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The Netball Court Explained

Netball court dimensions, thirds, goal circles and lines explained, with a diagram, for players, parents and umpires.

A netball court is a 30.5m x 15.25m rectangle split into three equal thirds, with a goal circle of 4.9m radius at each end — players' positions determine which thirds and circles they may enter.

The netball court looks simple, but its lines and zones are central to how the game is played — where you're allowed to stand is decided entirely by your position.

Dimensions

A full-size netball court is a rectangle 30.5m long and 15.25m wide (100ft x 50ft). It's divided by two transverse lines into three equal sections, each 10.17m long.

Netball court diagram — The netball court: three equal thirds and a goal circle at each end

Defensive third Centre third Attacking third

The netball court: three equal thirds and a goal circle at each end

The three thirds

  • Defensive third — the third containing the goal circle your team is defending.
  • Centre third — the middle third, where the centre circle sits.
  • Attacking third — the third containing the goal circle your team is shooting at.

Which thirds a player may enter depends entirely on their position — see the 7 netball positions explained. Standing in a third your position isn't permitted in is offside.

The goal circles

At each end of the court is a goal circle: a semicircle with a 4.9m radius, measured from the base of the goalpost. Goals can only be shot from inside this circle, and only two positions — Goal Shooter and Goal Attack, or their opposing Goal Keeper and Goal Defence when defending — are permitted to enter it at all.

The centre circle

At the exact middle of the court is a small centre circle, 0.9m in diameter. Every centre pass — the pass that starts each quarter and restarts play after every goal — is thrown from a player standing inside it.

Goalposts

Each goalpost stands 3.05m tall, with a ring of 380mm internal diameter mounted horizontally at the top, positioned at the centre of the goal line.

Why the lines matter so much

Netball's court markings aren't just decoration — they're the mechanism behind two of the sport's defining rules: that no single player can cover the whole court, and that only specialist shooters can score. Understanding the thirds and circles makes the rest of the rulebook — offside, the centre pass, and each position's role — much easier to follow.