Welcome to W&DNL; Warrington and District Netball League

Last updated: 05/06/08

This is the internet site for the Warrington and District Netball League. It has been designed to provide resources for people currently playing at club level within the League, as well as for Umpires and other participants. Facilities also exist to allow vistors to the site to make contact with the individual teams to see how they can join that team.

i See the 'clubs' page. NB: Not all teams who play in the league have a formal entry on this site.

Two articles below, the History of Netball and So, how do you play Netball?, have been written by Angie Taylor, Warrington Town Netball Club, for the benefit of new (and not so new) players.

You will also find other information; just use the buttons on the left. There are several documents on the site available for downloading and viewing with the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

i If you are not sure what the Adobe Acrobat Reader can do for you, please click [here] for more information.
 
The History of Netball by Angie Taylor, Warrington Netball Club.

Netball is a particularly fast and highly-skilled team sport, originally adapted from the game of basketball. The official rules of Netball, which used to be known as ‘Women’s Basketball’ were formulated in England in 1901. An American basketball coach attempting to improve the skills of Basketball players is credited with creating the game. He worked at Luton Teacher's College in England where he introduced the sport to many of the graduating teachers. The game was first played by women on outdoor grass courts and was essentially the game we now call Netball. In 1970 the name of the game was changed from Basketball to Netball.

Netball is played (predominantly by women) in 25 countries throughout the world; particularly in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the West Indies. The game has also spread to Japan, Canada and America.

Australia is ranked Number One in the world, winning 6 out of 8 World Championships held over a period of 4 years.

Netball is the sport most females play in Australia and has produced legends like Anne Sargeant, Vicki Wilson, Carissa Dalwood and Nicole Cusack, to name just a few.

So, how do you play Netball? by Angie Taylor, Warrington Netball Club.

There are seven players on each team and each player has a position. Each position is quite specialised and has a specific purpose. For example, only the Goal Shooter and Goal Attack are allowed to shoot the goals and only the Centre can restart the game after each goal is scored. Limited body contact is allowed and you must give the player who has the ball a distance of 3 feet before a player can defend. The aim of the game is to get the ball in the opposing goal hoop as many times as possible throughout the 60 minute match.

The Netball court is 100 ft long by 50 ft wide, approximately the size of a tennis court. The court is split by lines that divide the court into restricted areas called 'thirds'. At each end of the court there is a shooting semi-circle and a 10 ft goal post without a back board. Each third has attacking and defending players in them, each form the opposing team.

Some of the main rules are:

  • Once the player has caught the ball, only one step may be taken.
  • A player can only hold the ball for a maximum of 3 seconds.
  • Only two positions on the court can shoot (GS and GA).
  • (Goal) shots can only be taken from within the semi-circle.
  • A ball cannot be passed over one of the thirds.

Here is a diagram of a Netball court with its two teams in position. The red team is attacking in the direction of the red arrow and the yellow team is attacking in the direction of the yellow arrow.

Positions:

  • GS = Goal Shooter
  • GA = Goal Attack
  • WA = Wing Attack
  • C = Centre
  • WD = Wing Defence
  • GD = Goal Defence
  • GK = Goal Keeper

 

Was it good for you? Please let us know by sending us an e-mail or giving us a call after you have had a chance to look around. Let us know your likes and dislikes, and please, do not hesitate to suggest how the site can be improved.

And yes, we know the animated graphic on the home page shows a basketball net. Does anyone know where we can get a good netball graphic?

 

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND CONTACTS

  • AENA: All England Netball Association
    Tel 01462 442344
    Fax 01462 442343

  • NW Regional Office
    Tel 01925 534333

  • County Affiliation Secretary (Cheshire):
    England Netball Affiliations - Emma Pike: 07980 284230

  • Youth Development Officer, Warrington:

  • Would you like to Help Disabled Netballers?

  • Cheshire Umpiring Secretary
    Contact Chris Brien: 07947 815704

  • Coaches, umpires, volunteers required for
    Girls Netball Trials - Cheshire Youth Games
    Contact Chris Brien : 07947 815704

  • Cheshire County Netball
    www.cheshirenetball.co.uk
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