How many players are there on a netball team? | Reference.com How many players are there on a netball team? A: Quick Answer The International Netball Federation stipulates a maximum of 12 players per team, but only a total of seven may be on the court at any given time. At least five players from each team must be present on court to proceed with a standard game. Full Answer Implemented in 2012, the international netball format Fast5 restricts the number of players on court to five from each team. It also allows for rolling substitutions, unlike the standard format, which limits substitutions to halftime and in cases of injury. A total of seven playing positions exist in a standard game, and a center must be designated to begin. Teams can bring in new players before each center pass to increase their count to seven. Netball Rules Netball Rules Star Players... Netball Rules The following is an overview of the rules of the game of netball as outlined in the Official Netball Rules, published by the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA). It's not possible to include all the rules of the game in this section.

There are so many that every netball player learns a new rule every once in a while, no matter how long they've been playing! The aim is to provide you with a basic understanding of the rules to be able to play the game safely and enjoyably. Please use this section as a reference to answer any questions you may have about umpiring decisions. If you're still not sure, please ask! Interested in running your own Play Simple Netball League? Click here for more details. Copies of the rule book can be obtained from England Netball. The team Teams shall consist of 7 players. There must be at least 5 players, one of whom must play centre, to enable the fixture to go ahead. Substitutions Substitutions can only be made at half time or when a player is injured. There is no limit to the number of substitutions that a team can make. If you start a match with 5 or 6 players but more members of your team arrive after the game has started, they must wait until the next centre pass before being allowed to join the game. Playing positions and their roles on the court There are seven playing positions in a team.

Each has an important role to play for their team: Goal Shooter To score goals and to work in and around the circle with the GA Goal Attack To feed and work with GS and to score goals Wing Attack To feed the circle players giving them shooting opportunities Centre To take the centre pass and to link the defence and the attack Wing Defence To look for interceptions and prevent the WA from feeding the circle Goal Defence To win the ball and reduce the effectiveness of the GA Goal Keeper To work with the GD and to prevent the GA/GS from scoring goals Starting the game – centre pass The first centre pass is decided between the two captains by the toss of a coin. The centre passes then alternate between the teams, regardless of which team has scored. Before the whistle, all players must start in the goal thirds except the two Centres. The Centre with the ball must be wholly within the Centre Circle and must obey the footwork rule after the whistle has been blown. The opposing Centre stands anywhere within the Centre Third and is free to move. After the whistle the Centre pass must be caught or touched by a player standing in or landing wholly within the Centre third.

A player must not break at the centre pass, which is moving into the Centre third before the whistle is blown for the Centre pass. A free pass would be awarded to the opposing team in any of these instances above. Players must get onside quickly at the centre pass. The Centre with the ball must hurry back to the centre circle and step straight in. If she waits for her players to get back onside, this is called “delaying play”. **NEW RULES** Under the new rules coming into play in September 2016, this would result in the Centre receiving a caution, a penalty being given and advanced up the court! New rules like these are designed to speed the game up even further. Footwork in the centre circle The footwork rule still applies in the centre circle. As soon as the Centre steps into the circle, their leading leg becomes their landing foot and the footwork rule then applies. That is, if they lift or move their landing foot and place it back down again, a free pass will be awarded to the opposing team due to footwork. **NEW RULES** From September 2016, the umpire will blow the whistle to start play once the Centre has placed one foot wholly in the circle.

Until then, it's two feet! Offside rule A player with or without the ball cannot move into an area of the court that is not designated for their position. This will result in a free pass being awarded to the opposing team. Footwork A player can receive the ball: With both feet grounded or jump to catch the ball and land on two feet simultaneously. You may then take a step in any direction with one foot (but not both) and pivot on the spot with the other foot. Once one foot is moved, the other is considered to be the landing foot. With one foot grounded or jump to catch the ball and land on one foot. The landing foot cannot be moved, other than to pivot on the spot, whilst the other foot can be moved in any direction. Once the landing foot is lifted, it must not be re-grounded until the ball is released. Hopping or dragging the landing foot is not allowed. If you break the footwork rule, a free pass will be awarded to the opposing team Obstruction A player attempting to intercept or defend the ball must be at least 3ft (0.9m) away from the player with the ball.

