Netball Rules: A Complete Guide for Beginners
The rules of netball govern a fast, non-contact team sport played by two teams of seven players on a rectangular court. Each team scores by shooting a ball through a raised ring, with strict rules on player movement, ball handling, and defending. Whether you’re a new player, parent on the sideline, or volunteer scorer, this guide covers every netball rule you need to know.
The Basics
Netball is a fast, skilful team sport played by two teams of seven players. The objective is simple: score more goals than the opposition by shooting the ball through a raised ring (the goal post) at your attacking end.
Key facts:
- 7 players per team on court
- 4 quarters of 15 minutes (senior) or 10–12 minutes (junior)
- Every goal is worth 1 point
- Only two positions can score: Goal Shooter (GS) and Goal Attack (GA)
- Goals must be scored from inside the goal circle
The Court
A netball court is 30.5m long and 15.25m wide, divided into three equal thirds:
- Defending third — your team’s goal end
- Centre third — the middle section
- Attacking third — the opponent’s goal end
Each end has a goal circle — a semi-circle with a 4.9m radius around the goal post. This is the only area where goals can be scored.
There’s also a centre circle in the middle of the court where centre passes are taken.
For a detailed breakdown of court measurements and layout, see our netball court guide.
Positions and Where They Can Go
Each player wears a bib showing their position. Every position is restricted to certain areas of the court:
| Position | Abbreviation | Allowed Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Goal Shooter | GS | Attacking third + goal circle |
| Goal Attack | GA | Attacking third + centre third + goal circle |
| Wing Attack | WA | Attacking third + centre third |
| Centre | C | All three thirds (not goal circles) |
| Wing Defence | WD | Defending third + centre third |
| Goal Defence | GD | Defending third + centre third + goal circle |
| Goal Keeper | GK | Defending third + goal circle |
Offside rule: If a player enters an area they’re not allowed in, the umpire awards a free pass to the opposition.
For more detail on each role, read our netball positions guide.
Starting Play: The Centre Pass
The game starts — and restarts after every goal — with a centre pass:
- The Centre (C) stands inside the centre circle with the ball
- All other players must be in their own areas (not the centre third) until the whistle
- The umpire blows the whistle and the Centre passes the ball
- The ball must be caught by someone in or landing in the centre third
Centre pass alternation: Centre passes alternate between teams throughout the match, regardless of which team scores. The team that takes the first centre pass is decided by coin toss. Most leagues use the odds and evens system to track which team’s turn it is.
Scoring Rules
Who can score?
Only GS and GA can shoot for goal.
Where can they score from?
Goals must be scored from inside the goal circle. If a player shoots from outside the circle, the goal does not count.
How much is a goal worth?
Every goal is worth 1 point, regardless of where the shot was taken within the circle or how it was scored.
What counts as a goal?
The ball must pass completely through the ring from above. If the ball bounces on the ring and drops through, it counts. If it bounces back out, it doesn’t.
For a deeper look at how scoring works, see our guide to scoring a netball game.
Netball Ball Handling Rules
The 3-Second Rule
Once a player catches the ball, they have 3 seconds to pass or shoot. If they hold it longer, the umpire awards a free pass to the opposition. This keeps the game moving quickly.
Footwork Rule
When a player catches the ball:
- The foot that lands first (or is already on the ground) becomes the landing foot
- The landing foot cannot be moved once grounded
- The player can pivot on the landing foot, step with the other foot, and lean — but must not drag, slide, or lift the landing foot
If a player catches the ball with both feet grounded simultaneously, either foot can be the landing foot, but once one is lifted, the other becomes fixed.
Common mistake: New players often shuffle or take extra steps after catching the ball. This is called “stepping” or “footwork” and results in a free pass.
Passing
The ball must be thrown or released — it cannot be handed directly to another player. There’s no restriction on the type of pass used: chest pass, bounce pass, shoulder pass, and lob are all legal.
The ball must also be caught or touched in each third of the court. It cannot be thrown directly from one end third to the other without being touched in the centre third (this is called “over a third”).
Learn about all the different pass types in our types of netball passes guide.
Contact and Obstruction Rules
Netball is a non-contact sport. Two key rules enforce this:
Contact Rule
Players cannot push, bump, trip, hold, or lean on an opponent. Any physical contact that interferes with an opponent’s play results in a penalty pass (or penalty pass/shot if it occurs in the goal circle).
