Field Theory by Hadyn Green

It was about ten years after I stopped playing netball that I became able to enjoy it as a spectator sport - my favourite spectator sport. (Cricket's gone off to have a cry in the corner now.)

So, how does it stack up on those claims people make about it?
- involves so much standing still for proper ladies that players get cold or aren't proper athletes or something
- stops all the time, given you can't run with the ball and penalties are 'per minute', so is dull to watch
- is a non-contact sport

- is a non-contact sport

I've got a massive lump on the side of my head thanks to a collision with someone's elbow at social indoor netball that begs to differ.

And compared to me, those girls are insane.

So, how does it stack up on those claims people make about it?
- involves so much standing still for proper ladies that players get cold or aren't proper athletes or something
- stops all the time, given you can't run with the ball and penalties are 'per minute', so is dull to watch
- is a non-contact sport

All ballsack (i.e. not true)

On standing and stopping - sure, if you're watching one player but follow the ball and do those games fly...

On standing and stopping - sure, if you're watching one player but follow the ball and do those games fly...

Happy as I am that netball is still on free to air tv, I do find myself screaming at the telly on occasion. You don't have time for a replay, k? By the time you replay that rebound, we've already missed a goal at the other end.

On standing and stopping - sure, if you're watching one player but follow the ball and do those games fly...

And even if you were watching one player, they are not standing still for long at all. Both attacks are almost always right up at the transverse line, and as defense gets better and better the centre third is becoming more involved in the attack.

It's hardly the sedate sport for ladies it once was.

Happy as I am that netball is still on free to air tv, I do find myself screaming at the telly on occasion.

You know, i find that tremendously hard to believe.

By the time you replay that rebound, we've already missed a goal at the other end.

Next generation PVR?: Allowing you timeshift to live when the broadcaster cuts to replay...

For myself, I'm just so glad to see it I give TVNZ a pass on doing it their way.

Both attacks are almost always right up at the transverse line, and as defense gets better and better the centre third is becoming more involved in the attack.

Yes indeed. My point wsa more along the lines that I can't imagine watching the game one player at a time, at least I find I can't.

My point wsa more along the lines that I can't imagine watching the game one player at a time, at least I find I can't.

I find I am fascinated by how some players play, and I like watching them off the ball as much as when they have the ball. I do the same thing watching basketball. And sometimes rugby, though that tends to be for a different reason.

Megan: Actually, I find rugby suffers greatly in a televised format because you can't see what the rest of the players are doing. League is generally OK because all of the action happens on the ball, or on a one-off runner. In rugby, you miss out on seeing where the backline are placing themselves for a lineout or scrum, and miss attacking and defending patterns in general play a lot as well.

We always hear about how players are picked for their high work-rate, or the work they do off the ball, but it's nigh impossible to tell on television. Ergo; everyone thinks Rodney sucks.

You know, i find that tremendously hard to believe.

Why thank you. It's my generally tolerant and sweet demeanour, isn't it?

(If one can make the internet explode from overuse of sarcasm, I want to be the first to know.)

(If one can make the internet explode from overuse of sarcasm, I want to be the first to know.)

Between the two of us, we are giving it a good go.

Actually, I find rugby suffers greatly in a televised format because you can't see what the rest of the players are doing.

Definitely. It's so much easier to understand what is going on in real life. Same with cricket, really.

I find I am fascinated by how some players play, and I like watching them off the ball as much as when they have the ball. I do the same thing watching basketball. And sometimes rugby, though that tends to be for a different reason.

While shooting the photographs I spent some time following individual players for a few minutes: my camera was never still for long. It certainly gave me a better understanding of the role of each player in the game.

Which reminds me, there was a documentary made in the 70s where the cameras followed George Best for a whole Manchester United game. YouTube clip. Fascinating stuff.

Fascinating stuff.

Indeed. Who knew Cat Stevens played for Man U?!

Which reminds me, there was a documentary made in the 70s where the cameras followed George Best for a whole Manchester United game. ... Fascinating stuff.

Spike Lee is currently making a similar thing but for Kobe Bryant: Kobe Doin' Work

Do you lot think that if there was a national MENS netball competition that it would rate as highly on TV and bums on seats?

I say this because the Canterbury mens team are now 2-1 up in matches played against the tactics (some of you may have seen them showing some of the match on the TV news a night or two ago) and assume that if it became a professional sport for men the quality would be significantly higher since a lot more men would take it up combined with the physical advantages men have.

But would people still prefer to watch women playing it over men or would there be an equal place for both like there is for tennis for example?

But would people still prefer to watch women playing it over men or would there be an equal place for both like there is for tennis for example?

I think they'd look silly in the skirts, but that might just be me.