At Mediterranean Sport Village, we are delighted to announce a new addition to our facilities: Netball. Originating from the United Kingdom and widely played across the Commonwealth, Netball has made its debut at our venue through the efforts of Saint Joseph’s College from Ipswich. Our facilities have provided the ideal setting and climate for this training camp.

But what exactly is Netball? Let's delve deeper into this sport, one that we're sure to see much more of at Mediterranean Sport Village.

Origin and Present Day of Netball

The origins of Netball date back to the late 19th century, coinciding with the emergence of basketball. It wasn't until the 1960s that the first rules and regulations were drafted, leading to the formation of the International Netball Federation (INF). Netball quickly gained popularity across the Commonwealth, particularly in schools and predominantly among women.

The International Netball Federation estimates that over 20 million people from more than 80 different countries are interested in and actively participate in Netball. Notable leagues include the Netball Superleague in the UK, the Suncorp Super Netball in Australia, and the A Premiership in New Zealand. Internationally, events such as the Netball World Championships and the Commonwealth Games, held every four years, as well as the Quad Series and the Fast 5 Series, held annually, showcase the sport's global appeal.

Australia leads the way in Netball, having won the World Championships 12 times, followed by New Zealand with 5 titles. Trinidad and Tobago, with one championship, stand as one of the most successful teams in Netball's world championships.

Netball: The Game and Positions

The primary objective of Netball, akin to basketball, is to score by passing the ball through the hoop positioned at the end of the court. This scoring occurs when a player, positioned in the attacking shooting circle, successfully throws the ball through the hoop. Unlike basketball, Netball hoops lack backboards, reducing the reference point for scoring.

The court is divided into three sections, dictating player movement during the game based on their positions. Each team consists of 7 players on the court, divided into the following positions: goalkeeper (GK), goal defense (GD), wing defense (WD), center (C), goal attack (GA), wing attack (WA), and goal shooter (GS).

Rules and Regulations of Netball

A Netball match comprises four quarters of 15 minutes each. After each quarter and after each score, the game restarts from the center of the court. When the referee blows the whistle, four players from each team can move into the center third to receive the ball.

Player movements are restricted depending on their positions. The attacking shooting circle can only be occupied by the goal attack and goal shooter, the only area from which scoring is permitted. Similarly, only the goalkeeper and goal defense can enter the defensive circle to prevent the opposing team's score. Other players are confined to two-thirds of the court, except for the center who can move across any third except the scoring circles.

Additional rules of Netball include:

• Players must move without the ball; they cannot move with the ball in hand.
• Physical contact is prohibited. Defenders must intercept passes or block shots without touching the opponent.
• Defenders must maintain 0.9 meters from their opponents.

Netball at Mediterranean Sport Village

Saint Joseph’s College has become the first Netball team to visit our facilities for training. Why did they choose us?

Firstly, for our outstanding facilities at the Resort. They found top-notch accommodations, ensuring the comfort and rest of the athletes, a buffet service with a wide variety of products, a spa for relaxation after training, convention rooms for team meetings and session preparations, all conveniently located alongside the playing field within our sports area.

This has been the experience of our first Netball team at Mediterranean Sport Village, and we are confident that soon, we will host many more groups and teams of this sport, and even tournaments.

If you want to know more about staging an event at our facilities, contact us!