The penalised player must stand beside the person taking the pass and cannot move until the ball is released.
Obstruction Rule (3-Foot Rule)
When defending, a player must be at least 0.9 metres (3 feet) from the player with the ball. This distance is measured from the landing foot of the ball carrier to the nearest foot of the defender.
If a defender is closer than 0.9m when they attempt to block or intercept, the umpire calls obstruction and awards a penalty pass.
What defenders can do:
- Stand 0.9m or more away and extend arms to block
- Intercept a pass while it’s in flight (the 3-foot rule only applies when defending the player holding the ball)
- Mark space rather than the player directly
Penalties and Free Passes
There are two types of sanctions in netball:
Free Pass
Awarded for minor infringements:
- Offside
- Breaking the footwork rule
- Held ball (3-second rule)
- Over a third
- Breaking at centre pass (moving into centre third before the whistle)
The free pass is taken from where the infringement occurred. Any player allowed in that area can take the pass.
Penalty Pass (or Penalty Pass/Shot)
Awarded for contact or obstruction:
- The offending player must stand beside the taker and not move until the ball is released
- If the penalty is in the goal circle, the taker can choose to pass or shoot
- If outside the goal circle, the taker must pass
Substitutions
Teams can make substitutions:
- During the interval between quarters
- During injury time
- Players can swap positions with each other at these breaks
There’s no limit on the number of substitutions, but changes can only be made during stoppages, not during live play.
Timing
Quarter Length
| Level | Quarter Length |
|---|---|
| Senior/International | 15 minutes |
| Junior (under 14+) | 10–12 minutes |
| Social/modified | Varies |
Intervals
- Between quarters 1–2 and 3–4: 2 minutes (junior games may be shorter)
- Half time (between quarters 2–3): 5 minutes (junior games may be shorter)
Extra Time
If the game is drawn in a knockout competition, extra time may be played. The format varies by competition but typically involves two 7-minute halves.
Common Rule Mistakes
Here are the most common mistakes new players and spectators misunderstand:
- Centre pass not received — if the ball from a centre pass isn’t received in the centre third (crosses a transverse line untouched), the opposition is awarded a free pass for “over a third”
- Toss-up — if two opposing players catch the ball simultaneously, the umpire holds a toss-up between them
- Held ball includes shooting — the 3-second rule applies to shooting attempts too. A GS standing in the circle holding the ball must shoot or pass within 3 seconds
- You can’t bounce the ball — unlike basketball, players cannot dribble or bounce the ball to themselves
Quick Reference Summary
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Players per team | 7 on court |
| Quarters | 4 |
| Goal value | 1 point |
| Who can score | GS and GA only |
| Scoring area | Inside goal circle only |
| Holding time | 3 seconds maximum |
| Defending distance | 0.9m (3 feet) minimum |
| Contact | Not allowed |
| Substitutions | At quarter breaks and injury time |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the basic rules of netball?
Netball is played by two teams of 7 players. Goals are scored by shooting through a raised ring from inside the goal circle. Only GS and GA can score. Players cannot run with the ball, must pass within 3 seconds, and cannot move their landing foot. Defenders must stay 0.9m (3 feet) from the ball carrier. The team with the most goals after 4 quarters wins.
How many players are on a netball team?
Each team has 7 players on court at any time, drawn from a squad of up to 12. The 7 positions are GS, GA, WA, C, WD, GD, and GK.
Can you dribble in netball?
No. Unlike basketball, dribbling and bouncing the ball to yourself are not allowed in netball. Players must pass the ball to a teammate. Bounce passes (where the ball bounces to another player) are legal.
What happens if you hold the ball for more than 3 seconds?
The umpire awards a free pass to the opposing team from the spot where the infringement occurred. The 3-second rule applies from the moment the player catches the ball.
What is the 3-foot rule in netball?
When defending a player who is holding the ball, the defender must be at least 0.9 metres (3 feet) away, measured from the ball carrier’s landing foot. Standing closer is called obstruction and results in a penalty pass.
This guide covers standard netball rules suitable for most leagues. For official international rules, consult the International Netball Federation (INF) rulebook. Junior and social leagues may apply modified rules.
Want to put these rules into practice? Try Netball Scorer Pro — a free app for tracking netball scores, center passes, and quarter times. Works offline on any device, no account needed.