Netball’s development traces back to American sports teacher Clara Gregory Baer’s misinterpretation of the basketball rule book in 1895. The book had lines of patrol drawn on it and Clara interpreted this to mean that players had to stay in those zones. Baer’s modifications proliferated and were later officially ratified into the rules for women’s basketball by 1899.
Screw up, just right, year after year… and somebody might make it official!