What's Netball?

The objective of a game of netball is for players to pass the ball to a teammate within the opposition's goal circle and score goals. The team with the most goals at the end of a game is the winner. Like basketball, netball is played on either a hard or soft court with scoring hoops or "rings" at both ends. The court is divided into thirds that regulate where individuals of each position are allowed to move. Both the height and diameter of the rings are smaller than basketball hoops. It is possible to play netball using a basketball hoop but if there is any contact between the ball and the backboard, the ball is considered out of play. If a goal is scored off the backboard it does not count.

The ball resembles a basketball but is lighter, smaller, slightly softer in construction, and generally white. Netballs will often have patterns engraved or stitched into its design similar to volleyballs. Gilbert is the official ball supplier of the International Federation of Netball Associations.

There are seven players on each team, who are given nominated, named positions (some junior/training variants have only five players per team). Each player must wear a "bib" showing one of the abbreviations below, indicating that player's position. Each player is only allowed in certain areas of the court: a player in a section of court that is not part of their playing area is deemed "offside".

Only the Goal Attack and Goal Shooter are able to score goals directly. The job of the Goal Defense and Goal Keeper is to block the Goal Attack and Goal Shooter from shooting. A ball that passes through the hoop, but has been thrown either from outside the circle or by a player not the GA or GS, is deemed a "no goal". Furthermore, a shooter (GA or GS) may not shoot for a goal if a "free pass" has been awarded for an infringement such as stepping, offside, or using the post.