A few days back while sitting in Auckland at a sports pub overlooking the Americas Cup yachts, my husband and I enjoyed a cold Macs Beer (brewed in NZ) and relaxed. In the background, one TV showed a Rugby match and the other a women’s basketball game. I was surprised to see that basketball was popular in NZ, especially women’s considering that even in the US, Women’s Basketball barely gets any TV time. But as I tried to determine the teams, I noticed a few things about this basketball game:

1) There was no backboard.
2) No one dribbled the ball–just passed it.
3) The player with the ball always kept one foot planted (see cartoon drawing below)
4) No one was really blocking the attempted shots

What is going on here?

I flagged a waitress down and she was nice enough to answer the initial 29 questions I had on the what and why of this sport called Netball.

I have been stumped by sports before (Curling and Cricket come to mind) but I have never even heard of Netball. I felt a bit lame when I looked into it and found out it is played in the UK, Australia and other places too.

Some of the rules are similar to Basketball, but the other rules appear a bit wonky to the new fan:

• Only one player/position on each team can score (the GA or GS in the below diagram)
• Each team tries to pass the ball to their goal circle–the only place where a shot can be made (the ball is a cross between a rugby ball and a basketball).
• A player who has caught the ball must play it or shoot for goal within three seconds
• The ball may be bounced once to gain control

• There must be room for a third player between the hands of thrower and catcher. Seems to be a bit unfair…

• Having caught the ball, a player may land or stand on:

o One foot – while the landing foot remains grounded, the second foot may pivot.
o Hopping or dragging the landing foot is not allowed. Or dribbling.

• The defender may be close to the shooter, but not touching, providing that no effort is made to intercept or defend the ball and there is no interference with the opponents throwing or shooting action. Arms must be in a natural position, not outstretched. This is the one that gets me. When watching this it appears to be such an easy game, but the women that play are totally in shape and out of breath.
• Intimidation: of any kind, is classed as obstruction. I guess no trash talking.

I’m not sure that I will ever play Netball but while in NZ I have become fascinated with this very popular sport. I think my favorite exposure to it was when I saw school kids playing a pick-up game.

Grant served in the Korean War and WWII where he received a Purple Heart among other medals. After his service he was a school principal in Washington State and a husband and father to 3 children (my dad being one).

Grant died of a heart attack at 45 when my dad was just 11. I have heard many stories about this man and my dad always spoke of him — making my siblings and I feel like we did know our grandfather–and we hoped, he knew us.

my grandfather back row, 2nd from left on his war time basketball team.

my grandfather with his kids, holding his new baby (my aunt Julie). My dad is the shorter boy standing in front of my uncle Jeff.