WHO WE ARE
Netball Scotland is the National Governing Body of Netball in Scotland, responsible for the governance and development of the sport across the country. Netball Scotland provides opportunities for its membership of players, clubs, local associations, schools, FE/HE institutions, coaches, umpires, officials and volunteers.
Netball Scotland has grown significantly in recent years with a team working across 3 main areas: Effective Organisation, Development and Performance. Our Effective Organisation team provide business and governance support to the organisation and our membership, with responsibility for all communications to our members and the public, working to enhance the coverage and profile of netball in Scotland. The Development Team, comprising Education, Competitions, Community Impact and our National Manager network, are working alongside all netball clubs and Local Associations, coaches and officials, volunteers and partners to develop a proactive and robust netball athlete pathway and fun, flexible and quality netball opportunities for all. Finally, our Performance team, who are working with our elite and future elite athletes, our coaches and partners to ensure the strongest performance pathway possible and to improve on the performance opportunities within Scottish netball. You can read more about the Netball Scotland Team by clicking here.
To find out about how you can get involved in netball, have a look through our Get Involved section, or contact membership@netballscotland.com
The game of netball is derived from the early development of basketball in the USA. The origin of basketball is traditionally credited to James Naismith, a 30-year-old Canadian immigrant to the USA, who in 1891, invented an indoor game for young men at the School for Christian Workers (later the YMCA) in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Netball was first played in the UK in 1895 at Madame Ostenburg’s College. In the first half of the 20th century, Netball’s popularity continued to grow, with the game being played in many British Commonwealth countries. There were no standard rules at that time with both nine-a-side and five-a-side versions of the game.
World Netball, formally known as The International Netball Federation (INF), and previously as the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA), is the worldwide governing body for netball. Originally created in 1960, World Netball is responsible for the management of netball’s World Rankings, rules of the game, as well as organisation of the Netball World Cup and Netball World Youth Cup events. INF work across 5 regional areas: Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
Netball Europe is the regional body within World Netball that governs netball across Europe. One of Netball Europe’s main objectives is to actively promote and encourage netball and to further its growth and development across the region. In keeping with this aim, the annual Netball Europe Championships (at Under 17, Under 21 and Open levels) provide a performance environment and opportunity for participating members thus raising the profile of the game and supporting member countries in developing netball at all levels and for all age groups.
The Netball World Cup (NWC), previously known as the World Netball Championships, brings together the world’s top teams and represents netball’s flagship event. The World Netball website hosts a wealth of information on the Netball World Cup including all previous winners and hosts. Check it out here.
The event is showcased around the world through a range of broadcast partners introducing Netball to a whole new audience. World Netball Congress is also held alongside the event providing a global forum for Netball nations to come together, innovate, share ideas and celebrate women in sport.
The Netball World Youth Cup is the pinnacle of netball competition for emerging players who are under 21 years of age and the World Netball has held the U21 international competition every four years since 1988.
For more information on this event and its history, head over to the World Netball website.
In 1995 netball became a “recognized” Olympic sport and looks forward to programmed status.
Netball is also a core sport for the Commonwealth Games after first being included in the programme at the 1998 games in Kuala Lumpur where Australia took the Gold medal, New Zealand Silver and England Bronze.
If you would like to find out more about netball’s Commonwealth Games history, head on over to the World Netball website for the details.
