Netball
Age Eligibility, and Participating States and TerritoriesSchool Sport Australia Exchange
(12 years of age and under)
ACT NSW NT QLD SA VIC
School Sport Australia Championship
(15 years of age and under)
ACT NSW NT QLD SA TAS VIC WA
Rules and Guidelines
The Championships had their origins in the Australian State Schools' Basketball Association developed originally for primary schools and played predominately on grass. Interstate Carnivals commenced in 1923 but the first official Australian State Schoolgirls Basketball (Netball) Championship was played at the Practising School, Leichardt Street, Brisbane in 1928. The final, on the afternoon of the 22nd, was before a large crowd. Victoria convincingly beat NSW 23 goals to 4 goals.
Mr John Donald Howie Mayor of Camberwell (Victoria) donated the perpetual trophy following the win of Victoria in the inaugural competition. Mr Howie was a councillor from 1922-1932 and Mayor in 1927 and 1928.
In 1929 the age group for the competition was the age of 15 in the year of the competition. For many years only four states competed (NSW, QLD, SA and Vic).
Interstate tournaments were in sharp contrast to tournaments today. Netball rules and clothing endorsed notions that girls must retain their femininity and modesty if they participate in sport. Netball attire at this time consisted of billowing bloomers, which were caught at the knees, stockings to cover the legs, blouses and a hat or scarf placed around their hair line and tied at the back of the neck. Netball rules endorsed the myth that women should not over exert themselves in sport.
All players except the wing attack were restricted to play in a designated third of the court. Rules prevented play on movement or physical contest. For example, there was no rebounding after missed goals. Missed goals resulted in a throw in by a defence. Furthermore a throw in from the sideline required your opponent to stand next to you (outside the court) and no player was allowed to be within nine feet of the thrower. To prevent unbecoming behaviour, the game was a 'silent' game with only the captain permitted to speak on court.
In 1930 the following rules were altered:
1. The ball shall be bounced in the centre of the field with sufficient force to reach the head height of players.
2. Attention to be called to the centre girls to stand erect at ring.
3. Goal throwing – the goal thrower may alternate feet after catching the ball.
There have been two breaks in the competition continuity with an outbreak of infantile paralysis in 1937 and the Second World War from 1939-1949. The Secondary Championship has continued unbroken since 1950.
In 1950, as a result of a suggestion from the late Mr. R. McGregor, General Manager of the Victorian State Schools Amateur Athletics Association to the Australian State schools’ Basketball Association Council Conference held during the Carnival staged by the NSW Amateur Athletics Association in Sydney, a record book was commenced. Records from 1950 show there was a junior and senior component, with activities spanning almost two weeks!
During the 1950 conference Tasmania, which was participating for the first time was accepted as an ‘organised school body’ within the terms of the Constitution. For 1950, no trophy was available for the Junior Section so the Council decided that each State should contribute towards the purchase of a cup to be known as ‘The Interstate Girls Basketball Trophy – Junior Division’ and be for annual competition. The senior teams played for the ‘Howie Cup’.
In 1954 the game consisted of ten minute quarters with intervals of three, five and three minutes. The competition became All-Australian (all states but no territories) with the entry of Western Australia in 1956. This tournament was held in Brisbane and the Western Australian team travelled nearly 4000 miles by train, which took them nearly a week! Because of the changing railway gauge, the passengers and freight changes, they had to change trains at Kalgoorlie, Port Pirie, Adelaide, Melbourne, Albury and Sydney.
Australian Schoolgirls tournaments were organised to combine both a netball competition and an educational tour. When girls weren't playing they attended lessons at the local school or made educational day trips. In Brisbane the girls visited Toowoomba, the Olympic Tyre and Rubber Works in Geebung and took a trip to the South Coast of Queensland.
By the 1956 tournament, the rules and clothing had modified to permit some freedom of movement. Hats, knee-length bloomers and stockings had been discarded. Sports tunics closely resembled box pleated school uniforms which covered the blouse and were drawn in at the waist by a cord or sash. The tunic was required to be seven inches from the ground when kneeling. Regular checks were carried out by netball associations at the beginning of each season. Girls were required to line up, kneel down and have their hem length checked.
By 1960 there were 6 states competing regularly at various venues in rotation, with a 'senior' and 'junior' Australian team being selected to play two other teams - 'The Rest'. This was the beginning of the selection of an Australian representative team, a tradition that still continues today at the 15 and Under Championships. In 1961 all states fielded both Junior and Senior teams – a total of 120 girls.
In 1964, after a recommendation from the Directors of Education it was moved that the Junior team be withdrawn from future carnivals so the teams were reduced to one per state. The following year the Council unanimously decided that the Junior Trophy would remain in the hands of the state that had won it the most times. Consequently it is held by SA who had won it 8 times since 1950. SAPSASA still have the trophy in their cabinet today!
