Position areas are what make netball distinct. Players cannot run the whole court, so every attack is a chain of passes between players who each own part of it. Entering an area your position is not allowed in is offside.
Under World Netball rules, players wear their position initials 150 mm high on the front and back of their uniform. That makes positions easy to read from the side line, and easy to identify when reviewing match video.
Every position and its playing areas
| Position | Allowed areas | Main job |
|---|---|---|
| Goal Shooter (GS) | Attacking goal third, including the goal circle | Score goals; hold space in the circle for feeds |
| Goal Attack (GA) | Centre third and attacking goal third, including the goal circle | Score, feed GS and link the midcourt to the circle |
| Wing Attack (WA) | Centre third and attacking goal third, not the goal circle | Receive the centre pass and feed the circle |
| Centre (C) | All three thirds, not either goal circle | Take the centre pass and link defence to attack |
| Wing Defence (WD) | Centre third and defending goal third, not the goal circle | Mark the opposing WA and pressure centre passes |
| Goal Defence (GD) | Centre third and defending goal third, including the goal circle | Mark the opposing GA and defend shots |
| Goal Keeper (GK) | Defending goal third, including the goal circle | Mark the opposing GS, defend shots and rebounds |
Attack: GS, GA and WA
The Goal Shooter is the only player besides the Goal Attack who can score, and a goal only counts when the shot is taken from inside the goal circle (the lines bounding the circle count as inside). GS stays in the attacking third, so their work is about holding position, timing leads and finishing.
Goal Attack has more range, reaching into the centre third. A GA often takes a lead for the centre pass or the second phase, then drives into the circle as a second shooter. Wing Attack cannot enter the goal circle, so the WA's value is in feeding: getting to the circle edge and delivering a pass the shooters can use.
Centre: the only player in all three thirds
The Centre can play in every third but neither goal circle. They take the centre pass that restarts play after each goal and at the start of every quarter, and are usually the busiest player on court, defending in one phase and feeding the circle edge in the next.
Rule 3 also requires that one of the players on court plays Centre whenever a team takes the court, even when short of players.
Defence: WD, GD and GK
Wing Defence usually marks the opposing Wing Attack and works to disrupt centre-pass leads. Goal Defence marks the opposing Goal Attack and can enter the defending circle. Goal Keeper is limited to the defending third and circle and usually marks the Goal Shooter.
Defenders must keep at least 0.9 m (3 ft) from the player with the ball when defending them, measured on the ground; closer than that while trying to defend is obstruction. NetSetGO Go tier uses 1.2 m for younger players.
Team numbers, offside and substitutions
- A team plays with a maximum of seven players on court, and needs at least five to take the court, one of whom must play Centre.
- A player who enters an area not permitted for their position is offside, and the opposition gets a free pass where they entered. Touching, but not crossing, the line of an allowed area is not offside.
- Substitutions and team changes can be made during intervals, when play is stopped for injury, illness or blood, and as tactical changes immediately after a goal.
- The number of substitutions is unlimited, provided the players are those named for the match.
Using video to learn positions
Positions are easier to coach when players can see themselves. A wide recording from the side line shows whether a WA is leading into space or into a crowded transverse line, whether a GD is drifting out of the circle, and how the Centre moves between thirds. Because the bibs are on front and back, you can follow one position through a whole quarter.
Our netball video analysis guide covers which moments to tag and how to run a short weekly review.
Official rules and related Trackd guides
Frequently asked questions
What are the 7 positions in netball?
Goal Shooter (GS), Goal Attack (GA), Wing Attack (WA), Centre (C), Wing Defence (WD), Goal Defence (GD) and Goal Keeper (GK).
Which netball positions can score?
Only Goal Shooter and Goal Attack can score, and only from inside the attacking goal circle, including its boundary lines.
Where can Wing Attack go in netball?
Wing Attack may play in the centre third and the attacking goal third, but not in the goal circle.
Can Centre go in the goal circle?
No. Centre may play in all three thirds of the court but neither goal circle.
How many players are on a netball team?
Seven players are on court at a time. A team needs at least five on court to play, one of whom must be the Centre, and substitutions are unlimited among the players named for the match.
Film the whole netball game without holding a phone
Trackd turns a compatible iPhone into a court-side camera that follows play in Group Sports Netball mode, with no subscription required to track and record.