Netball
Official Playing Rules & Technical Regulations
Rules of Netball
All netball matches are played under the World Netball Rules of Netball (2024 edition), with the following tournament-specific provisions:
Positions & Court Areas
Netball is played with 7 players per team, each assigned a specific position that determines which areas of the court they may enter:
| Position | Abbreviation | Permitted Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Goal Shooter | GS | Goal third (attacking) + shooting circle |
| Goal Attack | GA | Goal third (attacking) + centre third + shooting circle |
| Wing Attack | WA | Centre third + goal third (attacking, excluding circle) |
| Centre | C | All thirds (excluding both shooting circles) |
| Wing Defence | WD | Centre third + goal third (defensive, excluding circle) |
| Goal Defence | GD | Goal third (defensive) + centre third + defensive circle |
| Goal Keeper | GK | Goal third (defensive) + defensive circle |
Position bibs with clearly printed abbreviations (both sides) are mandatory at all times.
Key Playing Rules
- 3-Second Rule: A player may hold the ball for a maximum of 3 seconds before passing or shooting.
- Footwork Rule: A player receiving the ball while stationary may pivot on the landing foot. A player catching the ball while moving may take one additional step after landing. The landing foot may not be moved once grounded (pivot only).
- No Running: A player may not run, walk or dribble with the ball.
- Contact: Contact that interferes with an opponent's play is penalised (penalty pass or penalty pass/shot if in the circle).
- Obstruction: A player must be at least 0.9 m (3 feet) away when defending against a player with the ball.
- Shooting: Only GS and GA may shoot, and only from within the shooting circle.
- Centre Pass: Alternates between teams after each goal. The centre pass must be received within the centre third.
- Over a Third: The ball cannot travel the full length of the court (over two transverse lines) without being touched by a player in the middle third.
Court Dimensions
Standard court: 30.5 m × 15.25 m, divided into three equal thirds. Shooting circle radius: 4.9 m. Centre circle diameter: 0.9 m.
Regulation Time
A netball match consists of 4 quarters of 10 minutes each (running clock), with intervals:
| Interval | Duration |
|---|---|
| Quarter-time (Q1–Q2, Q3–Q4) | 3 minutes |
| Half-time (Q2–Q3) | 5 minutes |
Substitutions may only be made during intervals or when play is stopped for an injury/illness. There is no limit on the number of substitutions, but each substitution must be notified to the scorer/timekeeper.
Extra Time (Knockout Only)
If a knockout match is tied at the end of regulation:
- Two periods of 7 minutes each with a 2-minute interval between them.
- Teams change ends at half-time of extra time.
- If still level after extra time, the team that scored first during extra time is declared the winner.
- If no goals were scored in extra time, the result is determined by the DC (typically a drawing of lots).
Stoppages
- The umpire may stop the clock for injuries, lost balls, or other delays.
- For head injuries, play is stopped immediately; the injured player is assessed and may be substituted.
Forfeit Score
A netball match declared a forfeit is recorded as 10–0 in favour of the non-offending team.
Minimum Players
A match cannot start or continue if a team has fewer than 5 players. All positions on the team sheet do not need to be filled, but the playing positions must be covered such that the game can function (at minimum, one player in the shooting circle).
Walkover Conditions
- Team fails to appear within 15 minutes of scheduled tip-off
- Team cannot present at least 5 eligible players with position bibs
- Team refuses to continue playing for any reason