In 1965 Council decided that that the playing time would be increased from four quarters of ten minutes to four quarters of fifteen minutes.
With the gradual rise of age limits for participants, the staging of these competitions became difficult for a Primary School Body and so in 1967 the Secondary School Sports Body took over responsibility increasing the age to 16. Also in 1967 there were now two umpires for each netball game.
In 1968 saw the re-establishment of Interstate Exchanges at a Primary School Level. South Australia made exchanges with Tasmania (Basketball in Hobart). In 1969 South Australia received Queensland in Football and Basketball. It was hoped that other states would soon compete also and bring about a resumption of Australia-wide Interchanges. The team size in 1969 was 10 players and their maximum age was 13 during the year of the carnival.
1970 was the year that Basketball was renamed as Netball.
It took until 1971 for the first Australian Netball Exchange to be held in Launceston, Tasmania. At the time the Primary Netball and Australian Rules Football were hosted together and this joint event continued together until 1995.
1973 was the first time that Secondary Netball and Hockey were programmed together, with four states involved (SA, WA, Tas, Vic) with both the Hockey and Netball competitions. 1977 saw the largest possible competition as included for the first time where all the States of Australia and the two Territories. This continued until 1989 when the first time since the inception of the Secondary Hockey/Netball Championships, the netball and hockey were held in completely different locations; netball in Launceston and hockey in Hobart.
In 1982 three substitutes could be used but they could only take the court at half time. In 1987 officials from all teams voted to enable all players to be interchanged at any of the intervals, a revolutionary move that was to be adopted by Netball Australia in the nineties. This enabled the coach to make more use of all of their players.
1990 was the final year for the combined Secondary Hockey/Netball Championships. Julie Hewson (WA) became the first National Secretary for Netball and reported that hockey and netball would be separating and using different By-Laws. For 16 years all eight affiliates had supported the combined Championships - quite a remarkable record in women's sport.
1991 was the first official Australian Secondary Schools' Netball Championships since 1972. Unfortunately Tasmania withdrew from all School Sport Interstate Competitions, not competing in a Netball Championship for 8 years. This was due to the Education Department withdrawing funding from School Sport.
1991 was also the first time that Netball Australia (AANA) had direct involvement through the presence of Jill McIntosh who was then the National Coaching Director. Jill who went on to become the National Coach attended the Secondary Championship (despite her hectic schedule) for the next thirteen years. She was a past player (1970) of this Championship, being a member of the victorious Western Australia side and earning selection in the All Australia Schoolgirls’ Team. In 1991 a Merit Award was introduced. This was awarded to a skilful player who had just missed out on the Australian representative selection, but showed potential.
This liaison has continued to strengthen each year with the involvement of Netball Australia representatives at every Championship since this time. From 1997 through to 1999 Janet Bothwell (the then National Coaching Director) conducted a Professional Development session for the state officials. This has become a very important component of this Championship and greatly appreciated by all involved.
For the first time in the history of the Championship, the teams participated in finals at the end of the round in 1992. Not only did this bring a climax to the excellent competition it also gave all the teams a chance to compete for specific positions. 1995 saw the introduction of an Umpires' Convenor appointed by Netball Australia, ensuring the appointment of umpires from a neutral pool was in line with other Netball Australia National Championships. Chris Burton (National Umpires’ Director) and a past player at this Championship has been instrumental in ensuring this continues.
In 1995 with the introduction of the National Junior Sport Policy interstate competitions conducted at the Primary level needed the endorsement of the National Sporting Organisation to continue and as Netball Australia would not endorse the Primary Exchange this competition was disbanded until 1999. During these years tri state/territory competitions were conducted between South Australia, Victoria and Australian Capital Territory and another between New South Wales, Queensland and Northern Territory.
The Merit Award was replaced with the Players' Player Award in 1996. At the completion of each game, players individually voted for an opposition player based on court behaviour, execution of skills and contribution to their team.
1998 saw the introduction of up to 12 players instead of 10 players who could compete for each state or territory at the National Championships; this also came in line with all other Netball Australia Championships. It added another dimension to the game as coaches’ work to use all 12 players during the minor rounds. This also gave more players the opportunity to compete for their state at this level.
In 1999 School Sport Australia gave permission for the Primary Exchange to continue and the event was conducted in Katherine, Northern Territory. To encourage the number of primary aged students at this event all states/territories involved sent 2 teams of 10 players. Since 1999 the Exchange has invited school aged umpires to accompany teams encouraging the development of junior umpires.
In 2000 Northern territory could not afford to send two teams so South Australia fielded 3 teams. From 2001 the Primary Exchange converted back to one team of 12 players per state/territory with ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA and VIC competing.
The Secondary Championship in 1999 once again saw the return to a truly National Championship with Tasmania rejoining the competition. The team coordinated by Netball Tasmania proudly represented their State.
