Who Can Shoot in Netball?

This is one of the most common questions from anyone new to netball — and the answer is the same regardless of which specific position you're asking about.

The short answer

Only two of the seven positions can shoot: Goal Shooter (GS) and Goal Attack (GA). Every other position — Wing Attack, Centre, Wing Defence, Goal Defence and Goal Keeper — is never allowed to shoot, even if they somehow found themselves legally inside the attacking circle.

Why just these two

Netball's position structure deliberately restricts which players can enter the attacking goal circle at all — see the goal circle — and shooting can only happen from inside it. GS and GA are the only two positions permitted into that space, which is what makes them, and only them, able to score.

Can Wing Attack shoot?

No. Wing Attack can feed the ball right up to the edge of the circle but is never permitted to enter it, so it can never take a shot, regardless of how open it might be.

Can Centre shoot?

No. Centre covers every third of the court but is excluded from both goal circles entirely.

Can defenders shoot?

No. Goal Keeper, Goal Defence and Wing Defence are defensive positions restricted to the defensive half of the court and, for two of them, the defensive circle only — none of them can ever enter the attacking circle, so none of them can shoot.

What GS and GA do differently

Although both can shoot, they're not identical: Goal Shooter is restricted purely to the attacking third and circle, while Goal Attack also covers the centre third and splits time between shooting and feeding the circle.

Where to go next

See how is netball scored? for how a shot actually counts, and the goal circle for the rule that defines who can enter it in the first place.