The History of Netball - P.E

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Hi there, This blog post is going to be all about the history of Netball and how it has evolved over the years. 

Introduction to Netball:

Netball is a fast-paced, non-contact sport enjoyed by men and women. 

Originally developed from basketball t has been played since the 1890's. It is similar to basketball, but with some crucial differences such as no running with the ball and no dribbling. Each goal is worth one point and there is no backboard. It is played by 20 million people in more than 70 countries. Netball is one of my favourite sports to play, It's a fun team game that involves cooperation, communication and resilient. 

Where did it Originate?

Netball originated in the United States, as basketball. Women's basketball began to be played in New Zealand around the start of the 20th Century, and was promoted by the Reverend J.C. Jamie-son.There were nine in a team, playing on grass courts. Because women's heavy clothes restricted movement, they passed the ball, from hand to hand instead of dribbling it. Imagine having to play Netball in uncomfortable clothes such as heavy skirts?               

Famous Netball Players:      

• Irene Van Dyk
• Maria Folau
• Casey Kopua

Irene Van Dyk (born 21 June 1972) is a netball player who was born and bred in South Africa but quickly became one of New Zealand's favourite sporting personalities. She is a goal-shooter and is considered one of the world's best known netballer and the most capped international player of all time. Irene Van Dyk is a fascinating netballer who is skilled with superb height, unbelievable power and supernatural accurateness. She is simply one of the best shooters in the world and often manages to shoot with 100 percent accuracy. The most striking weapon Van Dyk has is her wide split of legs after receiving the ball. She uses this to control herself and more closer to the goalpost increasing her changes of making the shot or rebounding after a missed shot. Van Dyk was a world Netball Championships Gold Medallist in 2003, a commonwealth Games Medallist in 2006 and 2010 and a world Netball Series Gold Medallist in 2009 and 2012. She became the New Zealand Sportswoman of the year in 2003. She is a true inspiration!

Maria Folau is one of my favourite netball players! Maria was born 18th February 1987 in Tokoroa, stands at 1.88 tall and is a current member of the Silver Ferns and Northern Mystic Team. A naturally gifted shooter, Maria Folau has been a mainstay of the Silver Ferns for over a decade. One of the most feared shooters in World Netball, with her uncanny skill of being able to convert shots from all points of the circle, Folau made her debut for the Silver Ferns in 2005, the same year she was part of the world Youth Championship - winning NZ U21 team. A graceful athlete, Folau has continued to evolve.

Casey Kopua is a native of New Zealand who was born on June 19, 1985, in Hamilton New Zealand. Casey may Kopua is a professional NZ Netball player who captained the New Zealand national team. She currently leads the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic of the ANZ championship as its captain. Previously, she played for the Waikato University team. She plays the positions GK and GD. A match-winner and one of the game's greatest defenders, Kopua showed her durability when returning from a nine-month lay-off, recovering and rehabilitating from a serious knee injury, to lead the team at National World Cup Sydney 2015. Kopua brought a strong work ethic to the Netball court while being fiercely proud and loyal to the core. Setting the on-court standards with her strength in the air.

Netball is an intergal part of New Zealand's dynamic sporting culture, steeped in history, it was introduced to New Zealand as "women's basketball" in 1906 - a nine-a-side game played on grass, with baskets tied to posts at either side of the court. As netball spread to British colonies, it began to develop independently in different places. Rules changed according to location, and team sizes ranged from five to nine players on court at any on time. The rules were not standadrised until almost 60 years later when the International Federation of Women's Basketball and Netball Associations was developed. The rules were officially standardised in 1960 at a conference in Sri Lanka, which was attended by representatives from Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Africa, The west Indies and England. In 2008, a shortened variation of Netball called "Fast 5" was introduced for the first time. It features a number of rule changes and modifications, including 'power plays', long range shots, and shorter six minutes quarters.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙨, 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙨 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙛𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙!