Netball Substitution Rules

The 2024 rules gave teams much more flexibility to change players during a match.

Two kinds of change

• Substitution — a bench player comes on to replace a player on court.
• Team change — two on-court players swap positions.

A tactical change is any substitution or team change made for a reason other than injury, illness or blood.

When changes can be made

Both teams can make substitutions and team changes (Rules 10.1–10.2):

• during any interval (quarter breaks and half-time);
• during a stoppage for injury, illness or blood;
• immediately after a goal is scored — new in 2024 — when an on-court player asks the umpire to hold time for a tactical change.

How a tactical change after a goal works

For a change straight after a goal (Rule 10.2):

• an on-court player asks the umpire to hold time, and the umpire must be clear it's for a tactical change, not an injury;
• players leaving the court or changing positions do so without delay;
• substitutes take their positions without delay;
• all team officials, including primary care persons, stay at the team bench;
• the umpire restarts play quickly.

If a team takes too long, it's penalised for delaying play immediately after the whistle for the next centre pass (Rule 10.3).

How many changes?

Under the World Netball rules, the number of substitutions and team changes is unlimited, as long as the players are those named for the match — up to 12 players per team (Rule 10.4). Players can come off and go back on. If requests for tactical changes become frivolous, the umpires may refuse them or penalise the team for delaying play.

Other competitions

Competitions below international level can vary these rules. For example, some leagues use rolling substitutions, where players swap on the move without play stopping — Super Netball in Australia is one example, and Netball Australia publishes a recommended bylaw for using them in community competitions. A competition uses either rolling or tactical substitutions, not both, so check your competition's rules.

Player and coach tips

• Agree in advance which on-court player will ask for a tactical change, so the request is quick and clear.
• Have substitutes ready, in bibs, before the goal is scored.

Related rules

Substitutions are closely tied to stoppages and to the centre pass that restarts play after a goal.