Netball positions explained
What each position does, and — where the sport restricts it — where that player is allowed to go. Taken from the same rules reference built into the Squaddie app.
How many positions are there in netball?
Every position is restricted to specific thirds of the court — this is what stops the game turning into a scrum around the ball.
The 7 netball positions
| Position | Role | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Goal Shooter (GS) | Shoots for goal and works in the attacking circle. Allowed in the goal third only. | Attack |
| Goal Attack (GA) | Feeds shooters and can also shoot. Allowed in the goal and centre thirds. | Attack |
| Wing Attack (WA) | Feeds the circle but cannot enter it. Allowed in the goal and centre thirds. | Attack |
| Centre (C) | Links defence to attack; the only position allowed in all three thirds (not the goal circles). | Mid |
| Wing Defence (WD) | Marks the opposing WA and disrupts the feed into attack. Allowed in the defence and centre thirds. | Defence |
| Goal Defence (GD) | Marks the opposing GA. Allowed in the defence and centre thirds. | Defence |
| Goal Keeper (GK) | Marks the opposing GS in the circle. Allowed in the goal third only. | Defence |
Grouped by role
Attack
- Goal Shooter (GS)
- Goal Attack (GA)
- Wing Attack (WA)
Mid
- Centre (C)
Defence
- Wing Defence (WD)
- Goal Defence (GD)
- Goal Keeper (GK)
Should junior players stick to one position?
The practical exception is goalkeeper in the sports that have one, where some children genuinely want the role and are happy in it. Even then it is worth checking in, because a fixed keeper has a very different experience of a season from everyone else.
Rotating positions and rotating playing time are separate problems, and it helps to treat them separately — see how to plan player rotations for the mechanics, and fair playing time for the policy behind it.
Where these come from
Based on the World Netball Rules of Netball, as adopted by Netball NZ and Netball Australia. Match length and squad rules often vary at school/club grade — check your competition handbook.
Governing bodies: Netball New Zealand · Netball Australia · World Netball (global law book)
Last reviewed: September 2026. Junior formats vary by region and are revised between seasons — your competition handbook takes precedence over anything here. The full netball rules reference has formats, scoring, fouls and timings.
Netball rules
Formats, positions, timing and the junior variations, with the governing bodies they come from.
Netball rotation generator
Work out who plays which position each quarter, with playing time spread evenly across the squad.
Netball team management app
How Squaddie handles lineups, rotations and playing time for netball teams.
Build a lineup with these positions.
Squaddie knows the formats and positions for netball, so you are picking a team rather than describing your sport to an app.
Get started freeFree forever for your first team · No credit card
