NETBALL POSITIONS AND ROLES | HOW TO PLAY NETBALL

Table of Contents

If you’ve watched a netball game, you may have wondered about the significance of the alphabets displayed on the bibs worn by the players and the apparent restrictions they face within specific areas of the court. This is all about the netball positions and rules that compel players to do so. In this article, we will explain these elements in a manner that is accessible to all readers, providing a clear understanding of the game. Let’s probe into the details without delay.

NETBALL POSITIONS

In a standard game of netball, a team has 7 players on the court at one time. There are 7 different playing positions in netball, each of which signifies different play areas. They take up the following positions:

GOALKEEPER	Allowed in the defensive goal third and shooting circle
GOAL DEFENCE	Permitted in the defensive and center thirds, and the shooting circle
WING DEFENCE	Permitted in the defensive and center thirds, but not the shooting circle
CENTRE	Allowed in all thirds, but not in either shooting circle
WING ATTACK	Allowed in the attacking and center thirds, but not the shooting circle
GOAL ATTACK	Allowed in the attacking and centre thirds, and the shooting circle
GOAL SHOOTER	Allowed in the attacking goal third and shooting circle

See how players line up and which areas of the court each netball position is allowed to play in below:

GOAL KEEPER (GK) POSITION AND ROLE:

The goalkeeper (GK) is a vital player in netball, responsible for defending the team’s goalpost. Positioned solely in the defensive goal third, including the shooting circle, the goalkeeper aims to closely mark the opposing Goal Shooter (GS).

GOAL DEFENSE (GD) POSITION AND ROLE:

Goal Defense (GD) is a player who operates in both the center third and their defensive third, including the shooting circle. The GD’s primary role is to closely mark the opposition team’s Goal Attack (GA) to hamper their ability to score goals and create attacking opportunities.

WING DEFENCE (WD) POSITION AND ROLE:

In netball, the Wing Defence (WD) operates in both the center and defensive thirds of the court but is not allowed in the shooting circle. The primary role of the WD is to mark the opposing Wing Attack (WA) player.

CENTRE (C) POSITION AND ROLE

The Centre (C) position in netball is allowed to operate in all three-thirds of the court, except the shooting circles at either end. The primary role of the Centre is to mark the opposing Centre of the other team.

WING ATTACK (WA) POSITION AND ROLE

The Wing Attack (WA) position in netball operates in both the center third and the goal third in the direction their team is shooting. However, the WA is not permitted in the shooting circle and cannot shoot goals. The primary role of the WA is to mark the Wing Defence (WD) of the opposing team.

GOAL ATTACK (GA) POSITION AND ROLE

The Goal Attack (GA) position in netball operates in both the center third and the goal third that they are shooting toward, including the shooting circle. As one of the two players on a netball team allowed to shoot and score points, the GA plays a crucial role in the offense. The primary responsibility of the GA is to mark the opposing team’s Goal Defence (GD).

GOAL SHOOTER (GS) POSITION AND ROLE

The Goal Shooter (GS) position in netball is exclusively allowed in the attacking goal third, including the shooting circle. Alongside the Goal Attack (GA), the GS is one of the two players allowed to shoot at the net to score for their team. The primary role of the GS is to mark the opposing team’s Goal Keeper (GK)

NETBALL POSITIONS AND RULES GLOSSARY:

Here’s a glossary of key terms related to netball rules:

Advantage: When a player chooses to continue play despite being impeded by an opponent, and the umpire allows it to continue if stopping play would disadvantage the restricted player.
Attacking Goal Third: The third of the court that a team is shooting towards. Players allowed in this third include Centres, Wing Attacks, Goal Attacks, and Goal Shooters.
Defensive Goal Third: The third of the court that a team is defending. Players allowed in this third include Centres, Wing Defences, Goal Defences, and Goal Keepers.
Centre Circle: A small circle in the middle of the court where the Centre must pass the ball from at the start of the match and for every center pass.
Centre Pass: Taken by the Centres from the center circle to begin play. They can pass the ball to Goal Attacks, Wing Attacks, Wing Defences, or Goal Defences, and the ball must be received in the center third.
Centre Third: The middle third of the court where all players, except Goal Shooters and Goal Keepers, are allowed.
Contact: Called when a player impedes an opponent’s movement, resulting in a penalty pass awarded to the opposing team.
Footwork: Called when a player replants their landing leg after moving, resulting in a free pass for the opposing team.
Free Pass: Awarded to the opposing team for non-contact infringements like footwork or offside. If awarded in the shooting circle to the attacking team, they can only pass the ball, not take a shot.
Held Ball: When a player holds onto the ball for more than 3 seconds, resulting in a free pass for the opposing team.
Landing Foot: The first foot a player lands on after jumping to receive the ball, which cannot be moved or regrounded before passing.
Obstruction: Called when a player marks the opponent with the ball at a distance closer than 3 feet, resulting in a penalty pass or shot for the opposition.
Offside: Called when a player receives the ball in an area of the court, they are not allowed to enter, resulting in a free pass for the opposition.
Penalty Pass/Shot: Awarded when an obstruction or contact call is made. In the shooting circle for the attacking team, they may take a penalty pass or shot.
Shooting Circle: The semi-circles (or Ds) at either end of the court where only the Goal Keeper, Goal Defence , Goal Attack, and Goal Shooter are allowed. Shots can only be taken within this area.
Throw-in: Awarded when the ball goes off the court, taken from off the court by the team that did not touch the ball last.
Umpire: Officials who enforce the netball rules, award free or penalty passes, keep track of the score, and signal pauses and restarts in play. Most matches have two umpires.

NETBALL POSITIONS AND ROLES |FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |

How many players are on a netball team?

A netball team consists of seven players on the court simultaneously. Each player has a specific position and role within the team.

Can you move with the ball in netball?

No, once a player catches the ball, they must come to a complete stop before passing it. Pivoting on one foot is allowed, but lifting or moving the landing foot is considered a footwork violation.

Can you shoot from anywhere on the court in netball?

Shots can only be taken from within the shooting circle. The Goal Shooter (GS) and Goal Attack (GA) are the only players allowed to shoot and score points for their team.

How long does a netball game last?

A standard netball game is played in four quarters, each lasting 15 minutes. However, the overall duration of the game can vary depending on factors such as breaks, timeouts, and level of play.

Can men play netball?

Netball is a sport that both men and women can play. While women more commonly play it, men’s netball leagues and competitions are also available.

NETBALL POSITIONS AND ROLES | HOW TO PLAY NETBALL