This distance is measured from the landing foot of the player in possession of the ball. The defender may jump to intercept or defend the ball from this 0.9m (3ft) feet distance but you must ensure if you do jump to defend a ball, you don’t land any nearer that 3ft or this is obstruction (i.e. shortening your distance). A penalty pass will be awarded if you obstruct a player as described above. Obstruction of a player not in possession of the ball Your arms can be outstretched when you are a marking your player off the ball if you are trying to: To catch, deflect or intercept a pass To obtain a rebound from an unsuccessful shot at goal Momentarily signal for a pass or indicate the intended direction of movement These instances are not classed as obstruction but you will be penalised if you mark a player with your arms out or potentially if you stand under the post with your arms up whilst waiting for a rebound (although the umpire may choose to play advantage if the opposition aren't being impeded). Contact and Contest **NEW RULE** 'When attacking, defending or playing the ball, opposing players may come into physical contact with each other.

Provided the players do not interfere with each other's play or use their bodies to gain an unfair advantage over their opponent, it is deemed to be 'contest' and play continues. 'Contact' occurs when a player's actions interfere with an opponent's play whether these are accidental or deliberate. Interference may occur in the following ways: Physical contact using any part of the body to limit an opponent's ability to move freely (this includes, but is not limited to, pushing, tripping, holding or leaning on an opponent) Knocking or hitting a player including when shooting for goal Placing hand/s on the ball held by an opponent Hitting the ball held by an opponent or removing it from an opponent's possession While holding the ball, pushing it into an opponent A player causes contact by: Landing in a place already occupied by an opponent before the movement began Moving into the path of an opponent who’s committed to a particular landing space Generally, an attacker is moving into a space to receive the ball and a defender is drawn into causing contact when trying to intercept. If the attacker was in that space first, the decision goes their way and against the defender. A defender must be able to intercept the ball cleanly. However, no contact is allowed off the ball.

This includes attackers pushing off, backing into or pushing through a defender to get into space to receive the ball. If the defender was in that space first, then the decision goes their way and against the attacker. Inevitable contact is described as: Player/s, whether moving ot stationary, may not position so closely to an opponent that this player is unable to move without contacting Simultaeneous contact is described as: If two opposing players contact simultaeneously a toss up is taken between the two players concerned. The umpire’s role is to watch the game and determine what is 'contact' and what is 'contest' . It may not always seem obvious to you as a player why a particular decision has been made or why advantage has been played but please respect the decisions that they make. If interference occurs, the umpire will state: which player the penalty is against that a penalty pass has been awarded to the opposition The umpire should stand at the position at the side of the court where they want the penalty to be taken from. If you’re ever unsure where to take the penalty from, you need to look at the positioning of the umpire for guidance.

Failure to set the penalty correctly in this way will result in a reversal of the penalty and a free pass to the opposing team. A lot of contact disrupts the flow of the game. It also puts your team at a tactical disadvantage because when a player is taken out of play on a penalty, they are not able to contribute to the team’s defence. It’s far better to pull out of a challenge if you think you’re going to contact the player and concentrate on defending the next pass instead. The infringer must stand out of play. This means the infringer must: Move quickly to the position indicated Stand beside but away from the player taking the penalty so as not to impede that player Remain in this position and not move or take any part in play (including verbal comments) until the ball has been released. **NEW RULE** From September 2016, once the player taking the penalty pass is in the correct position, the player may choose either to play the ball immediately or to wait for the infringer to stand out of play.

If the player chooses to play the ball immediately: The infringer may not take part in play until the ball has been released or make any attempt to intercept the penalty pass The penalty pass will be retaken if the infirnger interferes with it Please observe the above rule if a penalty is given against you! Taking free passes and penalties You have 3 seconds from setting the free pass/penalty in which to take it. If you decide that another player would be better taking it, you must place the ball back on the floor. Do not walk towards the other player to pass it to them (footwork) or hand it to them (short pass). Any player allowed in that area may take the free pass/penalty. Shooting Only the GS and GA are able to score goals for your team. They must be wholly inside the goal circle to shoot. Throw in The ball is thrown back into play from the point where it went off the court. It is out of court when it contacts anything outside the court area (except the goalpost). When taking a throw in, a player places her foot up to but not on the sideline or backline of the court. The lines are part of the court.

