Whether you’re playing your first game or watching from the sidelines, you might be wondering: what are the positions in netball, and where can each player go on the court?
In this guide, we break down all 7 netball positions and roles so you can understand the game with confidence.
How many positions are there in netball?
A standard netball team consists of 7 players, each assigned specific netball positions on court. With two teams competing, there are 14 players on court at any given time.
Substitutions can be made; therefore, the squad may consist of more than 7 players.
The 7 netball positions and their roles
Goal Shooter (GS)
Role: The team’s primary goal scorer.
Key Responsibilities: Works inside the goal circle to score goals and gain rebounds.
Goal Attack (GA)
Role: A versatile attacker who both moves the ball towards the goal circle and scores.
Key Responsibilities: Sets up scoring opportunities for the Goal Shooter and takes shots on goal.
Wing Attack (WA)
Role: The primary playmaker in the attack zone.
Key Responsibilities: Transitions the ball through the court and passes (“feeds”) the ball into the shooters.
Centre (C)
Role: The engine of the team.
Key Responsibilities: Restarts play after every goal from the centre circle, drives ball movement across the court, and supports both attack and defence.
Wing Defence (WD)
Role: The outer defensive link.
Key Responsibilities: Disrupts opposition attacks and transitions intercepted balls forward.
Goal Defence (GD)
Role: Active defender tracking opposition shooters.
Key Responsibilities: Blocks opposition ball delivery into the circle and challenges shots.
Goal Keeper (GK)
Role: The last line of defence.
Key Responsibilities: Defends against the opposition Goal Shooter (GS), wins rebounds, and guards the goal circle.
Where can each netball position go on court?
In order to fully explain where each position can go when the ball is in play, it helps to first understand the layout of the court and where each position begins play.
The court is divided into thirds – a centre third and two goal thirds. The diagram below shows a court and where each position begins play – play restarts after either team scores a goal and players much return to their starting positions.
The diagrams below show the “zones” that each player may enter. Any player going outside their designated zones will result in a foul and the ball will be given to the other team.
Both teams take to the court...
The opposing team will set-up their players from the opposite end of the court, so their Goal Keeper will stand with your teams Goal Shooter, and so on, down the court.
Netball position rules: a quick recap
Keep these key facts in mind next time you step onto the court or watch a match:
- 2 teams of 7 players on court.
- 7 distinct netball positions, each with distinct netball zones on court.
- Only GS and GA are allowed to score goals.
Ready for 2027?
Now’s the time to get your team together and start preparing.
Our 2027 netball tournament weekends are the perfect chance to put your skills to the test, take on new teams and enjoy a brilliant weekend of competitive netball.
Train hard. Play together. Make memories.
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