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World Netball
Worldwide netball governing body
Worldwide netball governing body
| Field | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| name | World Netball | |
| native name | {{plainlist | * Poitarawhiti o te Ao (Māori) |
| abbrev | WN | |
| logo | File:World Netball.png | |
| sport | Netball | |
| othersports | Fast5 netball | |
| jurisdiction | Worldwide | |
| membership | 80+ (2025) | |
| founded | 1960 | |
| aff | Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations | |
| International Olympic Committee | ||
| International World Games Association | ||
| location | MediaCityUK | |
| Salford Quays | ||
| Salford | ||
| Greater Manchester | ||
| M50 2AB | ||
| England | ||
| president | Liz Nicholl | |
| vicepresident | Shirley Hooper | |
| chiefexec | Fiona Harold | |
| url | https://netball.sport/ |
- Wêreldnetbal (Afrikaans)}} International Olympic Committee International World Games Association Salford Quays Salford Greater Manchester M50 2AB England World Netball is the worldwide governing body for netball. It is responsible for organising the Netball World Cup, Netball at the Commonwealth Games, the Fast5 Netball World Series and the Netball World Youth Cup. It also publishes the World Netball Rankings and maintains the rules of netball. It was originally founded in 1960 as the International Federation of Women's Basketball and Netball Associations. After members adopted the name "netball" for the sport, the organisation was renamed the International Federation of Netball Associations. Between 2012–13 and 2021, it was known as the International Netball Federation, before it adopted its current name.
Headquarters
World Netball is based at MediaCityUK in Salford, England.
History
In 1957, during Australia's tour of England, discussions took place about standardising the rules of netball. In 1960, this led to representatives from Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Wales and the West Indies meeting in Colombo, Ceylon to establish the International Federation of Women's Basketball and Netball Associations. The modern rules of netball were established at this inaugural meeting. It was also agreed to organise the 1963 World Netball Championships. By the 1970s, netball was no longer referred to as "women's basketball" and national associations, such as the All Australia Netball Association, began to the drop the old name for the sport from their names. The world organisation was also renamed the International Federation of Netball Associations. In 2012–13, the IFNA again changed its name, this time to the International Netball Federation. In June 2021, the INF announced an official rebrand and became known as World Netball.
Competitions
Current
| Years | Competition | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963– | url=https://netball.sport/events-and-results/netball-world-cup/ | title=Netball World Cup | publisher=World Netball | access-date=10 July 2025}} |
| 1990– | url=https://netball.sport/commonwealth-games | title=Commonwealth Games | publisher=World Netball | accessdate=20 July 2021}} |
| 1988– | url=https://netball.sport/events-and-results/netball-world-youth-cup/ | title=Netball World Youth Cup | publisher=World Netball | access-date=10 July 2025}} |
| 2009– | title=Fast5 Netball World Series | url=https://netball.sport/events-and-results/fast5/ | access-date=25 June 2025 | publisher=World Netball}} |
| 2023– | url=https://netball.sport/events-and-results/commonwealth-youth-games/ | title=Fast5 Netball at the Commonwealth Youth Games | publisher=World Netball | access-date=16 July 2025}} |
Former
| Years | Competition | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–2018 | url=https://netball.sport/events-and-results/world-university-netball/ | title=World University Netball | publisher=World Netball | access-date=10 July 2025}} |
| 1985–1993 | url=https://www.theworldgames.org/sports/Netball-49 | title=World Games – Netball | publisher=www.theworldgames.org | access-date=3 March 2020}} |
Olympics
Main article: Netball and the Olympic Movement
Since 1995, World Netball has been recognised by the International Olympic Committee. World Netball is also a member of the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations. However, IOC recognition does not mean automatic inclusion in the Summer Olympic Games. World Netball applied for netball to be a part of the 2020 Summer Olympics but was unsuccessful. In August 2021, World Netball declared its intention to work with Netball Australia to make a compelling case for netball's inclusion at the 2032 Summer Olympics. In March 2025, World Netball and Netball Australia met with the 2032 organising committee.
Regions and members
World Netball has over 80 members. This includes full and associate members. World Netball also has five regional federations, representing Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.