If any part of your foot is touching the line or you step into the court in the process of taking the throw in, this is deemed to be a foul throw. At least one foot must be within 15cm (6in) of the line though. This includes walking on the court to pass the ball to another player if you decide that they should take the throw in. In this instance, you should leave the ball on the floor outside the court for the player to then pick up. You have 3 seconds from when you take up your position at the side of the court in which to throw the ball. You must also wait until all players are back on the court before taking the throw in. If any of the above occurs, a throw in to the opposing team will be awarded. Over a third The ball cannot be thrown over a complete third of the court without being touched or caught by a player (i.e. it cannot cross two transverse lines). A free pass shall be taken from the area where the ball crossed the second transverse line (i.e. where the ball shouldn’t have been). Replayed ball A player may not replay the ball.

Specifically you can’t: lose control of the ball and pick it up again if it has not been touched by another player catch a rebound from a shot on goal if the ball has not touched the post or another player toss the ball into the air and catch it again without it being touched by another player. Short pass **NEW RULE** 'When a player passes the ball, there must be sufficient space for an opposing player on the court to be able to intercept the ball as it moves from the hands of the thrower to those of the receiver.' This is the new rule relating to a short pass coming in in September 2016 and will make it easier for players to make a 'short pass' to each other. Jewellery Players must remove all jewellery before the start of a match to avoid injury to you as a player and your opposition. This rule includes all ear piercings, including piercings high on the ear lobe. Covering piercings up with a plaster is not adequate! The only exception is a wedding band or a medical alert bracelet which can be worn but must be taped up. Failure to remove jewellery will result in a player not being allowed on court. Nails Nails must be kept short.

As a guideline, nails should be no longer than 1mm long and should not be seen from the underside of the finger. This is to protect other players from injury. This is not a popular rule but it will be strictly enforced to avoid any unnecessary injuries occurring to players taking part in the league. Players will not be allowed to start a match with long nails. Guidelines on enforcing the rules Although we’re all out to have some fun playing netball, unfortunately there are rules of the game that we need to stick to! For the first week or two, the umpires may be lenient and give you a second chance to correct a technical fault (such as stepping onto the court as you take a throw in), instead of giving the free pass to the opposing team. Umpires will also explain any decisions that you don’t understand if you ask them politely, although they may ask you to wait until half or full time to allow them to concentrate fully on the game being played. The rules will be followed more closely as the league progresses and as you all progress as players. The exception to this are rules which affect players’ safety, such as contact and obstruction, which will be enforced from the start of the league.

Netball FAQ Rules for Netball ( click here to view our Futsal FAQs) I have never played Netball before, is previous experience required? No previous experience is required. We offer both competitive and social competitions to cater for all intensity levels. So whether you’ve played the game for years, or have never stepped on to a court before, we will put you in a league where you feel comfortable. What are the benefits of playing Netball? Netball is a great way to keep fit in a fun and energetic environment. It is a fast paced game which will definitely give you a good workout. Starting a team can also be a great way to keep in touch with friends. How many players are on a Netball team? Netball teams comprise of 7 players: GS, GA, WA, C, WD, GD & GK. A team may take to the court with no less than 5 players. What competitions are there and on which nights do they run? For a complete list of our venues, please click here. For more information on competition nights, please give us a call on 9221 6221. How long does each season run for?

Netball seasons usually run for 15 weeks, plus 2 weeks of finals. If I don’t have a team to play with, can I register as an individual? Yes, we accept individual registrations. Give us a call on 9221 6221 and we’ll do our best to find a team for you at your preferred venue. Are there any eligibility requirements when it comes to play finals? In order to be eligible to play in finals matches, a player must have competed in at least five games during the course of the regular 15 week season. This number can very depending on the length of the season. For more information please visit our rules page. Are games held on public holidays? No, generally games will not be played on public holidays. If you have any queries about this in regards to upcoming fixtures, please contact us on 9221 6221. Can my team choose their game times once we enter a league? Whilst we do ask teams for their preferences in regards to playing early or late games, we cannot guarantee that every game will fall between this time. We will do our best to schedule your games within your preferred time.

What do I do if my team has to forfeit a game? If your team needs to forfeit a game, please contact us on 9221 6221 or send us an email at info@futsalcentral.com.au What equipment is required to play Futsal? As stated above, all players must wear shin pads. In terms of footwear, only runners or Futsal boots will be permitted. For more information please have a read through our rules. Do we need to wear matching uniforms? Teams do need to wear matching tops, shorts, skirts, skins or leggings. Singlets and tank tops will not be permitted. All shorts worn must be above the knee and without pockets. The venue will supply team’s bibs which are to be returned at the conclusion of each game. For more information please visit read our rules. Netball playing positions - ActiveSG Netball playing positions File photo credit: Wikipedia By Christabel Yang If you’ve seen a netball game, you’ve probably wondered what the alphabets on those bibs represent and why the players seem to be restricted within certain areas of the court. Well, in this guide we'll help you break them down into layman terms.

