Basketball vs. Netball — What's the Difference?

Played on a rectangular court with a raised hoop at each end.

A team sport where players pass a ball and shoot it into a high net.

A team sport where players shoot a ball into a hoop.

Popular in Commonwealth countries with national leagues.

Features dribbling, passing, and shooting skills.

Involves no dribbling; emphasizes passing to advance the ball.

Has professional leagues globally, like the NBA.

Played on a court divided into thirds with specific zones.

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately 9.4 inches (24 cm) in diameter) through the defender's hoop (a basket 18 inches (46 cm) in diameter mounted 10 feet (3.048 m) high to a backboard at each end of the court) while preventing the opposing team from shooting through their own hoop. A field goal is worth two points, unless made from behind the three-point line, when it is worth three.

Played with seven players each having designated positions.

A game played between two teams of five players each, the object being to throw a ball through an elevated basket on the opponent's side of a rectangular court. Players may move the ball by dribbling or passing with the hands.

Netball is a ball sport played by two teams of seven players. Netball is most popular in many Commonwealth nations and according to the INF, netball is played by more than 20 million people in more than 80 countries.

The inflated, spherical ball used in this game.

(uncountable) A (usually women's) team sport derived from basketball, with seven players on each side who attempt to score goals by passing a ball and throwing it into the opponent's goal, which is a raised hoop with a net at one end of the playing area. Unlike basketball, a player in possession of the ball cannot move until the ball is passed to another player.

A sport in which two opposing teams of five players strive to put a ball through a hoop.

(countable) The ball used in this sport.

(countable) The particular kind of ball used in the sport of basketball. Basketball

A team game that resembles basketball; a soccer ball is to be thrown so that it passes through a ring on the top of a post

To play basketball

To throw in a similar way to when shooting a basketball

A ball game, usually played indoors in an area called the basketball court, in which two opposing teams of five players each contest with each other to toss a large inflated ball (the basketball) into opposite goals (baskets) resembling baskets, each typically a cylindrical mesh suspended from a circular rim which is held ten feet above the court. A goal scored by passing the basketball through the basket may count from one to three points, depending on the situation in which it was thrown.

The inflatable ball used in the game of basketball.

A game played on a court by two opposing teams of 5 players; points are scored by throwing the basketball through an elevated horizontal hoop

An inflated ball used in playing basketball

Requires both offensive and defensive strategies.

Netball has seven active players on the court.

There are five active players on the court.

Both are team sports aimed at scoring by getting a ball into a goal.

No, dribbling is not allowed in Netball.

It's 10 feet from the ground.

Basketball has a three-point shooting rule.

To score points by getting the ball into the opponent's goal.

Yes, while traditionally female-dominated, there are men's and mixed Netball teams.

Basketball courts have specific markings like the three-point line, while Netball courts are divided into thirds.

It's predominantly popular in Commonwealth countries.

Netball has specific zones for player positions.

Players have specific zones they can't move out of based on their positions.

Yes, both Basketball and Netball require strong defensive strategies.

Basketball is home to the NBA.

No, Basketball uses a larger, typically orange ball, while Netball's is smaller.