Quick feet. Kind teammates. That lovely swish.
There’s a whole lot to love about netball.
Every bib has a job.
Pick a position to see where you can play.
Goal shooter
Stay in the attacking third, find space in the goal circle and take your shot. You can shoot goals!
Coloured areas show where you can go.
These are standard netball positions. Junior games can have different rules, so check with your coach.
A few rules. A few clever moves.
Open a card, then take it to the court.
Once you catch the ball, pass or shoot within three seconds.
Look early. Scan for teammates and defenders before the catch. Have a second option if your first pass is blocked.
Try it: With two friends, catch and choose an open teammate before a friend finishes counting three seconds. Go for five calm passes.
Your first landing foot is your pivot foot. Turn on it, without sliding or hopping. Lift it if you like, but release the ball before it touches down again. Land on both feet together? Choose one to pivot on.
Find your balance. Bend your knees softly as you land. Turn your eyes and shoulders towards your next pass.
Try it: Catch a gentle pass, say “left” or “right” for your landing foot, pivot and pass back. Repeat five times on each side.
To defend the player holding the ball, keep at least 0.9 m (3 feet) between your nearer foot and their landing foot. Measure from the nearest edges, along the ground.
Feet first, hands second. Get your distance, then raise your arms. Watch the ball and passing options, and adjust if the player pivots.
Try it: Ask a grown-up to measure a 0.9 m gap. Take turns catching, stepping back to the mark and defending with balanced feet.
Contact that unfairly affects another player’s play is a foul. No pushing, grabbing or knocking the ball from their hands. Give jumping players room to land.
Read the pass. Watch the passer and the space ahead of your opponent. Try to win the ball in flight instead of reaching through a player.
Try it: Two friends pass while you look for an interception. Start slowly. Can you touch a pass without touching either friend?
Teams alternate centre passes after each goal. C starts with one foot wholly inside the centre circle. Other bibs stay out of the centre third until the whistle. Receive the first pass wholly in the centre third.
Change your pace. A slow step then a quick drive can create space. Offer a clear target instead of all running towards the ball.
Try it: With a friend as C, start in your allowed goal third. Wait for “whistle”, change pace and meet the pass in the centre third.
Only GS and GA can score goals, shooting from inside their attacking goal circle. The circle line counts as inside.
Balance before power. Keep your feet steady, soften your knees and look at the ring. Reach up and let your wrist finish the shot.
Try it: Take five close shots. Hold your finish for a moment after each release. Count balanced finishes as well as goals.
Your bib decides which parts of the court you can use. Entering a forbidden area is offside, even when you don’t have the ball.
Know your next move. Check the position court above. Find space within your areas so the passer has a useful option.
Try it: Pick a bib and point to its allowed thirds and circles. Then walk its boundaries with a friend calling “in” or “offside”.
Don’t skip a whole third: the ball needs a player’s touch in each third. Leave enough passing space for an opponent to deflect or intercept. Handing it straight over is too short.
Pass, then move. Once the ball leaves your hands, find a new open space in your allowed area. Give your teammate their next option.
Try it: Mark three thirds with cones. With friends spread across them, work the ball from one end to the other. After each pass, offer a new angle.
Pick one mini practice to try with a friend at your next training.
Standard seven-a-side rules, simplified for learning. Junior competitions can change timings, distances and other rules. Ask your coach which apply to your team.
Rule checks: World Netball rulebook, contact and short-pass explainers, Netball Queensland basics. The mini practices are ideas to try with your coach.
Pass with purpose.
Cheer each other on.
Have a whole lot of fun.
Ten questions. How many can you get right?
Finish strong and put your score on the board.
Most correct answers wins. Time breaks a tie. The clock runs while you answer and pauses while you read the feedback.
Public nicknames. No accounts.
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