Netball- a much-loved sport in the UK. However, its sudden and rapid rise in popularity leaves people wondering, where did it all start?

Netball was originally developed as a variation of basketball thought to be more suitable for women.  It was included in the school curriculum in the 1900’s and has been a firm favorite ever since. 

Love it or hate it, most women will recall battling it out on the school netball courts of primary or high school and can quickly answer the question ‘what position did you play?’.

Over the years netball has grown and developed; with regional and national leagues for both juniors and adults in every borough.   

Any given weekend you’ll find sports halls full of juniors playing fast and frantic netball matches and on weeknights you’ll find the halls equally full of fast paced and enthusiastic senior games ranging from ‘back to netball’ teams to premier league teams.

What's more, the sport is no longer exclusively a female domain with many mixed and men's teams joining the sport.

In more recent years, the successful England Roses team has become the envy of many countries with the sport turning professional in 2024 and athletes travelling the globe for European, Commonwealth, and World tournaments, drawing huge crowds and filling arenas. If spectators can’t make it to tournaments, they can now watch from home with all the big games being televised.

Despite its success, the sport is yet to be included in the biggest sporting event in the world; the Olympics.  Its recent growth and surge in popularity has led many enthusiasts demanding its inclusion.  As a national sport of Australia, the netball community is now banding together to campaign for its inclusion in the upcoming Olympic games in Brisbane 2032, so let's hope to see history being made in 7 years time.