Origin of netball and it’s history in South Africa

and girls playing in over 80 countries. Netball is one of the most popular women’s sport in the world with over 20 million women and girls playing in over 80 countries.

In 1891, James Naismith invented basketball when he nailed two peach baskets on opposite ends of the gym in order to keep his boys active during the winter months.

Senda Berenson, a gym teacher from Smith College was one of the first to adapt Naismith’s game to make it more suitable for women. Her version made it more ladylike because their was no contact allowed. Her players were not allowed to: - leave their zones hold the ball for more than 3 seconds bounce it more than 3 times.

Clair Baer, a Physical Education teacher from New Orleans, wrote to Naismith to get the rules and misunderstood his directions. She believed the players were not allowed to move with the ball. That is where the rule of no dribbling began.

From America, it traveled to England. The name was changed to “netball”. As it’s popularity grew it spread through all of the British colonies including South Africa.

In 1925, Phyllis Cardin introduced the game to future teachers at the Johannesburg College of Education. From there it traveled throughout the schools in South Africa.

Netball was popular with the South African’s in part because it didn’t take a lot of equipment or space to play. If there was no concrete, a dirt patch could be used. If there was no nets, buckets would work.

By the 1950’s each province had a Netball association, but it was only for white women. This was due to the apartheid rule. Apartheid was a system of discrimination by the white government towards nonwhites.

Effect of apartheid on netball Fewer facilities, funding and support – in a school in Johannesburg, 145 teams shared 10 courts! In 1977 there were 517 white-only netball facilities in South Africa, while there were only 29 for black/coloured participants. Women even had less support than the men. There was no official associations for black women until 1976 black teams were not allowed to compete against white teams or international teams teams were not allowed to participate in international competitions

As a result of apartheid, other countries such as the U. S As a result of apartheid, other countries such as the U.S. refused to play South Africa in sports. This was called a boycott. It’s purpose was to put pressure on the South African government to change its laws. Post-apartheid South Africa was welcomed back in 1994. Its first overseas tour was to New Zealand.

On the 16th of April 2014, Netball South Africa announced the launch of the first ever semi-professional netball league in South Africa, as well as in Africa.