Netball Rules

Netball is a fast-paced, team sport that requires skill, strategy, and teamwork. Here’s a quick rundown of the key rules of the game.

The Basics

Each team has seven players on the court at any time.

The objective is to score goals by passing the ball down the court and shooting into the opponent’s goal ring.

A standard game consists of four 15-minute quarters.

Player Positions & Movement

Each player has a designated area on the court where they can move:

Goal Shooter (GS): Can shoot goals and must stay in the attacking third.
Goal Attack (GA): Can shoot goals and can play in the attacking and centre thirds.
Wing Attack (WA): Helps feed the ball to shooters but cannot enter the goal circle.
Centre (C): Moves across all thirds except the goal circles, starting play after each goal.
Wing Defence (WD): Marks the WA and cannot enter the opposing goal circle.
Goal Defence (GD): Defends against the GA and can move into the goal circle.
Goal Keeper (GK): Defends against the GS and plays in the defensive goal third and centre third.

Passing & Footwork

Players cannot run with the ball and must pass it within three seconds of receiving it.

The footwork rule means a player cannot take more than one step after receiving the ball.

Contact & Obstruction

Netball is a non-contact sport, meaning players must not use their body to push, bump, or interfere with an opponent.

Defending players must stand at least three feet (0.9 metres) away from an opponent with the ball.

Scoring Goals

Only the Goal Attack and Goal Shooter can shoot, and they must be inside the goal circle to score. Each goal is worth one point.

Starting & Restarting Play

Play starts with a centre pass, alternating between teams after each goal.

If the ball goes out of bounds, the opposing team takes a throw-in from the sideline.

Penalties & Free Passes

A penalty pass is awarded for major infringements like contact or obstruction. A free pass is given for minor offences such as stepping or holding the ball for too long.

If a player repeatedly breaks the rules, they may be sent off for a period of time.

Umpires & Fair Play

Two umpires control the game, ensuring all rules are followed. Sportsmanship and fair play are essential in netball, with players expected to respect decisions.

Recent Rule Changes

Netball has seen some significant rule updates in recent years to improve gameplay, increase fairness, and make the sport more exciting. Some of the biggest changes include:

Centre passes: After a goal, the Center who is taking the pass must go immediately and directly into the center circle. Failure to do so is considered delaying play and can result in a free pass to the opposing team.
No more toss-ups: Toss-ups have been completely eliminated from netball. Instead, if two players from opposing teams appear to receive the ball at the same time, possession is awarded to the team that last had control of the ball on the previous pass.
Tactical changes: Teams can request a tactical change after scoring a goal, such as a substitution or switching positions.
Game management: Umpires can escalate sanctions, such as advancing a player down the court or increasing the penalty.

Where to find out more

Above is just a brief overview of some of the most basic netball rules. Utrecht Netball Club follows World Netball Rules (available as an app!).