There are 7 different playing positions in netball and each of them signify different areas of play. They are namely: 1. Goal Shooter 6. Goal Defence 7. Goal Keeper Each position is confined by certain lines of the court, and if the player moves beyond these lines, you’ll hear the whistle blow followed by a call that says “Offside!”. And that is exactly what we would want to avoid. 1. Goal Shooter (GS) The main role of the Goal Shooter (GS) is to score, by shooting the ball into the hoop. This can only be done within the goal circle. The GS is not allowed to score a goal beyond the perimeters of the goal circle. The outcome of the game depends on the number of shots put in by the GS. Area of play: The opposing team’s goal third, including the goal circle. Common traits: The GS is usually among the taller players of the team, has steady hands and accurate shooting skills. She must also have quick reflexes to catch rebounds. 2. Goal Attack (GA) The Goal Attack (GA) is responsible for setting up offensive plays and scoring goals. She also feeds the ball to the GS to shoot.

She works very closely with the GS, and it is not uncommon to see exceptional camaraderie between the duo. Area of play: The opposing team’s goal third, including the goal circle, and the centre third. Common traits: The GA is usually among the taller players on the team, has strong passing ability and accurate shooting skills. 3. Wing Attack (WA) The Wing Attack (WA) is chiefly responsible for moving the ball down from the centre third to the goal third and for feeding the ball into the shooters’ hands, which includes both the GS and the GA. Their job is to create as many chances to score as possible. Area of play: The opposing team’s goal third, excluding the goal circle, and the centre third. Common traits: The WA is usually the fastest player on court, has solid passing skills, and excellent footwork and ball handling skills. 4. Centre (C) The Centre starts and restarts the game from the centre circle each time a goal is scored. She dictates the pace of her team’s play, creates space on court and is depended upon for both attacking and defending.

She is required to take the offensive by shifting the ball from the defensive area to the attacking side, and also switches to take a defensive stance when required. She is also required to feed the ball to the shooters in the goal circle. Area of play: Anywhere except the goal circles of both teams. Common traits: She has an exceptional fitness level, strong passing skills, and the ability to analyse and change her team’s play if necessary. 5. Wing Defence (WD) The Wing Defence (WD) is always on the defensive, unless there’s a turnover and she has to bring the ball down to her attacking side. She is responsible for defending the opposing team’s players, mainly the WA, and for stopping the ball from reaching the goal circle. She is to intercept at any possible chance. Area of play: The team’s goal third, excluding the goal circle, and the centre third. Common traits: The WD is consistently focused and swift to react. 6. Goal Defence (GD) The chief role of the Goal Defence (GD) is to defend the ball from reaching the opposing shooters in a spot where they are comfortable to shoot. They must always be on the look out for chances to intercept the ball and achieve turnovers.

They also keep a close look on the opposing team’s GA. Area of play: The team’s goal third, including the goal circle and the centre third. Common traits: The GD is usually among the taller players of the team. She must be focused, have quick footwork and be quick to react to catch rebounds. They must also have good anticipation skills so that they can counter their opponent’s set-up and prevent them from scoring. 7. Goal Keeper (GK) The Goal Keeper’s (GK) primary function is to guard the goal circle, defend the opposing shooters and prevent them from scoring goals. She is also responsible for taking throw-ins at the base line. She can be considered as the last line of defence. The GK usually has strong camaraderie with the GD and they work together to defend the opposing shooters, intercept balls and catch rebounds. Area of play: The team’s goal third, including the goal circle. Common traits: The GK is usually among the taller players of the team and has to be extremely alert of the game play in order to intercept and turn the game around. Now that you’ve gotten a clearer idea of how netball is played, you can even start to find out where to play netball recreationally.

Netball is a fairly easy game to pick up and its definitely a great team sport to play! To receive the latest updates on the happenings in the Singapore sports scene, or to find out more about some of the latest programmes on offer at ActiveSG, like our Facebook page here . The Game of Netball - Netball Wellington Centre - SportsTG Netball Wellington Centre So, you want to learn about the fast-paced and exciting sport of NETBALL? Information below provided courtesy of the pages of wikipedia - see web link: - and also in consultation with the International Rules of Netball endorsed by Netball New Zealand. A copy of the rule book can be ordered via Pasgaard Sports Distributors - , Phone: 0800 656 735, Fax: 0800 656 300, Email: sales@sportsdistributors.co.nz. Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. The sport derived from early versions of basketball, and is similar to it in many respects. Netball developed as a distinct sport in the 1890s in England, from where it spread to other countries.