2001 saw the renaming of the Championship to the School Sport Australia 15 and Under Netball Championship and the Exchange to the School Sport Australia 12 and Under Netball Exchange. This was to come in line with the Netball Australia Underage Championships and the School Sport Australia sport by-laws and guidelines.
After two years of planning the named Australia Team competed in a Trans Tasman competition in New Zealand in 2002. The inaugural team of 12 players from four states competed in New Zealand against a New Zealand Schools Representative team, a Maori team (Aotearoa) and a Pacific Islands team (Pasifika). After a very closely fought out final against New Zealand our team won by 1 goal on the same day that Australia beat New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. A great effort considering the New Zealand girls were on average two years older than our girls. Congratulations to Cathy Fellows (VIC), Marg Smith (SA), Julie Prendagast (VIC), Joanne Sutton (NSW) and Stacey Campton (ACT) the inaugural coach, manager, co-captains and umpire.
A Partnership Agreement was signed between Netball Australia and School Sport Australia in 2002 with both parties agreeing to work co-operatively and in partnership in the promotion and development of school netball programs at both the state and national levels. 2003 saw the appointment of all umpires to the Secondary Championship according to Netball Australia policy strengthening the link between School Sport Australia and Netball Australia. This gave another opportunity for T.I.D umpires to experience competition at a National level. It also greatly assisted the players, as the funding of the umpires was no longer part of the levy.
In 2004 the International Schoolgirls Netball Challenge was hosted in Adelaide an extension of the Trans Tasman Challenge with 7 teams competing. This was the first time an Indigenous School Sport Australia team competed along with School Sport Australia, Netball New Zealand, Aotearoa, Pasifika, Cook Islands and Bastion High School from South Africa. It is hoped that this competition would continue to grow with IFNA (International Netball Federation) showing interest in supporting this event.
2005 saw a return of the Championship to Launceston, Tasmania. It had last been held in Tasmania in 1989, 16 years ago. It was a long awaited return.
In 2006 the Secondary Championship Players’ Player Award was renamed the Amy Safe (Gillett) Award. Amy was tragically killed in a cycling accident overseas when representing Australia at the World Cycling Championship. She had previously represented South Australia in 1990 and 1991 at this Championship. As a 15 year old when asked what were the characteristics of a top sportsperson she wrote, " Determination, ambition to succeed, abilitiy to accept decisions and any failures and continue on." This she did as Amy represented Australia in both rowing and cycling and South Australia in netball and triathlon. She is sadly missed but will now always be remembered at this Championship.
The International Schoolgirls Netball Challenge returned to Adelaide in 2006 with Singapore entering for the first time. Congratulations to the 2006 selected School Sport Australia team which competed in Auckland New Zealand in 2007 beating Netball New Zealand by 1 goal in the grand final. The team officials were co-coaches Kristy Keppich-Birrell (VIC), Joanne MacDermid (NSW) and manager Bernie Toohey (QLD) with the Captain Ashton Hurn (SA).
2008 saw the International Schoolgirls Netball Challenge hosted once again in Adelaide. Sri Lanka competed for the very first time.
Many of our Australian representatives in netball have had their first Championship experience at this level and it is important to note that a number of our former competitors have been most successful at International level. Current Australian Team members who have taken part in the School Sport Australia Netball Championship are Mo’onia Gerrard (1995), Bianca Chatfield (1996, 97), Natalie Medhurst (1998,99), Clare McMeniman (1999, 2000), Renae Hallinan (2000, 01), Julie Prendergast (2000, 2001) Kimberlee Green (2000, 01), Kate Beveridge (2000) and Caitlin Twaites (2001).
Since 1928, there have been many rule changes and netball is under continuous reappraisal. Today's schoolgirls enjoy netball rules which encourage fast and vigorous play. The movement between thirds permits greater mobility. Rules allow, and rebounding from missed goal shots almost demands, much more physically demanding contests for the ball. Agility and freedom of movement complemented by sports uniforms allows this freedom.
Netball has changed dramatically from the first tournament in Brisbane in 1928 but the renewal of friendships and the reestablishing of new friendships plus the importance of the interstate competition have remained as important features of both the School Sport Australia Netball Championship and Exchange.
