Q&A for How to Play Netball

Your feet must remain on the ground at all times, otherwise this is a penalty against your team (it is known as stepping). Rolling onto your tiptoes without taking your foot off the ground is fine unless the umpire says otherwise.

If you are a beginner, it can be difficult for the first few weeks while you're learning the game.

The ball cannot be snatched out of a players hand if they clearly have it in full grasp.

After a goal, get back to the same positions when you first started the game.

Quick reflexes and lots of energy. It helps to be tall, too!

When not in possession of the ball you may move, but must stay in your position zone. When holding the ball, you may only pivot with the foot you land on first. You may lift your landing foot, but cannot put it back down while holding the ball, and must balance on one foot while in possession.

Be eager, try hard, know your stuff (read up on all things netball), play like you're having fun and don't try to do things you can't. It helps when the coach first sees that you are fit and are built well for your position.

You should use your best and tallest players for center, goal shooter, goal keeper and goal attack.

Yes, but it is very very rare. If someone knocks you while you are pivoting, then you may injure your ankle.

Some people's reaction times are slower. If you can't catch the ball, keep practicing and try getting people to pass the ball to you differently.

Yes you can; however, once you have rolled it, you cannot pick it up again and it cannot go over a whole third without someone touching it.

Yes, though it may throw off your alignment and balance. If you have been playing for a while, it can be helpful, but if you haven't seen a season yet, I would practice at home first.

If you are playing competitively, yes. But if you are a beginner and playing for fun, you could tweak it to 5.

Yes.

You can ask your fellow players or your coach for constructive criticism on your playing style. They will be able to tell you how your playing style is currently as well as give you tips to improve in the future.

Practice! Although even the best miss sometimes.

Ask the team! Tell them that they could use someone like you. You can also say why you are the one that is the perfect person for the job!

Be eager, try hard, know your stuff (read up on all things netball), play like you're having fun and don't try to do things you can't.

That is called an interception. This isn't against the rules, so you can intercept as many times as you please, but don't rip the ball out of anyone's hands; you will get a penalty.

Yes, hydration is good for you, and not just for netball. You need to stay hydrated at all times to function properly.

You can take the ball from them by intercepting it when someone is passing to them or when they pass it to someone else. If you catch that ball, it's now yours, so you can pass it to your teammates. If you don't and it goes out of bounds though, it's a turnover to the other team.

No, you cannot move or bounce the ball. Once you get the ball, you can only hold it for 3 seconds, then you have to pass to another person.

I would recommend faking them out by taking one step to the left (or right) and then darting the other way quickly. That should buy you a second or two.

You go back to the same position as before and the ball belongs to the other team. (You take turns to start with the ball.)

You have to stay in the zone of your position. If you step out of the zone, there is a penalty.

Ask somebody to catch the ball for you, or you can put in a hula hoop to use as a goal.

Read up on netball and learn all the rules. Then just practice, practice, practice. It's a cheesy answer, but it's what works. Don't be discouraged at first but practice with friends, family or by yourself. Improve your skills by doing small drills such as drawing a mark on the wall and throwing the ball against it and catching it, then try it from different angles.

You need to constantly practice your accuracy in shooting. You also need to stay fit to have the endurance to last running and still be able to shoot.

Try shooting or attacking. If you want to defend, then train and practice. You'll get better. Also, check out the article on How to Defend in Netball .

Probably center, as you need to catch.