Netball Bibs

A netball bib does one job: it tells everyone on court which position a player is in, and therefore where she is allowed to be.

That makes it the one piece of team kit with an actual specification attached, and it’s the specification most club buyers get caught out by. This guide covers the rules, the practical choices, and what to check before ordering a set.

What the rules require

Playing position initials must be 150 mm high, clearly visible, and worn above the waist on both the front and the back.

The seven positions are Goal Shooter (GS), Goal Attack (GA), Wing Attack (WA), Centre (C), Wing Defence (WD), Goal Defence (GD) and Goal Keeper (GK). Our netball positions guide explains what each one does and where each is allowed on court.

Registered playing uniforms, which must include playing position initials, are worn at all times.

The 150mm trap

This is the single thing worth checking before you place an order. Not every bib sold for netball meets the specification.

One major sports retailer’s netball bibs carry lettering 14cm tall across all sizes — 140mm, which is under the 150mm requirement. Bibs like that are fine for training, school PE and social play, but they are not compliant kit for sanctioned competition.

Ask the supplier for the lettering height in millimetres before ordering. “Regulation” in a product description is not the same as a measurement.

Fabric and construction

Modern bibs come in two broad types.

Open-weave mesh is light, breathable, dries fast and is cheap enough to buy in multiples. It usually has elastic side straps and fits over winter layers, which matters in New Zealand where most club netball is outdoors through winter.

Sublimated polyester has the lettering dyed into the fabric rather than printed on top, so it cannot crack or peel. It costs more and looks more finished, and it’s the usual choice where a club wants crests or sponsor branding integrated.

The failure mode to avoid is thin screen printing over cheap fabric. After a season of mud and hot washes, the ink flakes and a “WA” becomes unreadable — at which point the bib no longer does its only job.

Also avoid unvented plastic tabards. They trap heat, and netball is a high-intensity sport played in four quarters.

Attachment: straps or patches

Over-the-head vests with elastic side straps are the default for schools and social teams. One set covers a wide range of body sizes and layers, and they pass down easily between age groups.

Velcro patch sets attach to matching playing dresses fitted with loop panels. They sit flat, have no loose fabric to snag, and look tidier — but they only work if every player has the corresponding dress, which makes them a club-level rather than school-level option.

Neither is better in the abstract. The question is whether your squad has a uniform dress to attach patches to.

Colour

Dark bibs are popular in New Zealand for a practical reason: winter netball on uncovered asphalt produces mud, spray and sunscreen marks, and black and navy hide all three across a full season.

The trade-off is lettering contrast. Dark fabric needs light lettering, and light lettering is the first thing to degrade if it’s screen-printed rather than sublimated.

Whatever base colour you choose, the requirement is that the initials remain clearly visible — including under floodlights and on grey overcast afternoons, which describes a lot of the New Zealand season.

Colour clashes

If both teams turn up in similar colours, one side has to change so the umpires can tell them apart. Which team changes is set by your competition’s own bylaws, not by a universal rule, so check your centre’s regulations rather than assuming the away team switches.

The practical answer is a cheap contrasting spare set kept permanently in the manager’s bag, or reversible bibs with a light colour on the reverse.

Sizing

Sizing is not standardised across manufacturers, so measurements vary between suppliers. Order against the supplier’s own size chart rather than a generic guide, and where possible get one sample before committing to a full set.

Broadly, junior sets suit primary-aged players, youth sets cover intermediate, and senior sets cover secondary school through adult. Mixed social leagues generally need generous elastic side panels to fit a wider range of body shapes without stressing the seams.

For schools running several teams, mark the interior tags with a waterproof textile marker so junior sets don’t migrate into the senior kit bag.

Care

Bibs are cheap individually and expensive in bulk, so the maintenance is worth doing properly.

Turn them inside out before washing to protect the printed lettering. Wash cool on a gentle cycle. One supplier recommends washing at up to 30°C on a gentle, short cycle.

Skip fabric softener on synthetic sports fabrics — it coats the fibres, reduces breathability and holds odour.

Never store gear damp. Dry sets fully, then keep them in a breathable mesh bag rather than a sealed plastic tub, where mildew develops fast.

What else gets checked before a match

Bibs are only one part of uniform compliance. Jewellery is not permitted except a wedding ring or medical alert bracelet, and each must be taped. Fingernails must be short and smooth, and spiked soles are not allowed.

Our netball equipment guide covers the rest of the kit, and our rules guide covers the wider rule set.

This article is provided for factual and informational purposes only. It is not purchasing advice and does not recommend particular retailers or brands. Uniform requirements are set by World Netball and applied through local competition bylaws, which vary — confirm current requirements with World Netball, Netball New Zealand and your own netball centre before ordering competition kit. Details on this page were verified in August 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How big do the letters on netball bibs need to be?

150 mm high. They must be clearly visible and worn above the waist on both the front and back of the player.

Are all netball bibs sold online compliant?

No. Some retail sets use lettering under 150mm — one major supplier’s bibs are 14cm. Always ask for the lettering height in millimetres before buying kit for sanctioned competition.

What positions go on a netball bib set?

Seven per team: GS, GA, WA, C, WD, GD and GK. Each must be printed on both the front and the back.

Why do so many New Zealand clubs use black bibs?

Practicality. Most club netball here is played outdoors through winter, and dark fabric hides mud, court spray and sunscreen marks far better than white or pale colours across a full season.

What’s the difference between sublimated and screen-printed bibs?

Sublimated lettering is dyed into the fabric and cannot crack or peel. Screen printing sits on the surface and degrades with repeated washing, which is how position letters end up unreadable by the end of a season.

Can you use fabric softener on netball bibs?

No. Softener coats synthetic fibres, reduces breathability and traps odour. Wash cool, inside out, on a gentle cycle.

What happens if both teams have the same colour bibs?

One team changes to a contrasting set so umpires can distinguish them. Which team changes depends on your competition’s bylaws, so check with your centre — and keep a cheap contrasting spare set in the gear bag.