It is popular in many Commonwealth nations and is predominantly played by women. Games are played on a rectangular court divided into thirds, with a raised goal at each short end. The object of the game is for teams to score goals, by passing a ball and shooting it into their team's goal ring. Players are assigned "positions" that define their role within the team and restrict their movement on court. During general play, a player with the ball can take no more than one step before passing it, and must pass the ball or shoot for goal within three seconds. Goals can only be scored by the assigned shooting players. Top level netball games are 60 minutes long and divided into 15-minute quarters, at the end of which the team with the most goals scored wins. Winter competition games for those in Premier 3 grade and below tend to last 40 minutes in duration with 10-minute quarters. The sport is administered globally by the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA), and is reportedly played by over 20 million people in more than 70 countries. Local-level participation is widespread in Commonwealth nations, particularly in schools, although international competition and domestic leagues receive substantial recognition in several countries.

The highest level of international netball includes the Netball World Championships, the netball event at the Commonwealth Games, and the World Netball Series. In 1995, netball also became an Olympic-recognised sport. History of Netball Netball emerged from early versions of basketball and evolved into its own sport as the number of women participating in sport increased. Basketball was invented in 1891 by James Naismith, a Canadian physical education instructor working in Springfield, Massachusetts. His new game was played in his school's gymnasium between two teams of nine players, using an association football ball that was thrown into closed-end peach baskets. Naismith's new game spread quickly across the United States and variations of the rules soon emerged. Senda Berenson, the director of Physical Education at Smith College in Massachusetts, developed modified rules for women in 1892 that would eventually give rise to women's basketball. Around this time separate intercollegiate rules were also developed for men and women. The various basketball rules converged into a universal set in the United States and it wasn't until the game spread to England that the sport of netball emerged.

Martina Bergman-Österberg introduced one version of basketball in 1893 to her female students at the Physical Training College in Hamptstead, London. The rules of the game were modified at the college over several years: the game moved outdoors and was played on grass; the baskets were replaced by rings that had nets; and in 1897 and 1899, rules from women's basketball in the United States were incorporated. Madame Österberg's new sport acquired the name "net ball". The first codified rules of netball were published in 1901 by the Ling Association (later the Physical Education Association of the United Kingdom. From England, netball spread to other countries in the British Empire. Variations of the rules and even names for the sport arose in different areas: "women's (outdoor) basketball" arrived in Australia around the start of the 20th century and in New Zealand from 1906, while "netball" was being played in Jamaican schools by 1909. School netball game in New Zealand, ca. 1920.

From the start, netball was viewed as an appropriate sport for women to play, with restricted movement that appealed to contemporary notions on women's participation in sport, while remaining distinct from potentially rival male sports. Netball became a popular women's sport in countries where it was introduced, and spread rapidly through school systems. School leagues and domestic competitions emerged during the first half of the 20th century, and in 1924 the first national governing body was established in New Zealand. International competition was initially hampered by a lack of funds and varying rules in different countries. Australia and New Zealand contested the first international game of netball in Melbourne on 20 August 1938, which the host nation won 40–11. Efforts began in 1957 to standardise netball rules globally: by 1960 international playing rules had been standardised, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball (later the International Federation of Netball Associations) was formed to administer the sport worldwide. In Australia, confusion existed because both netball and basketball were called "women's basketball".

There was a movement during the 1950s and 1960s to change the name of the game in the country from women's basketball to netball in order to avoid confusion between the two sports. The Australian Basketball Union offered to pay costs involved to alter the name but this was rejected by the netball organisation prior to 1968. In 1970 the Council of the All Australia Netball Association officially changed the name of the game to "netball" in Australia. In 1963, the first international tournament was held in Eastbourne, England. Originally called the World Tournament, it eventually became known as the Netball World Championships. It has been held every four years since, most recently in 2007. The World Youth Netball Championships started in Canberra in 1988, and have been held roughly every four years since. In 1995, the International Olympic Committee designated netball as an Olympic recognised sport. Three years later it debuted at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. Other international competitions also emerged in the late 20th century, including the Nations Cup and the Asian Netball Championship.

