ball sport played teams seven players development derived early versions basketball began england 1890s international playing rules game women basketball later renamed formed comprises national teams organized global regions games played rectangular court raised goal rings end team attempts score goals passing ball court shooting goal ring players assigned specific positions define roles team restrict movement certain areas court general play player ball hold seconds shooting goal passing player winning team scores goals games minutes long variations developed increase game pace appeal wider audience popular commonwealth nations specifically schools predominantly played women according played million people countries major competitions place including great_britain australia new_zealand major competitions place internationally yearly world series recognised sport played olympics history emerged early versions basketball evolved sport number women participating sports increased basketball invented united_states game initially played indoors teams players association football thrown closed end peach game spread quickly united_states variations rules soon emerged physical education instructor developed modified rules women eventually gave rise women basketball time separate rules developed men women basketball rules universal set united_states introduced version basketball female students london rules game modified college years game moved outdoors played grass replaced rings nets rules women basketball united_states incorporated madame new sport acquired net ball codified rules published later united_kingdom england spread countries british_empire variations rules names sport arose different areas women outdoor basketball arrived australia new_zealand played jamaican schools start considered socially appropriate women play restricted movement appealed contemporary notions women participation sports sport distinct potential rival male sports popular women sport countries introduced spread rapidly school systems school leagues domestic competitions emerged half 20th century national governing body established new_zealand international competition initially hampered lack funds varying rules different countries australia hosted new_zealand international game melbourne august australia won efforts began rules globally international playing rules women basketball later formed administer sport worldwide representatives england australia new_zealand south_africa west indies meeting sri_lanka rules game game spread african countries 1970s south_africa prohibited competing internationally united_states popularity increased 1970s particularly new_york area created game popular nations fiji 1970s created created australia term women basketball refer basketball 1950s 1960s movement arose change australian game women basketball order avoid confusion sports offered pay costs involved alter organisation rejected change officially changed australia international tournament held england originally called later known following tournament organisers declared england learn mistakes past stands right publicity right status desired game emerge school playground sports centre social events held held years recently started canberra held roughly years designated olympic recognised sport years later debuted commonwealth games international competitions emerged late 20th century including nations cup gender recognises women men teams exist areas attract attention sponsors spectators men started popular australia 1980s men championship held new_zealand fiji sent teams compete australian mixed mixed teams australia male participants rugby union countries men national teams include canada fiji jamaica kenya pakistan unlike women elite national levels men mixed teams largely self funded team indonesia competed gay games new_york_city team indonesian national champions gay games sydney sports highest rates athletes participating teams indigenous players seven identifying came places like northern queensland teams players allowed participate divisions including men mixed allowed compete women teams description rules objective game score goals opposition goals scored team member positioned attacking shooting circle shoots ball goal ring goal rings millimetres diameter sit atop metre goal posts metre semi circular shooting circle area end court goal posts located shooting circle team defends shooting circle attacks court metres long metres wide divided thirds ball usually leather rubber measures millimetres weighs grams normal game consists minute quarters played outdoors covered stadium team allowed seven players court player assigned specific position limits movement certain area court worn player contains letter indicating position positions permitted attacking shooting circle shoot goal similarly positions permitted defensive shooting circle try prevent opposition shooting goals players restricted thirds court exception centre court shooting circle beginning quarter goal scored play starts player centre position passing ball centre court centre passes alternate teams regardless team scored goal umpire blows whistle restart play players team centre receive pass centre pass caught touched centre ball moved court passing touched player adjacent court players hold ball seconds time released foot standing caught touches ground contact players permitted opponent general play defending pass shot players centimetres away player ball illegal contact player contacted participate play player taking penalty passed shot ball ball held hands dropped shot goal missed player touch rebounds goal variants indoor indoor variation played exclusively indoors playing court surrounded overhead net net prevents ball leaving court permitting faster play reducing playing different forms indoor exist seven version called action seven players team play rules similar game split minute halves minute break version played australia new_zealand south_africa england version sport played new_zealand centres team play court shooting circles remaining attacking defending players restricted half court including shooting circles attacking centre players shoot outside shooting circle point goal game common indoor players court exception shooting circles restricted certain attacking defending players originally called variation rules designed games faster television friendly promotes raise sport profile attract spectators greater sponsorship game shorter quarter lasting minutes minute break quarters coaches instructions play unlimited allowed like indoor attacking players shoot point goals outside shooting circle team separately nominate power play quarter goal scored team worth double points centre pass taken team conceded goal children adapted ways meet children needs rules children similar adults aspects game length quarter goal height ball size modified fun net version developed seven year olds aims improve basic skills games activities program runs weeks winners goal posts metres high smaller ball runs modified game called aimed year olds goal height ball size adults players rotate positions game permitting player play position created develop passing catching skills rules permit seconds catching passing ball instead seconds permitted adult game players play version clubs version called promoted aimed year old girls includes positions players swap positions game player court expected help game way high minute quarters governance recognised international governing body based manchester england founded organisation initially called responsible compiling world rankings national teams maintaining rules organising major international competitions july associate national members regions region affiliated international competition popular participant sport countries entities membership include switzerland taiwan thailand argentina bermuda united_states commonwealth members ireland hong_kong according million people play countries international tournaments held countries regions annually years school leagues national club competitions organised england australia new_zealand jamaica early 20th century franchise based leagues emerge late 1990s competitions sought increase profile sport respective countries despite widespread local interest participation largely amateur new sports included commonwealth games fixture teams competed australia new_zealand won england jamaica bronze major international tournament africa organised invites teams south_africa tournament hosted country region senior teams compete tournament served world championships south_africa launched new domestic competition called grand series features regional teams south_africa aimed increasing playing time players runs weeks replaces played weeks according captain hoped competition create opportunity players professional hosts tournaments year championship senior championship championship involves divisions teams caribbean islands teams competed rounds round robin matches teams competed jamaica lost tournament decided play tournament includes canada usa caribbean nations tournament serves world championship jamaica high ranking qualify leaves spots teams tournament held years seventh asian games held featured singapore thailand taiwan malaysia sri_lanka hong_kong india pakistan girls years age seventh held major competition europe features teams england wales scotland league created matches broadcast featured pacific games multi sport event participation countries event held years required sports host country chooses required sport missed selection particularly french american territories host games trans competition broadcast television new_zealand australia contested teams australia new_zealand began april succeeding australia new_zealand pre eminent league countries competition held annually april july consisting matches played weeks championship saw semi professional sport countries increased media coverage player salaries major championships major international competitions important competition held years held nations competing inception competition dominated primarily australian new_zealand teams hold titles respectively trinidad team win championship title title won shared new_zealand australia teams finished equal points end round robin finals world series competition national teams ranked organised conjunction national governing bodies competing nations host city local council covers air travel accommodation food local travel expenses teams respective governing bodies cover player held days team playing days round robin format highest scoring teams advance semi finals winners face grand final competition features modified rules likened cricket rugby new format featuring shorter matches modified rules designed game appealing spectators television audiences held annually england gained olympic recognition years lobbying played summer olympics politicians administrators campaigning included near future absence olympics seen community global growth game limiting access media attention funding sources funding sources available recognition including national olympic committees national sport organisations state federal governments
Netball