What is netball?
Netball is a game played by two teams of seven on a rectangle sized court that is split into five areas. The aim of the game put simply is to outscore the opposition. Teams score goals by throwing the ball into the other team’s net – though only certain players can score, more on that later! It’s also important to remember that after every goal possession alternates, so the team who conceded don’t restart every time.
Each game is split into 15-minute quarters with a break between each quarter as well as at half time. Breaks between quarters 1-2 and 3-4 are four minutes, while the half time break is 12 minutes.
The Court
A netball court can be both indoors and outdoors (all NSL games will be played indoors) and is made up of five areas: goal circles, a defending third, a middle third and an attacking third.
The Positions
A netball team is made up of seven players:
Goal Keeper
Their main aim is stopping the opposition goal shooter from scoring. To do this they are allowed in two areas of the court, the defending third and their own goal circle.
Goal Defence
Like the goal keeper, their concern is stopping the opposition scoring. Players in this position are allowed in the defending third and their goal circle. They can also move into the middle third.
Wing Defence
Playing wing defence is all about stopping the opposition getting close to your goal. In this position, you can go in the defending third and the middle third but not in the goal circle.
Centre
The centre starts and restarts play and has a dual role of supporting with defending but also getting the team on the front foot. They are allowed in any third of the court, but they can’t go in either goal circle.
Wing Attack
Concerned with getting the ball into the opposition’s D, the wing attack looks to feed the shooters. They are allowed in the middle and attacking thirds but not in the opposition’s goal circle.
Goal Attack
A goal attack has two jobs, set up the goal shooter and chip in with goals where they can. They can enter the middle and attacking thirds as well as the opposition’s goal circle.
Goal Shooter
This is a team’s main attacking threat. A goal shooter’s job is to score goals. They are allowed in the attacking third of the court and the opposition’s goal circle.
Key terminology
When watching the Netball Super League in the comfort of your own home or at an arena, cheering your team on in person, there are a few things you’ll hear on commentary, from the players or the umpires. Here’s our quick guide to the things you’ll hear at a netball game.
Footwork
If a player moves with the ball they’ll be penalised for footwork. Players can take one step in any direction, but they then cannot move the other foot other than to pivot. Players can receive the ball on either one or two feet but cannot reground or drag their landing foot once in possession of the ball.
Free Pass
A team will be awarded a free pass following an infringement by the opposing team. A free pass is normally given for minor infringements, and the penalised player can defend the pass. A player cannot shoot from a free pass
Penalty Pass
This is awarded when contact or obstruction takes place. The offending player is not in play for this and must stand by the player who is in possession, and they cannot move until the ball is played. A shot can be taken from a penalty pass.
Over a third
The ball must be caught or touched in each third. It cannot be passed directly from the defensive third to the attacking, or from a back line into the centre third without a player making contact. Either scenario will result in a free pass being awarded to the opposing team.
Short pass
This relates to how far the ball travels. Under new rules, there must be sufficient space on the court for an opposing player to be able to deflect or intercept a pass as it moves from the passer to the receiver.
Held ball
A ball is called held if the player in possession hasn’t released it within three seconds.
Replay/Repossession
A replay in netball is where a player gains control or possession, loses control or possession and then regains it again without another player touching the ball. If this happens, a free pass is awarded to the opposition.
Contact
Contact is deemed as a penalty when a player engages in physical contact with an opponent that unfairly interferes with them being able to play. A penalty pass will be given even if the contact is deemed accidental.
If the physical contact is not deemed to cause an interference to the opposition's ability to play, then a penalty will not be given and play continues.
Obstruction.
Obstruction is called when the defending player tries to intercept or defend within 3 feet / 0.9m of the landing foot of the player in possession of the ball.
Umpires
Umpires play a very important part in netball! They make sure all the players are following the rules and make sure that we can have a fair and fun game. In the Netball Super League, you’ll see two umpires covering opposite sides of the court to their right-hand side, including their own goal line, in addition to a team of technical officials and statisticians.
Rules and Regulations
The Netball Super League follows all the rules set out by World Netball for a standard seven-a-side game. But this is no standard game, and we have a few exciting differences for the relaunched Netball Super League.
Super Shot
The Super Shot gives teams in the Netball Super League the chance to score two points instead of one. There’ll be a new designated Super Shot Scoring Area in the goal circle and if a player scores from inside that area, they’ll get two goal points. If they score from closer in, they’ll still get one point. It’s important to remember the Super Shot is only in play in the last five minutes of each quarter. It’s not being used in any other England Netball leagues or competitions.
League table
No matches in either the Netball Super League or the NXT Gen League will end in a draw. Someone must win. If a game is a draw, we’ll head to extra time, there’s more on extra time further down the page.
We’ll be awarding three points for a win, while the losing team will be awarded one point if they lose by five goals or less. No points are awarded if a team loses by more than five goals.
Extra Time
Extra time looks a bit different this year. In the Netball Super League if a game is level after 60 minutes, five minutes of extra time will be played each way, with a one-minute half time. If after that period of extra time the game is still level, the second half will keep going until a team is two points clear.
NXT Gen games have no set time for extra-time. They’ll continue playing until a team goes two goals clear.
Tactical Time Outs
After a goal is scored, an on-court player can call for a tactical time out. Time is then stopped for 90 seconds with players allowed to leave the court. It's primary use is for a team to regroup and for coaches to pass on key tactical information. Each team is allowed to call for a tactical time out once per game.
Player replacements
Clubs this season can promote players from either their NXT Gen side or Team Bath’s NXT Gen squad as a temporary replacement for a player named in their initial squad list. If a player is chosen from Team Bath, that player is only able to represent the NSL team that calls them up first, they aren’t eligible to play for another NSL side for the remainder of the season.