What is involved in playing the game of Netball The objective of a game of netball is to score more goals than the opposition. Goals are scored when the ball is passed to a team member positioned in the attacking shooting circle who then shoots the ball through the goal ring. For FUN FERNS (5-7 years): Aim is having fun and learning the basics of the game. Modified equipment is used such as hoops rather than goal posts, numbered bibs instead of positional, and a size 3 - 4 ball. For FUTURE FERNS (8 - 10 years): Emphasis on fun, active participation, and netball specific movement and skill development. Modified equipment is used such as goal posts lowered to 2.6 metres (8' 6"), positional bibs and size 4 balls. For traditional NETBALL (11 years - to adult): Focus on position-specific skill development after establishing a solid base in the basic skills. Full height goal posts of 3.05 metres (10' high) are used and are 380mm (15") in diameter and the ring projects 150mm (6") forward from the pole.

The ring must be of steel rod 15mm (5/8") in diameter, fitted with a net which should preferably be white in colour, clearly visible and open at both ends. Both ring and net form part of the goalpost. Positional bibs and size 5 balls are used. The ball must measure between 690mm - 710mm (27" - 28") in circumference and weigh between 400 grams - 450 grams (14 ounces - 16 ounces). The ball may be of leather, rubber or similar material. Players tend to now specialise in one or two positions or in a certain area of the court ie, shooting, defending, circle. The netball court is to have a firm surface and measures 30.5m (100 feet) long and 15.25m (50 feet) wide" and is divided into thirds. Each court has a center circle with a diameter of 0.9 metres (3 feet) and two goal circles which are semi-circles measuring 4.9 metres (16 feet) in radius.

All lines are part of the court and measure 50mm (2 inches) in width, preferably white and clearly visible. The netball goal posts are placed mid point of each goal line. A game consists of 4 x 15 with an interval of 3 minutes between the first and second and third and fourth quarters and a 5 minute half time interval. Alternatively, games at a lower-level grade are played as 4 x 10 minute quarters with an interval of 90 seconds between quarters and 2 minutes at half time. There is up to 2 minutes of time allowed for injury time per team, per quarter however injury time must be kept on an independent timer otherwise play continues with the communal bell/buzzer. Suitable sports footwear may be worn. Spiked soles are not allowed. Registered playing uniforms, which shall include playing position initials, must be worn at all times. Playing position initials shall be worn above the waist both front and back and shall be 150mm (6") high. No item of jewellery, except a wedding ring and/or medical alert bracelet, can be worn. If either or both are worn, each must be taped. No adornment that may endanger player safety shall be worn.

Fingernails must be short and smooth. Only seven players are allowed on the court for each team and they are each given specific positions. Each player wears a "bib" that shows an abbreviation of their position. The seven positions are Goal Keeper (GK), Goal Defence (GD), Wing Defence (WD), Center (C), Wing Attack (WA), Goal Attack (GA) and Goal Shooter (GS). Players are restricted to certain areas on the court as determined by their position. Goal Attack and Goal Shooter are the only players allowed in the attacking shooting circle and therefore are the only players that are allowed to shoot for goal. Goal Shooter is restricted to the third that includes the shooting circle, while Goal Attack is also allowed in the central third. Goal Keeper and Goal Defence are the only players allowed in the defensive shooting circle and try and prevent the opposition from shooting goals. The Goal Keeper is restricted to the defensive third and tends to mark the Goal Shooter, while Goal Defence can also move into the central third and tends to mark the Goal Attack. Wing Defence is restricted to the defensive two-thirds of the court and Wing Attack to the attacking two-thirds, while Center can move through any of the thirds.

However, neither of these positions are allowed in the shooting circles and their objective is to either move the ball to a player that can shoot or to prevent the opposition from doing so. At the beginning of every quarter and after a goal has been scored, play starts with the player in the Centre position passing the ball from the centre of the court. These "centre passes" alternate between the teams, regardless of which team scored the last goal. When the umpire blows the whistle to restart play, the Goal Attack, Goal Defence, Wing Attack and Wing Defence players can move into the centre third to receive the pass. The centre pass must be caught or touched in the centre third. The ball is then moved up and down the court through passing and a player must touch the ball in each adjacent third of the court. The ball can only be held by a player for three seconds at any time and it must be released before the foot they were standing on when they caught the ball touches the ground again. Contact between players is only permitted provided it does not impede an opponent or the general play. When defending a pass or shot players must be at least 90 centimetres (35 in) away from the player with the ball.

