Is netball a non-contact sport?
B · Beginner · Defending and sanctions · 8 of 8Checked 15 October 2026
Contact that interferes with an opponent's play is an infringement, deliberate or not: knocking the ball away, impeding a pass or shot, or moving the player. Contact that does not affect play is fair. Standing so close an opponent cannot move is inevitable contact. The sanction is a penalty pass.
How it works
- Contact: interferes with play.
- Deliberate or accidental: both.
- Incidental: fair contest.
- Inevitable contact: infringement.
- Landing: must be allowed.
- Moving into a still player: not allowed.
- Head or neck contact: dangerous play.
- Sanction: penalty pass.
The glossary has the contact, the inevitable contact, the landing place, the dangerous play, the advantage and the penalty pass.
Tricky cases
Two players touch but nothing changes. Foul?
No. Incidental contact.
An attacker runs into a still defender. Who is at fault?
The attacker.
A defender knocks the ball from a player's hands. Foul?
Yes, contact.
Can the umpire play on after contact?
Yes, if advantage applies.
Why the rule exists
Netball rewards movement and timing, so contact that wins the ball is punished even if accidental.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Contact | Penalty pass | L 17.1 |
| Inevitable | Contact | L 17.8 |
| Head or neck | Dangerous play | L 17.9 |
From the rule book
World Netball, Rules of Netball (2024), Rules 7 and 17. Checked 15 October 2026. Official document: World Netball Rules of Netball 2024.