Netball is a big sport at school and club level, usually played by women although there are sometimes mixed games for fun.

Indoor netball is an indoor version of netball. Instead of sidelines, an indoor netball court is surrounded by a net, thus the ball is continuously in play.

Indoor netball is fast becoming one of the more popular sports. It follows the similar rules of traditional netball, but is faster and is more focused on mixed gender matches, not just females. Indoor netball is relatively new to the Australian sporting landscape in that the national body was formed in 1990, however the sport continues to grow more and more each year.

The Association boasts a fast competitive game where players male and female of all ages can show their skills in the game of indoor netball. Indoor netball, as the name suggests, bares several similarities to the traditional outdoor sport but the two sports also differ significantly. The main difference is that in indoor netball the ball is always in play, there are no sidelines; instead they are replaced by nets. This makes indoor netball a much faster, exciting and dynamic sport enjoyed by both men and women, and is enjoyed both socially and competitively in indoor centres across Australia, as well as in a selection of other countries across the globe.

The Team

A mixed team consists of six players plus substitutes if required. There is a maximum of 3 male players on the court for a team at any one time – and they have to be in different positions. There is no maximum number of female players (i.e. a team can have up to six female players). Substitutes can swap on court at the end of each quarter.

The Positions

Each team consists of two Defence players, two Attacks and two Links. The court is divided into two halves with the shooting circle at each end. The Defence and Attack players can use half the court up to the half way line of their respective end. The links can use the whole court with the exception of the shooting circles.

Scoring

One point is scored for a goal shot from inside the circle. A goal shot from outside the circle is worth two points. Both the Attacks and the Links may shoot two pointers from outside the circle.

Passing

Players may: catch/pass the ball with one or both hands; bat or bounce pass the ball to another player – this includes using the nets around the court.

Players may not: kick the ball or strike the ball with a fist, bounce the ball to yourself (as with dribbling in basketball), throw the ball while sitting, kneeling or lying on the ground.

Footwork

As a general rule, a player must keep one foot grounded while in possession of the ball. A player with the ball may not; drag or slide the landing foot, hop on either foot, jump from both feet and land on both feet unless the ball has been released before landing.

Contact/Obstruction

Players shall not come into contact with another player, whether accidental or deliberate. Players should remain more than 3 feet from each other or may fall under the obstruction rule. A player who consistently contacts another player or verbally/physically abuses another player or the umpire will be asked to leave the court for a period of time at the discretion of the umpire.