Paula Nielsen
National Netball Secretary 1993-2008 (including extracts from "Netball Looking Back" by Jan Ryan, Western Australia.)
| PREVIOUS WINNERS OF THE SECONDARY CHAMPIONSHIPS 'HOWIE CUP' | |
| 1928 | Victoria |
| 1929 | South Australia |
| 1930 | Victoria |
| 1931 | Victoria |
| 1932 | Victoria |
| 1933 | Victoria |
| 1934 | Victoria |
| 1935 | Victoria |
| 1936 | Victoria |
| 1937 | No Team Recorded (due to outbreak of infantile paralysis) |
| 1938 | Queensland |
| 1939 - 49 | No Team Recorded (due to Second World War) |
| 1950 | Tasmania |
| 1951 | Victoria |
| 1952 | Tasmania |
| 1953 | Queensland |
| 1954 | Victoria |
| 1955 | South Australia |
| 1956 | Tasmania |
| 1957 | Western Australia |
| 1958 | Western Australia |
| 1959 | Western Australia |
| 1960 | Tasmania |
| 1961 | South Australia |
| 1962 | South Australia |
| 1963 | South Australia |
| 1964 | Victoria |
| 1965 | South Australia |
| 1966 | South Australia |
| 1967 | Western Australia |
| 1968 | Western Australia |
| 1969 | Western Australia |
| 1970 | Western Australia |
| 1971 | Western Australia |
| 1972 | South Australia |
| 1973 | Victoria/Western Australia |
| 1974 | Victoria |
| 1975 | Victoria |
| 1976 | New South Wales |
| 1977 | Victoria |
| 1978 | New South Wales |
| 1979 | New South Wales |
| 1980 | New South Wales |
| 1981 | New South Wales |
| 1982 | Victoria |
| 1983 | New South Wales |
| 1984 | New South Wales |
| 1985 | New South Wales |
| 1986 | South Australia |
| 1978 | Queensland/ Victoria |
| 1988 | Western Australia |
| 1989 | Queensland |
| 1990 | South Australia |
| 1991 | South Australia |
| 1992 | New South Wales |
| 1993 | New South Wales |
| 1994 | South Australia |
| 1995 | Victoria |
| 1996 | Victoria |
| 1997 | Victoria |
| 1998 | New South Wales |
| 1999 | Queensland |
| 2000 | Victoria |
| 2001 | Victoria |
| 2002 | Victoria |
| 2003 | New South Wales |
| 2004 | New South Wales |
| 2005 | Victoria |
| 2006 | New South Wales |
| 2007 | New South Wales |
| 2008 | New South Wales |
| PREVIOUS WINNER OF THE PRIMARY EXCHANGE 'INTERSTATE GIRLS BASKETBALL TROPHY - JUNIOR DIVISION' | |
| 1950 | Queensland |
| 1951 | Victoria |
| 1952 | Tasmania |
| 1953 | Queensland |
| 1954 | South Australia |
| 1955 | South Australia |
| 1956 | Queensland |
| 1957 | Western Australia |
| 1958 | Western Australia |
| 1959 | South Australia |
| 1960 | South Australia |
| 1961 | South Australia |
| 1962 | South Australia |
| 1963 | Western Australia |
| 1964 | South Australia |
| PREVIOUS WINNERS OF THE PRIMARY EXCHANGE CHARLES EBERT TROPHY (introduced 1971) | |
| 1971 | New South Wales |
| 1972 | New South Wales |
| 1973 | South Australia |
| 1974 | South Australia |
| 1975 | South Australia |
| 1976 | South Australia |
| 1977 | New South Wales |
| 1978 | New South Wales |
| 1979 | New South Wales/ South Australia |
| 1980 | Queensland |
| 1981 | South Australia |
| 1982 | New South Wales |
| 1983 | South Australia |
| 1984 | South Australia |
| 1985 | South Australia |
| 1986 | Queensland |
| 1987 | Queensland |
| 1988 | South Australia |
| 1989 | South Australia |
| 1990 | South Australia/ Queensland |
| 1991 | Queensland |
| 1992 | Queensland |
| 1993 | Victoria |
| 1994 | Victoria |
| 1995 - 98 | Not held due to National Sports Junior Policy |
| 1999 | South Australia |
| 2000 | New South Wales |
| 2001 | New South Wales |
| 2002 | Victoria |
| 2003 | Victoria |
| 2004 | Victoria |
| 2005 | South Australia |
| 2006 | South Australia |
| 2007 | New South Wales |
| 2008 | Queensland |
| SCHOOL SPORT AUSTRALIA NETBALL LIFE MEMBERS | ||
| 1991 | Nina Higgina | Queensland |
| 1991 | Betty Bennett | Victoria |
| 1992 | Doris Millar | Victoria |
| 1994 | Jan Sutherland | South Australia |
| 1995 | Betty Sexton | South Australia |
| 1999 | Paula Nielsen | South Austraia |
| SCHOOL SPORT AUSTRALIA SERVICE TO SPORT AWARDS (NETBALL) | ||
| 2001 | Helen Black | Northern Territory |
| 2001 | Marie Kelly | New South Wales |
| 2003 | John Deany | Victoria |
| 2004 | Joanne Kenny | New South Wales |
| 2006 | Bill Adams | Northern Territory |
| 2006 | Julie Kellam | Northern Territory |
