffective – they were not open at both ends, so after each goal was scored, the umpire had to retrieve the ball from the top of the post.

Finally, Clara Baer, a gym teacher from New Orleans, asked Naismith for a copy of the
basketball rules, identified the areas within which women players could move, and consequently introduced the ‘zoning areas’ we know today. This was the start of netball’s formalization. These zoning rules along with many other provisions (such as elimination of the dribbling rule) were all included in the first draft of ‘Rules for Women’s Basketball.’ In 1901, this set of rules was ratified and netball officially became a competitive sport.

y'know, I picked up netball in school when I was 12 and later gave up competitive netball to - get this - sing in the school choir. You. Try not to laugh.

I also broke my left pinky as I was warming up for a game, WAY back when. Didn't even know it was broken. Completed the tournament. And yes, women can play rough. *wry grin*

So. Anyways. This was an educational post for me as well because I didn't realise that netball, in essence, is a British game. Who would have thought? To realise it all started in 1895? And that those rules were originally meant to cater to women in long skirts who couldn't run? (Netball doesn't allow you to move your feet once you're holding on the ball. Only swivel and throw)


A day you learn something is a day that's not wasted!