Netball Adaptations

Netball is an important past time for many Australians, be they male or female, and understanding and feeling involved in one of Australia's national sports can be critical for students integration into mainstream schools.

Like all information on this website it is important to understand that these are just possible adaptations and for further information please contact your advisory teacher or Andrew Whisson (PE teacher at the SA School for Vision Impaired).

Communication is important in all sport adaptations and netball is no different. Enforcing that all students or athletes playing the game communicate their position allows athletes with vision impairment to feel confident on the field. This can be done by enforcing all athletes to communicate "Voi" when intending to take possession of the ball, either as an offender or defender. The failure to do so results in an obstruction, with the infringing player standing next to the player awarded the ball, with their hands by their side until the free pass or shot is taken. In enforcing this rule, we are able to ensure that an athlete with a vision impairment can have confidence in where their peers are and not have the ball whisked away from their grasp without being prepared.

Enforcing the players to call out to their intended target with a pass also means that all players are expecting to receive the ball and can turn and square off to their peers before the ball is passed to them.

Similarly, enforcing students to throw bounce passes acts to reduce the fear that the ball will hit them without warning. The bounce pass enforces the ball to always be traveling in the same direction (up towards the athlete) and then allows them to prepare for a more predictable movement and pass from their peers. The bounce pass also forces the ball to make a sound before reaching the student or athlete with a vision impairment.

Depending on the individual students the equipment will differ greatly. Like most sports the choice of ball is important, while a student's low vision may require high contrasting equipment to their environment (see PE adaptations pages), those with no functional vision just require a ball and surface that is predictable in the bounce, and even the potential use of an audible ball such as a blind soccer ball. There are no audible netballs currently available, however, blind soccer balls can act as a effective alternative.

By ensuring the adaptations above, the lesson, unit or training will automatically become more inclusive and encourage all students or athletes to be involved. However, further rule changes could also encourage inclusive practice. The could be as simple as all students must touch the ball before a goal can be scored. This forces all students to turn to their team members or peers and support their involvement in the game.