Netball is played by two teams of seven who move the ball up the court by passing, and only the Goal Shooter or Goal Attack can score, by shooting through the ring from inside the goal circle. A match is four quarters of 15 minutes, and you can't run with the ball or hold it for more than three seconds.
This page follows World Netball's Rules of Netball, 2024 edition, as of November 2026. Netball Australia notes that the updated rules were introduced in December 2023 and apply to international matches and to all affiliated competitions and events in Australia from 1 January 2024. I've kept to the rules a new or returning player needs, not the full umpiring detail.
The court and its thirds
| Part of the court | Measurement or rule |
|---|---|
| Side lines | 30.5 m (100 ft) |
| Goal lines | 15.25 m (50 ft) |
| Thirds | Two transverse lines split the court into three equal areas: the centre third and two goal thirds |
| Centre circle | 0.9 m (3 ft) across, in the middle of the court |
| Goal circle | A semi-circle at each end, radius 4.9 m (16 ft) |
| Goal post | A vertical pole with a ring, 3.05 m high |
| Court surround | 3.05 m (10 ft) beyond the goal lines and side lines |
Lines are part of the area they mark out, which matters for the offside rule below.
Seven positions and where each one can go
Each player wears their position's initials and can only play in set areas. A team needs a minimum of five and can have a maximum of seven players on court during play.
| Position | Initials | Areas they can play in |
|---|---|---|
| Goal Shooter | GS | Attacking goal third and goal circle |
| Goal Attack | GA | Attacking goal circle, attacking goal third and centre third |
| Wing Attack | WA | Attacking goal third (not the circle) and centre third |
| Centre | C | Both goal thirds and the centre third, but neither circle |
| Wing Defence | WD | Centre third and defending goal third (not the circle) |
| Goal Defence | GD | Centre third, defending goal third and goal circle |
| Goal Keeper | GK | Defending goal third and goal circle |
Step into an area your position isn't allowed in and you're offside, and the other team gets a free pass. You're not offside if part of you touches, but doesn't cross, the line bounding your own area. You can also lean over and pick up a ball from an offside area, as long as you don't touch the ground there.
How a match runs, from toss to final whistle
Before the match, the captains toss a coin. The winner chooses either the first centre pass or which goal end to defend, and the other captain gets the remaining choice.
- A match is four quarters, each of 15 minutes' playing time.
- There's an interval of four minutes between the first and second quarters, and between the third and fourth.
- Half-time is 12 minutes, or eight minutes if the event organiser and both teams agree.
- Teams change ends every quarter.
- After every goal, play restarts with a centre pass, taken alternately by each team's Centre.
At the centre pass, the Centre stands with at least one foot wholly inside the centre circle. Everyone else stays out of the centre third until the whistle. The Centre then has three seconds to release the ball, and the pass must be caught or touched by a player standing in, or landing in, the centre third.
Footwork: the rule new players break most
You can't run with the ball, and you can't dribble it either. What you can do depends on how you landed when you caught it.
- One-foot landing. Step with your second foot in any direction, lift your landing foot, and pass or shoot before the landing foot touches the ground again.
- Pivoting. Pivot on your landing foot while stepping with the other foot as often as you like. Once the landing foot lifts, you must pass or shoot before it comes down.
- Two-foot landing. Step with either foot in any direction, lift the second foot, and pass or shoot before that second foot is grounded again.
- Never. Drag or slide the landing foot, hop on either foot, or jump from both feet and land on both while still holding the ball.
Break any of these and the other team gets a free pass for footwork.
Three seconds, the 0.9 m gap and over a third
Three rules come up in almost every game, and all three are easy to forget when the game speeds up.
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- Three seconds. Whoever has the ball must pass or shoot within three seconds. Holding it longer is a held ball and a free pass to the other side.
- The 0.9 m (3 ft) gap. A defender can try to intercept or defend the player with the ball only from at least 0.9 m away, measured on the ground from the landing foot of the player with the ball to the defender's nearer foot. You can be closer than that, but then you mustn't try to defend or get in the way of the pass or shot.
- Over a third. The ball has to be caught or touched by a player in each third of the court. Throw it straight over a whole third and it's a free pass where the ball entered the third it shouldn't have.
Shooting has its own checklist. Only GS and GA can score, from anywhere inside the goal circle including its lines. The shooter can't have any contact with the ground outside the circle, must shoot within three seconds, and still has to obey the footwork rule. A ball that goes through the ring from outside the circle doesn't count. One rule people don't expect: if a defender deflects a shot and the ball still goes through the ring, the goal stands.
My verdict: where I'd start
I'd start a new group with the position table and the footwork rule, because those two cause most of the whistles. Then I'd add three seconds and over a third. Get those four right and you're playing recognisable netball.
I'd skip the exact distance-measuring detail and the centre pass infringements for a casual game, and simply remind defenders about the 0.9 m gap. For a work social, it fits well with these team building ideas, and if you've got a smaller group, my guide to pickleball for beginners covers a game you can play with just four people.
Frequently asked questions
How many players are on a netball team?
Seven on court, and a team can play with a minimum of five.
How long is a netball quarter?
15 minutes of playing time, with four quarters in a match.
Who can shoot in netball?
Only the Goal Shooter and Goal Attack, and only from inside the goal circle.
Can you run with the ball in netball?
No. You can step, but you must pass or shoot before your landing foot touches the ground again.
How far away must a defender stand in netball?
At least 0.9 m (3 ft), measured on the ground from the landing foot of the player with the ball.