If illegal contact is made, a penalty is given to the team of the player who was contacted, and the player who contacted cannot participate in play until the player taking the penalty has passed or shot the ball. If the ball is held in two hands and either dropped or a shot at goal is missed it can not be picked up by the same player unless it rebounds off the goal. Variations of the game of Netball Indoor netball Indoor netball is a variation of netball, played exclusively indoors, in which the playing court is surrounded on each side and overhead by a net. The net prevents the ball from leaving the court, reducing the number of playing stoppages allowing it to played at a faster pace than netball. Different forms of the game are played. In the 7-a-side version, seven players per team play with rules similar to netball. However, a game can comprise of 15-minute halves with a three-minute break in between or 4 x 8-minute quarters with a two-minute break in between. Indoor netball is played in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and England; the sport is often referred to as "action netball" in the latter two countries.

A 6-a-side version of the sport is also played in New Zealand, with six-player teams comprising two attackers, two centre players and two defenders. The attacking and defending players can each go in one half of the court including the goal circle, while the centre players can play in the whole court except the goal circle. A unique feature of this form of the game is that the attacking and centre players can shoot from outside the goal circle for a two-point goal, while shots taken inside the goal circle still earn one point. A five-a-side game is also common in indoor netball. Teams have a centre position, two attackers and two defenders and all positions can run the entire court. Only the defenders and attackers can enter their respective goal circles and each goal is one point. Fastnet/FiveNet Fastnet is a variation on the rules of netball designed to make games faster and more television-friendly much like 20-20 cricket and Sevens Rugby has worked for their sporting codes. It is employed in the World Netball Series with the ultimate aim of raising the sport's profile and attracting more spectators and greater sponsorship. The game is much shorter with each quarter lasting just six minutes and with only a two minute break between quarters.

Injury time-outs are just 30 seconds although one initial two-minute injury time-out is allowed. The coaches can give instructions from the sideline during play and unlimited substitutions are allowed. Like six-a-side indoor netball, the goal shooter (GS) and goal attack (GA) may shoot goals from outside the shooting circle that count for two points. Umpires raise one arm for a single-point goal and two arms for a two-point goal. Each team can separately nominate one "power play" quarter, in which each goal scored by that team are worth double points and the centre pass is taken by the team that conceded the goal. Tied scores are decided by a penalty shoot-out, similar to those that occur in association football. Children's versions The rules for children are similar to those for adults, except the length of each quarter can be reduced and the height of the goal may be lower. In New Zealand, Netball New Zealand established FUN FERNS for agest 5-7 years with the aim to have fun and learn the basics of the game. Modified equipment is used such as hoops rather than goal posts with numbered bibs instead of positions and a size 3 - 4 ball.

A modification for older children aged 8-10 years is FUTURE FERNS where the emphasis on fun, active participation, and netball specific movement and skill development. Modified equipment is used such as goal posts lowered to 2.6 metres (8' 6"), positional bibs and size 4 balls. In Australia, Fun Net is a version of netball developed by Netball Australia for 5–7 year olds that aims to improve basic netball skills using games and activities. The Fun Net program runs for 8–16 weeks and there are no winners or losers. The goal posts are 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) high and a smaller netball is used. Netball Australia also runs a modified game called Netta aimed at 8–11 year olds. The same goals and ball is used, but all players rotate positions throughout the game so that they all get to play each position. It was created to develop correct passing and catching skills with up to six seconds allowed between catching and passing the ball, instead of the three seconds permitted in the adult game. Most netball players under the age of 11 play this version at netball clubs.

A similar version called High Five Netball is promoted by the All England Netball Association. It is also aimed at 9–11 year old girls, but consists of just five positions. The players swap around these positions during the game and when a player is not on the court, they are expected to help the game in some other way, such as being the timekeeper or scorekeeper. The game is played over four quarters, with each quarter lasting six minutes. Information above provided courtesy of the pages of wikipedia - see web link: - and also in consultation with the International Rules of Netball endorsed by Netball New Zealand. A copy of the rule book can be ordered via Pasgaard Sports Distributors - , Phone: 0800 656 735, Fax: 0800 656 300, Email: sales@sportsdistributors.co.nz. Upcoming events in the next fortnight or so... JANUARY

Question: How many players are there in a netball team?
Answer: SEVEN