A Parent's Guide to Netball
A plain-English guide for parents whose child has just started playing netball: positions, kit, match length and what to expect on the sideline.
Netball is played by two teams of seven, each restricted to certain areas of the court by position; your child's bib tells you their position and where on court they're allowed to go, which explains most of what you'll see from the sideline.
If your child has just started playing netball, this guide covers what you'll actually need to know as a parent watching from the sideline — without assuming you already know the sport.
Start with the bib, not the ball
Every player wears a bib with letters on it — GS, GA, WA, C, WD, GD or GK — and those letters are the single most useful thing to understand first. They show your child's position, and each position is only allowed into certain parts of the court. That's why you'll see your child stay in one area even when the ball goes elsewhere — they're not avoiding play, they're following the rules. See the 7 netball positions explained for what each letter means and where that position can go.
Only two positions can score
Only Goal Shooter (GS) and Goal Attack (GA) are allowed to shoot. If your child plays any other position, they contribute to attack by moving the ball into a position for the shooters, or to defence by marking and intercepting — not by scoring themselves. That's completely normal and not a sign they're playing a "lesser" role.
Why no one runs with the ball
Unlike football or basketball, netball has no running or dribbling with the ball — players move it only by passing. Once your child catches the ball, they have to release it within three seconds, and there are specific rules about how they're allowed to move their feet. This is often the biggest adjustment for a child coming from another sport. See netball rules for beginners for the essentials.
What junior matches look like
Junior matches are usually shorter than the adult standard of four 15-minute quarters, and the exact length varies by age group and by governing body or club — see how long is a netball match?. Many junior programmes also use modified rules or a smaller ball size (see what size is a netball?) appropriate to the age group. Check with your child's specific club or programme for the format they use, since junior formats are not standardised worldwide.
What to bring to training and matches
At minimum: the right size netball, non-marking court shoes, and comfortable sportswear. See what equipment do you need for netball? for the full list, including what's optional.
Common umpire calls you'll hear
You'll hear the umpire call things like "footwork", "obstruction", "offside" or "held ball". These aren't judgement calls on effort — they're specific, defined infringements. If you want to understand what a call actually means, our rules section explains each one in plain English, including what the umpire is looking for and what happens next.
The most useful thing you can do as a new netball parent
Learn your child's position first, then the handful of rules that come up most often — footwork, the three-second rule, and staying 0.9m away when defending. Everything else in netball builds on those basics, and they're enough to follow almost any match.