Netball is a fast paced, highly skilful sport. It requires speed, athleticism, and tactical thinking. It is a game played at a very fast rate, with lots of quick passing with frequent changes in direction, knee injuries being amongst the highest injuries along with sprained fingers and ankles.

Netball is a game played mostly in the commonwealth countries, its foundations come from basketball but the ball is smaller, the ring is smaller and higher and there is no backboard. There are seven players in a team who play in given positions restricting their movement to certain areas of the court which is divided into thirds. At each end of the court is a semicircle around the goalpost, goals can only be scored from within this area.

GS – Goal Shooter
The goal shooter is only allowed in the attacking third and semicircle. She is one of only two players on the team allowed to shoot for goal.

GA – Goal Attack
The other player that can shoot for goals, like the GS she is allowed in the attacking third, semicircle and also the centre third.

WA – Wing Attack
The WA is allowed in the centre third and the attacking third but not the semicircle. He job is to support the centre and feed the ball into the GS and GA.

C – Centre
The centre has the full run of the court with the exception of the two semicircles, it is her role to take the centre pass after each goal is scored.

WD – Wing Defence
The WD is like the opposite of WA and as such plays against the opposing WA. She can play in the centre third and the defending third but not the defending semicircle. Her job is to help defend the circle and not let the ball into the opposing GA and GS.

GD – Goal Defence
Plays against the GA and defends in the centre third and the defending third. Besides attempting to intercept the ball coming down court her job is to stop the GA scoring by marking the ball from three feet away as the shooter shoots, she is also expected to get any rebounds from missed shots.

GK – Goal Keeper
Probably the most hated position of all seen as the last line of defense! Her domain is the defensive third and semicircle. Like the GD is there to stop the goals and collect any rebounds from missed shots.

There is a whole book of rules as you would expect. But to get you started here are the top 5:

• The player defending the ball must be at least three feet from the player holding the ball.
• Netball is a non contact game. Contact with another player or with the ball if someone else is holding it, will result in a penalty being awarded to the opposition.
• When catching the ball you may only take one step and this must not be made with the foot you first landed on.
• Once you have caught the ball and released it, you cannot touch it again until it has been touched by another player or the post.
• Play to the umpires whistle and do not answer back.