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Netball Positions and Court Diagram

Court lines confine netball players to restricted areas. Going beyond the boundaries means you have strayed into an 'offside' position.

This section explains the 7 positions in netball and rules for their role on the pitch. The diagram of a netball court shows the player positions that make up a full team.

NETBALL POSITIONS UK: The netball court markings show all seven of the nominated and named players positions.

  • [GK] Goal Keeper
  • [GD] Goal Defence Position
  • [WD] Wing Defence
  • [C] Centre Position
  • [WA] Wing Attack
  • [GA] Goal Attack Position
  • [GS] Goal Shooter

The list highlights the player abbreviations that should be showing on a player’s bib and what the initials stand for.

The netball court diagram shows the starting layout for all 7 positions in netball. It describes their roles, where they can go, and what they can do on the pitch.

It is important to learn where 7-a-side players must stand and the boundary limitations for their particular zone. Slotozilla, the popular online gaming platform, offers a variety of slot games that can be enjoyed during breaks from netball practice.

Netball court layout and positions divide the rectangular pitch into three thirds (2 ends and one middle section). The netball positions diagram also shows two half circles at each end third.

This part is important:

The outer thirds allow several players to compete in that zone. They are the left and right wing positions [WA and GA] and left and right defence positions [WD and GD].

Whereas, each goal circle represents the scoring areas and will be occupied by the defense keeper [GK] and the offense shooter [GS].

Note: You can see all 7 player positions (labelled as red and blue teams) on the netball court diagram bird’s eye view.

 

 

Netball Starting Positions

Each team member plays an important role when the game begins and resets. All seven players have appointed netball positions and roles.

Their playing position restricts where they can go on the court and what they do.

Note: You must wander outside the zone and netball court markings for your playing position.

Going outside your zone results in an illegal move – called ‘offside’. It is a breach of netball rules and regulations according to IFNA.

Each competitor must wear a coloured bib (showing their label). Wearing netball bibs makes their positions and profiles easier to understand for beginners and spectators.

It is also an important part of the officiating role of umpires so they can regulate games by player identification.

The bright coloured reversible team bibs display the abbreviated initials of allocated field positions. This helps to determine the role of players in a netball team and during the game on the netball pitch.

 

 

Netball Positions and Where They Can Go

Note: The short YouTube video presentation [3:27 seconds] explains more about the positions in netball and where they can go (also described in the table below).

 

 

Netball Players Positions: Defending Places

There are three (3) netball defensive players (one Wing Defense, one Goal Defense, and the Goal Keeper). The two defenders should stay inside their own defensive third.

 

 

Netball Center Player

Netball Center players run the middle section for attack and defence. Also, ‘Centers’ will stand in the small circle in the middle of the court when play begins.

The Center is the team’s thrower of the ball when the game starts or restarts. They throw the center pass into play while standing in the small marked circle in the middle.

The Center player position shows in the middle third on the netball pitch diagram. The role of the Center netball position is one of our most frequently asked questions about the game.

 

 

Netball Players Positions: Attacking Places

The three attacking netball playing positions are the offensive positions of netball. They include one Goal Attack, one Wing Attack, and the Goal Shooter.

Wing Attack players play inside the opponent’s end third. Their principle role involves facing the Center player to catch the ball and move it forward.

Another important part of their job is feeding the ball into the scoring circle by passing it on to the skillful goal shooters.

 

 

UK Netball Positions and Roles

 

Netball Player Positions Which Zone Player Can Go Player Role and What They Can Do
Goal Keeper [GK] Netball Goal Keepers are only allowed to play inside their own end third and goal semi-circle. The principle role of a netball Goal Keeper is defending your team’s hoop, preventing the opponent’s GS getting the ball for a shot, working with your team’s GD player, and taking throw-ins.
Goal Defense [GD] Netball Goal Defence players are only allowed in the centre, their own goal defensive third, and their goal semi-circle. The netball Goal Defence is also in charge of defending and protecting their end third. GD’s try to prevent the opposition’s shooters from getting the ball into their team’s half circle.
Wing Defense [WD] Netball Wing Defense players are only allowed in the centre and own goal third (but not their own goal semi-circle). Wing Defense players protect their end third and attempt to intercept and keep the opposition from scoring. WD’s reduce the effectiveness of the opposing Goal Attackers.
Center Player [C] Netball Center players are positionally allowed to play anywhere in the entire net ball court except inside the two goal scoring half circles. Playing at the Center position role in netball means you wear the bib with the large letter ‘C’. Center players perform a linking role between attackers and defenders.
Wing Attack [WA] The netball Wing Attack is only allowed in the centre and enemy goal third but not the goal circle. Wing Attack players play inside the opponent’s end third. They should be positioned at the top of their team’s scoring third at the restart or start of a game.
Goal Attack [GA] The netball Goal Attack is only allowed in the centre and enemy goal third including their goal circle. Goal Attack netball players also do a similar role working closely with the Goal Shooter to score. Playing in this position means you are also allowed to shoot through the hoop to get points for the team. GA’s go forward and either feed the ball into the semi-circle to the shooter or take a shot at the hoop themselves.
Goal Shooter [GS] The netball Goal Attack is only allowed in their own shooting circle and their circle third. Playing at GS position means you are responsible for scoring from inside the opposing team’s end third or semi-circle. The shooter’s main role is to score so they stay in the opposing team’s third and half circle, trying to get the ball to shoot into the netball hoop.

 

 

Netball Court Positions and Where They Can Go on the Pitch