Netball is the most popular women's sport in the world, with over 20 million players from school to adult leagues.

Netball is a fast skillful team game based on running, jumping, throwing and catching.  It is played by two teams, each consisting of seven players - two shooters, two defense and three center court players.  Each player has a playing position determined by the areas on the court where they may move.

The playing positions are shown by the identification letters worn above the waist, on both the front and back of the player.  These positions are GS, GA, WA, C, WD, GD & GK.

The main aim of the game is to score as many goals as possible from within an area called the goal circle, which is a semi circle centered on the goal line & measuring 16 feet in radius.  Only GS and GA from each team may score goals.  Goals are scored through a hoop resembling a basketball hoop but without the backboard.  Each goal scores one point.

The netball moves up and down the court by catching & throwing it to team members.  Dribbling and moving with the ball is not allowed.

• Players cannot dribble but they may bounce the ball once to gain possession.

• No running with the ball, players may not reground the foot which first touches the court (landing foot).

• Players must pass the ball to someone else within three seconds of catching it.

• No Contact.  Players may not take the ball out of another player's hands, push, push off, or shove other players.

• No defending within 3 feet of the player with the ball.  This is measured from the landing foot.

• Only 2 players can shoot within the shooting circle, a 16 foot radius semi-circle at each end of the court and these players are GS or GA.  Each goal scores one point.

• The ball must be touched in each third as it travels down the court.

GS (Goal Shooter) - to score goals. Works in & around the goal circle with Goal Attack to score goals.

 

GA (Goal Attack) - to feed & work with Goal Shooter to score goals

 

WA (Wing Attack) - to feed the goal circle players to give them shooting opportunities

 

C (Center) - to take the center pass & to control game flow between attack & defense.  Feeds the ball to the Goal Attack and Goal Shooter to score goals.

 

WD (Wing Defense) - to look for intercepts & prevent the Wing Attack from feeding the ball to the oppositions Goal Attack and Goal Shooter

 

GD (Goal Defense) - Defend the Goal Attack, looking for intercepts, trying to prevent the Goal Attack and Goal Shooter from scoring goals

 

GK (Goal Keeper) - to work with Goal Defense to prevent the opposition Goal Attack and Goal Shooter from scoring goals

In 1995 Netball became a "recognized" Olympic sport and looks forwards to a programmed status.

The netball court is 100 feet long and 50 feet wide, which is divided into thirds. There is a center circle with a diameter 3 feet and two goal circles which are semi-circles measuring 16 feet in radius.

All lines are part of the court and measure 2 inches in width.

The Goal Posts are placed mid point of each goal line and measure 10 feet in height. The goal rings have an internal diameter of 15 inches. The goal ring projects horizontally from the post on a single attachment measuring 6 inches in length.