NetballExplained

How High Is a Netball Post?

The official height of a netball goalpost, how it's measured, and how junior posts sometimes differ.

Written by Claire McDonald · Last updated

A netball goalpost is 3.05m (10ft) tall, measured from the ground to the top of the ring — the same height as a basketball hoop, though the two sports measure and use that height very differently.

It's a detail few players think about once they're used to it, but the exact height of the post shapes technique for every shooter.

The official height

A regulation netball post is 3.05m (10ft) high. The World Netball rules specify a vertical metal pole 3.05m high, with the ring attached at the top on a short horizontal bar — so the ring sits at the top of the post, 3.05m off the ground (Rule 1). The rules are written for international play, and they allow a lower post for young children who are just starting out (Rule 21).

What the post is made of

The rules set out each part (Rule 1):

  • The pole — metal, 65–100mm in diameter, covered along its whole length with padding up to 50mm thick.
  • The bar — a horizontal metal bar 150mm long, projecting from the front edge at the top of the pole.
  • The ring — steel rod 15mm thick, with an internal diameter of 380mm (15in).
  • The net — open at the top and bottom, between 380mm and 457mm long.

The post stands at the mid-point of the goal line, fixed so it barely moves when knocked. A 380mm ring leaves only around 15cm to spare around a match ball, which is part of why shooting accuracy depends so much on a soft, consistent arc rather than raw power. See how to shoot for how that arc is built.

Junior post heights

Younger junior players often use a lower post height, stepped down gradually as players get older, similar to the way ball size steps down for younger age groups — see what size is a netball? for that comparison. Exact junior post heights vary by governing body and programme, so check with your child's specific club or association rather than assuming one standard applies everywhere — see how do junior netball formats differ? for why this varies at all.

Same height as a basketball hoop — used very differently

Netball's post height happens to match a basketball hoop's 3.05m (10ft), but the two sports use that height quite differently — netball has no backboard to bank a shot off. See netball vs basketball for more on how the two sports diverge despite sharing some basic dimensions.

Where to go next

See the netball court explained for how the post fits into the wider court layout, and the goal circle for the rules governing where shots can legally be taken from.

Sources

All information on this page is given to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing (October 2026), after referring to the official sources below.