Rules, Positions, Tips & Tricks

A super simple guide to getting started with social netball

If you’re new to netball — welcome! It’s a fun, fast, and social game that anyone can enjoy. Here’s an easy breakdown of the basic rules, player positions, and a few simple tips to help you feel confident on court.

Basic Rules

1. No running with the ball.When you catch the ball, you cannot lift up your landing foot and then place it back down whilst you still have the ball and you must pass it within three seconds.

2. No contact You can’t push, bump, or grab other players.

3. Stay in your zone Each position can only go in certain areas of the court — we’ll explain those below!

4. Watch your footwork Once you land on one foot, that’s your landing foot. You can pivot on it, but you can’t lift it before you pass.

5. Scoring Only the Goal Shooter (GS) and Goal Attack (GA) can score goals, and only from inside the goal circle.

6. Centre pass.The game restarts from the centre circle after every goal, with the pass alternating between teams and the pass from the centre must be received inside the centre third.

7. Over a third - The ball cannot travel from over one whole third without being touched - This includes taking a throw in from the back line.

8. Distance - Players must be 3ft away from their opposition with the ball - This can be 3tf from anywhere (so if you haven't got time to get in front, you can mark your player from behind)

   
   

🧍‍♀️ Positions and Where You Can Go

Each team has seven players, and everyone has their own job and court area.

Position	Role	Where They Can Go
GS – Goal Shooter	Shoots goals	Goal third + goal circle
GA – Goal Attack	Helps shoot and getthe ball into the circle	Centre third + attacking third + goal circle
WA – Wing Attack	Gets the ball to the shooters from centre court	Centre third + attacking third (not the goal circle)
C – Centre	Connects the team and starts play after each goal	Everywhere except both goal circles
WD – Wing Defence	Supports the mid-court players bring the ball to their goal third	Centre third + defensive third (not the goal circle)
GD – Goal Defence	Defends the shooters	Centre third + defensive third + goal circle
GK – Goal Keeper	Stops the Goal Shooter and hopefully the goals!	Defensive third + goal circle

🪩 Tip: The court is split into thirds — think of them as “zones.” Stay in your zone and trust your teammates to handle theirs!

💡 Simple Tips & Tricks

🕐 Take Your Time – Slow Down You don’t need to be running around constantly! Take a moment to look up and see where you’re needed next. Sometimes standing still and creating space is more helpful than chasing every pass.

🗣️ Use Your Voice Talk to your teammates. Call out when you’re free or let them know where you are. A quick “Here!” or “Back to you!” keeps play flowing smoothly.

👀 Watch the Space Try not to bunch up — spread out so your team has options. The more space you create, the easier it is to pass and move the ball.

👣 Pivot with Purpose When you catch the ball, keep one foot still and turn on it to find your next pass. This helps you stay balanced and avoid stepping (footwork) calls.

🤝 Support Each Other Encourage your teammates! A bit of positive talk and cheering makes the game more fun for everyone.

😄 Have Fun! Remember - it’s social netball! Don’t worry about mistakes or rules you forget. Everyone’s learning and just there to have a good time.