Home › UK Rules › Sports › Netball
RULES OF NETBALL UK: This section simplifies the IFNA official rules and regulations of netball.
You will find all the match tactics and scoring strategies for seasoned players as well as absolute beginners.
We cover all the regulatory laws and rulings taken from the official codified rules of the International Federation of Netball Associations.
Ladies and gents, yes men play netball too, can use this help guide to speed up your game and master all seven netball playing positions.
You will also learn about the contact and obstruction offside infringement. It is one of the most misunderstood rules in netball.
When 'net ball rules' were first invented historically in 1892, they became the new accepted version of basketball game. It was the trendy new sport played mostly by women.
Time passed as simple netball rules became increasingly popular during the 20th century. Competitive ladies' England netball matches spread around the United Kingdom and elsewhere internationally.
Basic netball rules and positions allow two teams of seven outfield players dashing around the court using sharp shooting skills. They are masters of one handed passes and footwork coaching drills.
IFNA and England Netball regulations control and govern the game. It consists of four separate timed quarters lasting 15 minutes each.
In short, the simple object of netball is scoring more goals (often called baskets or hoops) than the opposite team within the allocated time frame.
The scoring system in netball, known as odds and evens, keeps track when shooters score (e.g. when the ball drops through the goal ring).
The match official signals (whistles) the start and finish of each quarter. The referee also blows the whistle each time a player scores a goal. Netball regulation play lasts for a total of 60 minutes, as a rule.
Netball rules allow a three minute break in-between each quarter. There is a five minute rest period at half time. The half time break occurs between the end of the second quarter and the beginning of the third.
Extra time is usually added on for injuries sustained during the match. But you cannot play more than two minutes of injury time under the official rules of netball UK.
The rules and regulations for netball say there must be one goal ring hoop positioned at each end of the court.
Contact Rule: Netball rules and regulations for contact and obstruction laws regulate physical charging. They do not allow pushing, tripping, or holding an opponent on the ball.
Obstruction Rule: Players cannot cause deliberate or accidental contact in netball. Obstructing or impeding opposing team members is a breach of netball rules.
Offside Rule: Netball offside regulations keep positional players inside their designated boundaries.
Note: Going offside in netball results in a free pass for the opposition taken within the same third.
What is footwork in netball? The netball footwork rule comes into play after catching the ball. At that moment you can land or stand on:
The principle penalty infringements do not allow any of the following procedures:
The five chief penalty and infringement definitions are as follows:
A ball out of court means it made contact with anything outside the court area. The exception would be the goalpost.
The ball gets thrown back into play from out of court. The throw should occur from the point where the ball went through the court boundary lines.
The player taking a throw in should place a foot up to (but not touching) the sideline or backline of the court. The rules state that the lines are part of the court area.
Making a foul throw is one of the fouls given in netball. No part of your foot can touch the line during the throw in.
You cannot step into the court while taking the throw in either. But, when you take the throw in at least one foot must be within 15 cm (6 inches) of the court line.
What if you want another player to take the throw in? You should not walk on to the court to pass the ball to another player. Leave the ball on the floor outside the court line for the other player to pick up.
The rules and regulations in netball dictate that an additional role of netball umpires is to oversee and control the regulatory policies for blood wounds.
The policy calls for a maximum two minute stoppage time if the umpire observes blood on a player, on the ball, or anywhere else on the court. Three player revolving substitutions can replace injured or ill team mates.
Only a Goal Scorer (GS) or Goal Attacker (GA) can legally score goals. They must be inside the circle when they receive the ball before shooting for the hoop.
Shooters or attackers score by throwing the net ball through the opponent's goal ring.
Important: The goal scorer must be completely inside the goal circle and the ball must pass all the way through the hoop.
All netball officials must be fully conversant with the role and responsibilities of umpires in controlling all aspects of the game.
It includes regulating the rules of player infringements, setting penalties, and the handling of any players who are deliberately delaying the game.
The goal of netball is to score more points than your opposing team during an allotted time frame. Goals convert into points and the aim is to end the game with the most points (usually one hour per match).
Netball Rules and Regulations: Official Laws of England Netball