Walking Netball

 

Walking netball is played on the same court layout as regular netball and involves two teams consisting of the same seven playing positions. All players are on court at all times.

As with most sports, each position has a clear role to support their team’s overall success:

 

Areas each player may enter

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• Goal Shooter (GS) – this position aims to move into free space to receive the ball from their teammates and score a goal in the net. The GS is only allowed to the top of their team’s goal third and inside the goal circle.

• Goal Attack (GA) – aims to collect the ball from the WA or C and either pass to their team’s GS or shoot themselves. The GA is allowed everywhere except the opposing team’s goal third and goal circle.

• Wing Attack (WA) – aims to collect the ball and deliver it safely to either their team’s GA or GS in the goal circle.

• Centre (C) – this position starts the game in by throwing the ball from the centre circle. The C is allowed anywhere on court apart from the two goal circles.

• Wing Defence (WD) – aims to defend opposition players and intercept balls to hand possession back to their team. The WD is allowed in the centre third, the opposing team’s goal third, but not the goal circle.

• Goal Defence (GD) – aims to defend, intercept, and prevent the opposition from passing the ball into their goal circle. The GD can go anywhere except their own team’s goal third and goal circle.

• Goal Keeper (GK) – aims to defend, intercept, and prevent the opposition shooting the ball into their net. The GK is only allowed in the opposing team’s goal third and goal circle.

Just as in standard netball, the aim of the game is to get the ball to either the Goal Shooter (GS) or Goal Attack (GA) so that they can score goals in the net (which is similar to a basketball hoop but with no backboard). The game is won by scoring more goals than the opposing team.

However, some standard rules and regulations have been modified for walking netball to make it more low-impact and accessible.

Below is an overview of the main rules of walking netball.

• Instead of running across the courts and jumping to intercept balls, players can only walk and must never have both feet off the ground at the same time.

• Once a player receives the ball, they can take one to two steps while it’s in their possession before they have to pass or shoot.

• In regular netball, if a player takes another step with their landing foot, this counts as footwork and will result in a penalty being awarded to the opposing team.

• Players can keep possession of the ball for up to four seconds before they have to pass or shoot. This differs from regular netball, where players can hold the ball for three seconds at a time only.

• The extra second has been granted to allow players more decision-making time and encourage improved balance, coordination, and ball placement.

• Substitutions can be made between quarters or during game play. There’s no limit on the number of substitutions that can be made in walking netball.

• When defending, players must stand 3ft (0.9 metres) away from their opposition. There’s no player-to-player contact allowed.

Each game of walking netball includes four quarters (which are recommended to last six minutes each). Players get a one-minute break after the first quarter and third quarter, and a three-minute break at halftime. However, these are just general guidelines and games can be shorter or longer depending on the competition and circumstances.

Walking netball has been designed to make sure that everyone can play the game regardless of age, fitness level, or previous netball experience.

Like other walking-sports, walking netball is ideal for people who want to continue playing their sport, but can’t keep up with the dynamic pace of regular netball, either as a result of age or injury.

Walking netball offers a fun, low-impact, and accessible form of a sport that’s much-loved by many.

For lots of people, whether due to injury or age, the quick-paced, intense nature of regular netball can easily become inaccessible. But walking netball allows people to continue enjoying the sport they love while significantly reducing the risk of injuries, such as falls or twisted ankles.

Equally, for those who’ve never played any form of netball and are simply looking for a new way to stay active, walking netball can be ideal. It’s an effective low-impact cardiovascular workout which can help to maintain a healthy heart, lower blood pressure, and burn fat. Walking netball can also improve balance and coordination, and promote healthy weight maintenance.

Alongside the physical pointers of the sport, there are also many mental and social benefits. Joining a walking netball team is a brilliant way to meet new people, boost your social life, and enjoy being part of a team.