NetballExplained
Rule Restarts sanctions Beginner

Throw-In Rules in Netball

Netball throw-in rules explained: where it's taken from, the 15cm foot rule, where the ball must go, and what happens if it's taken wrongly.

Written by Claire McDonald · Last reviewed

A throw-in is taken from outside the court, in line with where the ball went out, by the team that didn't touch it last. The thrower stands with a foot within 15cm of the line, must release the ball within three seconds without stepping onto the court, and can take it as soon as they're in position.

Difficulty
Beginner
Written for
Player, parent, umpire
Rule group
Restarts sanctions

The throw-in restarts play every time the ball goes out of court, and it has its own positioning rules.

The rule in plain English

The thrower (Rule 6.11–6.14):

  • stands outside the court, at the point the umpire indicates, with at least one foot within 15cm of the line — this foot counts as the landing foot;
  • may not step behind an area their position isn't allowed in while holding the ball;
  • may not step onto the court — including the lines — until the ball has been released;
  • must release the ball within three seconds, and obey the footwork rule;
  • must throw the ball so it enters the court.

The thrower doesn't have to wait for every player to be back on court — under the 2024 rules, they can take the throw-in as soon as they're in position. But a player who went out of court to fetch the ball or take the throw-in must be allowed back on at the point where they left (Rule 6.10).

Where the ball must go

  • From the goal line: into the goal third.
  • From a side line: into the nearest or adjacent third.
Where a side-line throw-in can go A court from above with the thrower standing outside the bottom side line, level with the left-hand goal third. Arrows show the ball may go into that goal third or into the adjacent centre third, but not over the centre third into the far goal third. An inset shows the thrower's nearer foot within 15 centimetres of the line, outside the court. T Nearest third Adjacent third Not allowed Side line Court Foot within 15 cm
A side-line throw-in. The thrower (T) stands outside the court with at least one foot within 15cm of the line at the point the umpire indicates — that foot counts as the landing foot (inset). They can't step onto or over the line until the ball has gone. From a side line, the ball must go into the nearest or adjacent third; from the goal line, into the goal third.

Defending a throw-in

The normal obstruction rule applies: to defend the thrower, you must be at least 0.9m from their landing foot (the one within 15cm of the line). There's no separate distance from the boundary line.

A simple example

The ball goes out over the side line off a defender. The attacking team's Wing Attack collects it, stands just outside the side line in line with where it went out, with one foot close to the line, and throws it into the attacking third within three seconds.

Legal Illegal
A foot within 15cm of the line, the other wherever is comfortable Standing a metre back from the line
Throwing from the side line into the nearest or adjacent third Throwing from the goal line into the centre third
Stepping onto the court after releasing the ball Stepping onto the line or court before releasing the ball
Taking it straight away, without waiting for everyone to be on court Holding the ball for more than three seconds

What the umpire is looking for

The thrower's foot position relative to the line, where the ball goes, and the three-second count.

Restart if it goes wrong

  • Incorrect throw-in (wrong position, stepping onto the court early, or the ball not entering the court): a throw-in to the other team.
  • Over a third from a throw-in: a free pass to the other team in the third where the ball entered incorrectly.
  • Ball going out again untouched from the throw-in: a throw-in to the other team where it went out.

Common misunderstandings

  • "The thrower can step in as soon as the ball leaves their hands." Correct — the restriction only lasts until the ball is released.
  • "Everyone has to be back on court first." Not under the 2024 rules.
  • "Defenders must stand 0.9m back from the line." No — the 0.9m is measured from the thrower's landing foot, and only applies if you're defending the thrower.

Player tips

  • Get to the right spot quickly — a fast throw-in can catch the defence out of position.
  • Know which thirds you're allowed to throw into from where you're standing.

Umpire tips

  • Indicate the exact spot clearly. Each umpire makes all throw-in decisions on their own side line.

Throw-ins follow directly from out of court, and use the same distance rule as obstruction elsewhere on court.

Common mistakes

  • The thrower stepping onto the court, or onto the line, before releasing the ball.
  • Throwing from the goal line into the centre third, or from the side line over a third.
  • Defending the thrower from closer than 0.9m from their landing foot.

Official source: checked against the World Netball Rules 2024, published by World Netball. Last checked 10 October 2026.

Always check the official World Netball rulebook for the definitive, current wording. This site explains and illustrates the rules; it does not replace them.