What Equipment Do You Need for Netball?
The equipment you actually need to start playing netball: ball, footwear, clothing, and what's optional versus essential.
To play netball you need a size 5 netball (size 4 for most juniors), non-marking court shoes, and comfortable sportswear — bibs, a post and a marked court are usually provided by the club or venue.
Netball has a low equipment barrier compared with many team sports — you can start playing with very little of your own kit.
The essentials
- A netball — size 5 for adults and most teenagers, size 4 for most younger juniors. See what size is a netball? for exact sizing by age group.
- Court shoes — a non-marking sole is usually required indoors, and good lateral support matters because netball involves a lot of sudden stopping, landing and changing direction. Dedicated netball or court shoes are worth it once you're playing regularly; a general trainer with a flat, non-marking sole is fine to start.
- Comfortable, close-fitting sportswear — a t-shirt or vest and shorts or a skort. Nothing with pockets, zips or drawstrings that could catch a finger or the ball.
What the club or venue usually provides
- Bibs showing your position (GS, GA, WA, C, WD, GD, GK) — the umpire uses these to check players stay in their permitted areas.
- The court and goalposts.
- Match balls for games, though many players still bring their own for training.
Optional extras
- A mouthguard — not compulsory under the core rules, but some leagues and most junior programmes require or strongly recommend one.
- Strapping or a knee/ankle support, if recommended by a physiotherapist for a specific issue — not something to self-prescribe.
- A tracksuit or warm layer for outdoor courts and pre-match warm-ups.
What you don't need
You don't need shin pads, a helmet, gloves, or any padded protective equipment — netball is a non-contact sport and doesn't require it.
Buying your first netball
If you're choosing a ball for practising at home as well as club sessions, see what size is a netball? to make sure you get the right size for the player's age and the level they're playing at.