Netball needs less gear than almost any comparable team sport. A court, two posts, a ball and seven bibs per team is enough to run a match.
Where it gets more complicated is getting the specifications right, and knowing what is genuinely worth buying beyond the minimum. This guide covers both.
The minimum you need to play
Regulation specifications
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Ball (size 5) | 690–710mm circumference, 400–450g |
| Ball inflation | 10 psi (manufacturer recommendation) |
| Goalpost height | 3.05m to the top of the ring |
| Post diameter | 65–100mm |
| Post padding | Max 50mm thick, full length of the pole |
| Ring | 380mm internal diameter, 15mm steel rod |
| Ring projection | 150mm horizontal bar from the front of the post |
| Net | 380–457mm long, open at both ends |
| Bib lettering | 150mm high, front and back, above the waist |
| Court lines | 50mm wide |
To run an official game you need a marked court, two padded goalposts, a compliant match ball, and a set of positional bibs for each team. Everything else is training equipment.
Fixed assets — posts, sockets, line markings — are usually the responsibility of the council, school or centre that owns the court. Balls, bibs, pumps, cones and first aid gear sit with the team manager or coach.
Match balls
A senior match ball must measure between 690mm and 710mm in circumference and weigh between 400 and 450 grams. That is a size 5.
Junior grades use smaller balls. Year 1 and 2 players use a 20cm textured grip ball, and Year 3 and 4 move to a size 4 netball, which is also used through Year 5 and 6. Size 5 comes in from Year 7 and 8.
Because most New Zealand club netball is played outdoors through winter, durability and wet-weather grip matter more here than in indoor-dominant countries. Match-grade balls hold their shape and grain longer than budget training balls, which is why most clubs keep the two separate: training balls for volume work, dedicated match balls kept aside.
Ball sizes by grade
Scale the gear to the age group
| Year group | Ball | Goal height | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years 1–2 | 20cm grip ball | Hula hoop or 2.1m | 4 v 4, one third |
| Years 3–4 | Size 4 | 2.6m | 5 v 5, two thirds |
| Years 5–6 | Size 4 | 2.6m | 6 v 6, full court |
| Years 7–8 | Size 5 | 3.05m | 7 v 7, full court |
Year 1 and 2 players get five seconds to pass or shoot, and passers and shooters are not defended.
Bibs and positional markers
Playing position initials must be 150mm high, clearly visible, and worn above the waist on both the front and back. The seven are GS, GA, WA, C, WD, GD and GK.
The main practical choices are elasticated side-strap vests, which fit over winter layers and suit changing rosters, and hook-and-loop patches that attach to fitted playing dresses. Reversible training pinnies are useful for intra-squad work but are not a substitute for compliant bibs in a match.
Darker base colours hide court dirt and sunscreen marks over a long season. Our netball bibs buying guide covers sizing and team sets in detail.
Goalposts and court hardware
A regulation goalpost is a vertical metal pole 65–100mm in diameter and 3.05m high, with padding of uniform thickness no more than 50mm thick extending the full length of the pole. The ring is steel rod 15mm in diameter with an internal diameter of 380mm, attached to a horizontal bar 150mm long projecting from the front edge at the top of the pole. The net must be clearly visible, open at top and bottom, and between 380mm and 457mm long.
There is no backboard. Full detail is in our netball hoop guide, and court markings are covered in our court dimensions guide.
For multi-use halls and school courts, ground sockets let posts be lifted out when the space is needed for other sports. Adjustable-height posts are worth considering where one venue serves several junior grades: 2.1m for Year 1 and 2 and 2.6m from Year 3 through Year 6.
Training equipment
Netball is built on acceleration, deceleration and landing, so most training gear targets footwork and reaction speed rather than endurance.
Agility ladders develop foot placement and quick-step patterns. Cones and markers define drill pathways and, usefully with young teams, teach players to hold their positions instead of crowding the ball. Mini hurdles train knee drive and clean landings. Rebound nets return the ball at unpredictable angles for reaction and interception work.
None of this is essential. A ball, a wall and cones will run most sessions. Our netball drills guide and passing drills guide have session structures that need very little equipment.
Weighted training balls exist and are used by some senior squads for short-range passing work, but they are specialist gear rather than a standard kit item.
Safety gear
Netball has a high rate of serious knee and ankle injuries, which prompted ACC and Netball New Zealand to develop the NetballSmart injury prevention programme. ACC states a warm-up programme like NetballSmart can reduce ACL injuries by up to 50%.
No equipment substitutes for that. What gear does contribute:
Court shoes. Netball shoes are built for lateral movement and ankle support rather than forward running. On sealed outdoor courts this matters more, not less. Our kids’ netball shoes guide covers fitting for juniors.
Post padding. Required for match and training play, and one of the few genuinely non-negotiable safety items.
Ankle support. Braces or strapping tape for players with a history of ankle injuries, ideally on advice from a physiotherapist rather than by default.
A stocked first aid kit. Ice packs, bandages, tape and plasters at minimum.
Nail clippers. Fingernails must be short and smooth, and jewellery is not permitted except a wedding ring or medical alert bracelet, which must be taped. A pair of clippers in the manager’s bag saves players being stood down at the pre-game check.
Looking after your gear
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Inflate to 10 psi | Over-inflate — the ball won’t return to shape |
| Use a hand pump with a gauge | Use a compressor or airline |
| Moisten the needle with glycerine | Force a dry or damaged needle into the valve |
| Pull the ball into shape first | Insert the needle with the ball folded |
| Check pressure before each use | Assume it held air — bladders last about 5–7 days |
| Store in a ventilated bag, out of temperature extremes | Stack weight on balls or sit on them |
| Wipe clean with water | Use solvents or strong detergents on the grain |
Ball care is where most clubs lose money without noticing.
Netballs should be inflated to 10psi — lower and the ball is too soft to perform, higher and it risks going out of shape permanently. Pull the ball into shape before inserting the needle, check the needle is smooth with no sharp edges, and moisten it with glycerine. Use a stirrup pump with a pressure gauge rather than a compressor or airline, which lead to over-inflation and change the performance properties of the ball.
Manufacturers note that performance bladders retain air for around five to seven days, so pressure needs topping up after that to maintain performance, and pressure should be checked before each use.
Avoid leaning heavy objects against balls or sitting on them, as this puts undue pressure on the stitching. Storing inflated balls in an uninsulated shed through hot summers and cold winters shortens their life.
Do not clean balls with harsh solvents or strong detergents — they strip the surface grain that provides grip.
Nets are cheap and perish faster than posts. A frayed net makes it genuinely harder for scorers and umpires to confirm whether a shot went through cleanly.
Buying for a club or school
Bundled team packs from sports equipment suppliers are usually more economical than buying items individually. A typical pack combines a mesh ball sack, a set of training balls, one or two match balls, a bib set, a pump and a whistle.
