Netball words · Beginner

The words you will hear in your first match, grouped the way you meet them.

B · Beginner · 30 words · Step 1 of 2

Basic setup terms

Team

Seven players on the court at a time. A team may name up to twelve players and must have at least five to play, one of them playing as Centre. It may also have up to five team officials (six if a team doctor is used), including a coach and at least one primary care person.

Court

A rectangle 30.5 m long and 15.25 m wide, split by two transverse lines into three equal areas: the centre third and a goal third at each end. A circle 0.9 m across marks the centre, and all lines are 50 mm wide. A court surround 3.05 m wide runs around it.

Goal ring

The ring on each goalpost, a steel ring with an inside diameter of 380 mm, attached by a short horizontal bar to the top of a padded pole 3.05 m high set at the middle of the goal line. A net 380 to 457 mm long hangs from the ring, open at top and bottom.

Also called: goalpost, ring

Goal circle

A semi-circle of 4.9 m radius at each end of the court, centred on the middle of the outside of the goal line. A goal can only be scored from inside it, including its lines, and only by the Goal Shooter or Goal Attack.

Quarter

A match is four quarters of 15 minutes of playing time. There is a four-minute interval after the first and third quarters and a 12-minute half-time (8 minutes if the organiser and both teams agree). Teams change ends each quarter.

Umpire

Two umpires control a match, each one half of the court, with a reserve umpire at the umpires' bench. They penalise infringements by whistle, the correct spoken terminology and a hand signal, and decide any matter the rules do not cover.

Ball

A spherical ball of leather, rubber or synthetic material, 690 to 710 mm round and 400 to 450 g. International play uses three-ply balls; a two-ply ball may be used at lower levels.

Scoring terms

Goal

Scored when the ball passes above and completely through the ring after a shot by the Goal Shooter or Goal Attack from anywhere in the goal circle, lines included. A goal still counts if a defender deflects the shot. The team with more goals wins.

Centre pass

The pass that starts each period of play and restarts play after each goal. The two Centres take it alternately. The Centre takes it with at least one foot wholly in the centre circle, must release the ball within three seconds, and the ball must be touched or caught by a player in the centre third.

Shot

A throw, bat or deflection of the ball by the Goal Shooter or Goal Attack towards the ring, without the ball first touching the ground. The shooter must have no contact with the ground outside the goal circle, must shoot within three seconds of catching the ball and must obey the footwork rule; otherwise it is a free pass and no goal.

Playing terms and key rules

Footwork

The rule for a player holding the ball. After catching it, the player has a landing foot (one-foot or two-foot landing) and may step with the other foot, pivot or jump, but must pass or shoot before regrounding the landing foot or both feet. A player may not drag or slide the landing foot, hop, or jump from both feet and land on both with the ball.

Also called: footwork rule
See also: Landing foot, Pivot

The ruleWhat is the footwork rule in netball?

Held ball

A player in possession of the ball must pass or shoot within three seconds. If not, the other team gets a free pass. The same limit applies to the Centre at a centre pass and to a shot.

Also called: 3-second rule
See also: Centre pass, Centre, Possession, Free pass

Obstruction

A major infringement by a defender who is closer than 0.9 m (3 ft) to a player holding the ball and tries to deflect, intercept or defend. The distance is measured on the ground from the landing foot to the defender's nearer foot. Defenders within that distance may stand there if they do not interfere. A player without the ball within 0.9 m of an opponent may not use arms away from the body to prevent the opponent moving. The sanction is a penalty pass.

Contact

A major infringement: physical contact with an opponent that unfairly interferes with play, whether accidental or deliberate, and that causes loss of the ball, interference with a pass or shot, or a change in the opponent's body position that prevents free movement. Incidental contact is fair contest. The sanction is a penalty pass.

Offside

A player enters a court area that is not designated for that position, whether or not touching the ball. Touching but not going over the line is not offside. The sanction is a free pass where the player entered. A player may reach into an offside area for the ball provided there is no contact with the ground there.

Interception

Gaining possession of the ball from the opposing team after it has been passed or shot. To deflect is to touch the ball after it has been passed or shot and change its path.

Positions and zones

Goal Shooter

A position that plays in the goal third at the end where the team shoots, including the goal circle, and may shoot for goal. Only the Goal Shooter and the Goal Attack may shoot.

Also called: GS
See also: Goal circle, Goal Attack

Wing attack

A position that plays in the attacking goal third outside the goal circle and in the centre third. The Wing Attack may not enter the goal circle.

Also called: WA
See also: Goal circle, Centre

Goal defence

A position that plays in the centre third, the defending goal third and the defending goal circle, but not the attacking goal third.

Also called: GD
See also: Goal circle, Centre

Thirds

The two transverse lines divide the court into three equal areas: the centre third and a goal third at each end. A pass must be caught or touched by a player in each third, and each position may play only in certain thirds.

Goal Attack

A position that plays in the attacking goal third, including the goal circle, and the centre third. The Goal Attack and Goal Shooter are the only players who may shoot.

Also called: GA
See also: Goal circle, Goal Shooter, Centre

Centre

The position that plays everywhere except the two goal circles. A team must always have a Centre on the court, and the Centres take the centre passes.

Also called: C

Wing Defence

A position that plays in the centre third and in the defending goal third outside the goal circle.

Also called: WD
See also: Goal circle, Centre

Goal Keeper

A position that plays only in the defending goal third, including the defending goal circle.

Also called: GK
See also: Goal circle

Passing and possession

Possession

A player holds the ball with one or both hands, or has one or both hands on the ball while it is on the ground. A player may gain possession by catching, rolling the ball to oneself, batting or bouncing it once and then catching it, or touching it in an uncontrolled way and then catching it.

Pass

Throwing, batting or bouncing the ball to a player, dropping it, or putting it on the ground and removing the hands. A player may pass with one or both hands, may not kick or punch the ball or roll it to another player, and may not pass while lying, sitting or kneeling.

Throw-in

The action that restarts play after the ball goes out of court, awarded to the team that did not touch it last, in line with where it went out. The thrower stands outside the court with one foot within 15 cm of the line, must pass the ball into the goal third (from the goal line) or the nearest or adjacent third (from a side line), and may not enter the court before releasing the ball.

Out of court

The ball is out when it touches the ground, or any person or object in contact with the ground, outside the court. A player who catches it in the air and lands partly or wholly outside, or touches it standing partly outside, puts it out. A ball is not out when it hits the goalpost and rebounds, or lands on a line.

Sanctions and discipline

Free pass

The sanction for a minor infringement, taken where the infringement occurred. The player taking it may not shoot for goal.

Penalty pass

The sanction for a major infringement, taken where the infringer was standing. The infringer stands out of play beside the player taking it, and may not move or speak until the ball is released. A Goal Shooter or Goal Attack taking one in the goal circle may pass or shoot.

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