| Federation | Full Members | Associate members | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| url=https://netball.sport/inside-world-netball/regions-members/africa-region/ | title=Africa Region | publisher=World Netball | access-date=5 July 2025}} | 15 | 3 |
| url=https://netball.sport/inside-world-netball/regions-members/americas-region/ | title=Americas Region | publisher=World Netball | access-date=5 July 2025}} | 18 | 2 |
| url=https://netball.sport/inside-world-netball/regions-members/asia-region/ | title=Asia Region | publisher=World Netball | access-date=5 July 2025}} | 18 | 2 |
| url=https://netball.sport/inside-world-netball/regions-members/europe-region/ | title=Europe Region | publisher=World Netball | access-date=5 July 2025}} | 13 | 3 |
| url=https://netball.sport/inside-world-netball/regions-members/oceania-region/ | title=Oceania Region | publisher=World Netball | access-date=5 July 2025}} | 7 | 2 |
Presidents
| Years | President | Association | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–1999 | Anne Taylor | New Zealand | ||||
| 1999–2003 | url=https://netball.sport/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Citation-Sheryl-Dawson.pdf | title=INF Service Award 2019 – Citation for Sheryl Dawson MNZM | publisher=World Netball | date=February 2024 | access-date=14 July 2025}} | New Zealand |
| 2003–2019 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2003-07-20/rhone-takes-netballs-top-job/1451338 | title=Rhone takes netball's top job | publisher=www.abc.net.au | date=20 July 2003 | access-date=14 July 2025}} | Jamaica |
| 2019– | url=https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/news/infpresidency/ | title=Liz Nicholl elected President of the International Netball Federation | publisher=www.englandnetball.co.uk | date=11 July 2019 | access-date=11 July 2025}} | Wales |
References
References
- "World Netball". www.olympics.com.
- "World Netball". www.theworldgames.org.
- "World Netball Office in Salford Quays". www.mediacityuk.co.uk.
- (September 2024). "Rules of Fast5 Netball – 2024 Edition". World Netball.
- "History of Netball". World Netball.
- "Eastbourne 1963". World Netball.
- (June 2002). "All England Netball Association: A History of Netball in England Through the Ages To Present Day". www.ournetballhistory.org.uk.
- "Our Journey". walesnetball.com.
- "The History of Netball Australia". netball.com.au.
- "International Federation of Netball Associations". www.netball.org.
- "International Netball Federation". www.netball.org.
- (3 June 2021). "International Netball Federation announces rebrand to become World Netball". www.skysports.com.
- (3 June 2021). "International Netball Federation announces rebrand to become World Netball". www.bbc.co.uk.
- (3 June 2021). "International Netball Federation aims to grow, play, and inspire with World Netball rebrand". www.englandnetball.co.uk.
- "Netball World Cup". World Netball.
- "Commonwealth Games". World Netball.
- "Netball World Youth Cup". World Netball.
- "Fast5 Netball World Series". World Netball.
- "Fast5 Netball at the Commonwealth Youth Games". World Netball.
- "World University Netball". World Netball.
- "World Games – Netball". www.theworldgames.org.
- (2 May 2018). "Netball and the Olympics: What's holding the sport back?". www.bbc.co.uk.
- (11 August 2024). "This women's sport has fought for more than 50 years to be in the Olympics. Could Brisbane 2032 change its fortunes?". cnn.com.
- (17 December 2021). "World Netball CEO Clare Briegal elected as Council member of Association of International Olympic Committee (IOC) Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF)". World Netball.
- "Olympic Games". World Netball.
- (January 2024). "WN Position Statement Regarding Netball and the Olympic Games". World Netball.
- (11 March 2025). "World Netball and Netball Australia Meet with Brisbane 2032 CEO, Cindy Hook". World Netball.
- "Regions & Members". World Netball.
- "About Us". World Netball.
- "Africa Region". World Netball.
- "Americas Region". World Netball.
- "Americas Netball". americasnetball.org.
- "Asia Region". World Netball.
- "Asia Netball". asianetball.org.
- "Europe Region". World Netball.
- "Europe Netball". www.europenetball.com.
- "Oceania Region". World Netball.
- "Oceania Netball". www.oceanianetball.com.
- (27 February 2024). "2024 Hall of Fame Inductee – Anne Taylor". netballhamilton.org.nz.
- (27 February 2024). "Anne Taylor OBE, Wall of fame 2012". www.otago.ac.nz.
- (February 2024). "INF Service Award 2019 – Citation for Sheryl Dawson MNZM". World Netball.
- (20 July 2003). "Rhone takes netball's top job". www.abc.net.au.
- (11 July 2019). "Liz Nicholl elected President of the International Netball Federation". www.englandnetball.co.uk.
- (11 October 2023). "Liz Nicholl: Welsh president of World Netball awarded damehood". www.bbc.co.uk.
- (February 2024). "Dame Liz Nicholl DBE re-elected as World Netball (WN) President, as WN appoint first Athlete Director, Stacey Francis-Bayman". World Netball.
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