Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball

Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball (later renamed the International Federation of Netball Associations

International Federation of Netball Associations

International Federation of Netball Associations is the governing body for netball. The organisation has five regional areas: Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Leadership meets every two years. IFNA is responsible for world rankings, maintaining the rules for netball and organising the...

 (IFNA)) was formed. As of 2011, IFNA comprises more than 60 national teams organized into five global regions.

Games are played on a rectangular court with raised goal rings at each end.