Sports in Britain

Netball

Netball The origins of netball can be traced back to basketball. The students of Madame Osterberg’s college of physical training in London’s Hampstead were first introduced to netball in 1895.

The game was known as women’s basketball - there were no printed rules, no court lines, circles or boundaries and the goals were simple baskets hung on the walls. Over the next 2 years the English students added rings and divided the court into 3 equal playing areas; in 1901 the first rules were published in England. From that point on schoolteachers started to introduce the game to children across the British Empire.

In 1963 the All England Netball Association (AENA) held the first World Netball Tournament. Eleven countries took part with Australia emerging victorious beating New Zealand to second place; England took third. Netball had finally graduated from the school playgrounds and was recognised as an exciting world sport.

In 1995 the 9 th World Championships were held in Birmingham, a record 27 countries competed. The Commonwealth Games included netball for the first time in 1998 with England winning the bronze medal.

For more information visit:
http://www.netballpost.com/history.asp
http://www.englandnetball.co.uk/