King County's Marymoor Park plays host to 'netball,' the region's newest team sport

May 26 'Netball Open Day' an opportunity to learn more about fast-paced game

2007 Archived News

"Netball," a sport with an international following that's just beginning to catch on in the United States, takes center stage at King County's Marymoor Park on May 26 when the Emerald City Netball Club hosts a "Netball Open Day."

The May 26 event, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., includes a quick primer on the rules, the opportunity to practice some basic skills, then informal games for men, women and children over the age of 10.

Netball is a fast-paced team game based on the principles of basketball. The court, ball and net are all similar to basketball, except the goal has no backboard, and opposing teams have seven players each. A player's designated position determines which areas of the court they can access.

The aim of the game is to score as many goals as possible from within the "goal circle" - a semi-circle centered on the goal line and measuring 16-foot radius.

The Emerald City Netball Club is growing rapidly, with a spring league wrapping up later this month and a fall league beginning in September. A new junior league will begin this fall, with games for youth ages 4-7, 8-10 and 10-13. All games are played at Marymoor Park's side-by-side netball courts, which are near the Group Health Velodrome.

More information about netball league play and the Emerald City Netball Club is available by contacting Lisa Washington at president@seattlenetball.com.

King County Parks - Your Big Backyard - offers more than 25,000 acres of parks and natural lands, including such regional treasures as Marymoor Park and Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, 175 miles of regional trails, plus pools and a world-class aquatic center. By cultivating strong relationships with non-profit, corporate and community partners, King County Parks enhances park amenities while reducing costs. Learn more at http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/.