Netball History


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The game of netball was originally known as "womens basket ball" untill as recently as August 1970.

It was invented in 1891 by Dr James Naismith, an instructor from America. It was then introduced into England some years later by Dr Toles.

It was believed that the first game of basket ball on grass was played in England in 1897 by ladies "using broomsticks for posts and wet paper bags for baskets". The reason for the name "basket ball" becomes obvious when one realises that originally the nets were not open at both ends as they are today, each time a goal was scored an umpire had to climb a ladder and get the ball out of the basket at the top of the post!

The number of officials needed for each game was two umpires, two scorers and two timekeepers.

Natball was brought to Australia, as to many other countries, by English school teachers. In Victoria it is on record that an inter – school basket ball competition with teams of seven players on each side was conducted in Victorian Primary Schools in 1913. The game was played in Secondary Schools too. In 1915, two male teachers are said to have put rules on paper for State Schools.

Soon after several associations got together and started competition matches in each state. In 1926 an inter-state tournament was created and has been held every year since then.

The All Australian Woman's Basketball Association was formed in 1927.

Women's Basketball was changed to "Netball" in 1970 and that is when the association became known as it is today; Netball Australia.