This guide highlights all the key netball health and safety rules and the importance of proper prep work - for all players 'young and old'.
The checklist of safety considerations and protective equipment precautions will help keep you safe on court and ready for more action.
Getting regular, healthy exercise is particularly beneficial for most individuals. It can improve weight control and it burns lots of calories.
Moreover, playing sports and exercising helps to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. So, there is no doubt that playing netball has many benefits for living a healthy lifestyle.
It gets better:
Apart from the physical health aspect, taking part in a sport can also help with mental health issues. For many, playing netball is a chance to let your hair down and have some good clean fun!
Netball is a team sport played in a controlled environment. The fast-flowing game tests your mobility skills and physical dexterity.
Because of this, there are several netball health and safety rules and regulations to be aware of. Netball injuries associated with balance, overstretching, and pivoting are most prevalent.
Players perform a lot of pivoting and twisting movements. The rules and regulations of netball allow you to take one step and 3 seconds to pass the ball.
As a result, your legs will be doing most of the physical work during a game. So, beginners are likely to find it a strenuous activity until their leg muscles get stronger.
Put another way:
In netball, preparation of the body starts with your general physical health. For this reason, always ask yourself:
The most important step in netball preparation takes place ahead of the game. All professional athletes warm up and warm down - and you should too!
Note: Netball is a fast-moving sport with a demand for high-cardio workouts. Always consult your doctor for a professional evaluation before you start training and playing.
All good netball players work on their balance. You will not become an effective player unless you have balanced stability and movement.
Stopping short (and abruptly) is an integral part of the game. Pivoting and spinning around are part of the balancing techniques.
This part is important:
The rules allow for some physical contact, but it cannot be 'forced'. You cannot use physical force to hurt or endanger another player (e.g. according to marking and obstruction rules).
You will be doing a lot of jumping. Hence, you may benefit from some netball coaching drills to steer you in the right direction.
Note: Learning how to jump, and then land with soft knees, is a crucial part of netball health and safety techniques.
Anyone who is serious about playing netball needs to use the proper safety gear. So, your ankle and knee joints need lots of shock absorption from a quality pair of netball shoes and socks.
Good quality sports footwear is a standard part of all netball safety equipment. They help to cushion bone joints when you jump and land.
Some players choose to wear compression sleeves or support braces. Wearing them can help to stabilize weak or injured ankles, knees, or wrists.
Note: The Gilbert Spectra netball shoes are a popular choice of footwear worn by many of the top female players.
As long as the playing area is safe you can play netball indoors or outdoors. However, some occupational health and safety regulations in netball relate to specifications of the court.
Under the INF codified rules, players must not wear anything that may endanger themselves or any of the other players, summarised as:
Typical causes of netball injuries are overexertion, slips, falls, and awkward landings. Even so, players can also get injured after a collision (e.g. physical contact) or getting hit by the ball.
Among the common types of injuries are bruises, fractures, dislocations, and sprains (e.g. ankles, fingers, hands, knees, and wrists).
Netball is good physical exercise and a whole body workout. That means it can increase muscle tone and it may actually help in the prevention of type 2 diabetes.
And how many calories do you burn playing netball?
Most netball players will burn 450 calories in an average session. Exercising also helps to improve mental health and your general mood.
Also, social team sports and games offer great networking opportunities. Thus, it offers you a chance to meet people, go places, and make new friends.
Note: The short YouTube video has tips about netballs, including what type to buy and how to take good care of your kit. For example, the Mitre UltraGrip Match Netball with ball pump (available in white, cyan, and orange colours).
Netball Safety Rules for Equipment and Players