Very few sports have such defined positions for players as Netball. On a netball court, you have markings that determine where those players in position may go and lean towards certain skills: shooting goals, attacking, defending, passing and covering ground. This article is our introduction to positions in netball and the skills that lend themselves to success.
Why are there positions in netball?
A netball team has seven players on the court at one time, each taking on a unique position. The player wears a bib with letters on to indicate that position, and the position comes with rules as to where on the court they can go. For example, your team’s Goal Attack will have areas of the court they may play in but also be unable to go into another part of the court during the game.
For the most part, a position does not determine what you can and can’t do, though there is an exception: Wings and Centres are unable to shoot goals. And, despite certain position names being “Attack” and “Defence”, actually all players do their fair share of attacking and defending during a game – but these names within their positions do give a good indication of what their role within the team is. Here’s what the different positions in a game of netball do.
The 7 Positions in Netball
The 7 netball positions are:
- Goal Shooter (GS)
- Goal Attack (GA)
- Wing Attack (WA)
- Centre (C)
- Wing Defence (WD)
- Goal Defence (GD)
- Goal Keeper (GK)
Goal Shooter (GS)
A Goal Shooter does just this – shoots for the goal. They are only allowed to shoot a goal when in the goal circle. They convert the hard work of both mid-court & defenders into points for the team. GS are limited to staying in their goal third but can go into the goal circle.
Having the ability to create space for themselves & their co-shooter is crucial in order to get an optimal shooting position while also losing their defenders. A good goal shooter must be calm under pressure and refine their shooting skills. Technical skills such as splits & rolls should be in the toolbox of a decent Goal Shooter.
Goal Attack (GA)
GA is for Goal Attack – we can think of the GA as a hybrid Wing Attack and Goal Shooter. They’re allowed in the Centre and own Goal thirds, and can enter the goal circle. GA are the only other position (other than the GS) on the court who can shoot to score. GAs should have stamina to not only cover ground, but also accuracy in their passing as well as their shooting.
A strong GA uses speed and creativity to get the ball safely to GS and also not afraid to rise to the challenge of putting in some long range shots for the goal. They’re absolutely crucial in catching for rebounds from a GS shot, allowing for a second chance at a missed goal.
Wing Attack (WA)
WA is for Wing Attack, aka a middie, a feeder. Although the WA has a slightly smaller area of the court to cover than the GA – centre third and goal third, excluding the goal circle – WAs are hard workers who drive the attacking momentum of the team’s play and provide their shooters strong support for good shooting opportunities.
The ideal WA would have strong spatial awareness, great ball handling skills, speed and agility.
Centre (C)
The person wearing the C bib is not necessarily the captain – the C is for Centre! Centres start the game and restart after a goal. The Centre steps into the circle and makes an immediate pass within the centre third. Centres attack and defend, and cover the largest area of the court. They can go everywhere but the goal circles, in both halves of the court. Centres connect one end of the court to the other, and act as a passing option for all players when they use space effectively.
A good Centre has great stamina, vision, and decision-making skills.
Wing Defence (WD)
WD, known as Wing Defence, is the defence middie of the team! The position’s key objective is to defend the opponent’s WA, and to stop the opposing team’s attack and feed into the goal circle. The WD also supports the bringing down of the ball from the defence goal third, towards their own attacking goal third – the link from defence to attack!
If you aspire to be a good WD, you’ll need to be quick on your feet, have fast reactions, and the ability to multitask.
Goal Defence (GD)
GD is for Goal Defence – paired with the other team’s GA, a GD can never switch off in the game. Focus and defence skills are everything for a GD, looking to prevent the ball reaching the other team’s goal circle.
Like the GK, a GD should be ready to catch rebounds and be able to read and direct game play back towards their own hoop.
Goal Keeper (GK)
GK is for Goal Keeper aka the last line of defence! The GK sticks close to the opponent’s GS to prevent them from scoring goals. Beyond great defense skills within the rules of shadowing and obstruction, a GK should be ready to catch rebounds and always be ready to go for interception when the opportunity presents. Having quick feet to get around the shooters will increase the chance of denying any shooting opportunities.
GK stays in the defensive goal third, and can access the goal circle. A great GK hones speed, agility and quick decision-making skills!
Summary: Positions in Netball
Whether you’re chosen as GK or C, you play an important role in the netball team and have to work on strengths as a well-rounded player to contribute to the final score.
Beyond the general athleticism and coordination skills that always pay off in sport, the position you play in netball requires quite specific skills within the team, opening up an exciting and interesting game that rewards diversity and gives players a lot to explore within the game of netball. We think this is one of the most fascinating and special aspects of netball, another reason why we love this unique sport.