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Netball Maths

Maths in netball: scores

Add points and compare leads.

Quick answer

You can add points in netball to see who is winning, and compare scores to find the lead.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to add up netball scores and compare them to find out who is winning. Success signs:
  • You can add points from different shots in a netball game.
  • You can tell which team is ahead by comparing the scores.
  • You can work out how many points you need to win.
  • You can play a simple netball scoring game with a friend.

Why this matters

Maths in netball helps you understand how games work and who is winning. When you play netball, you score points by shooting the ball into the goal. Adding up those points helps you know if your team is winning or losing. This maths helps you follow the game and even play better. It's also useful for other games, sports, and even in real life when you need to add up money or count your snacks.

How it works

In netball, teams score points by getting the ball into the goal area. Each time a team scores, they get one point. To find out who is winning, you add up all the points each team has scored. If Team A has 12 points and Team B has 10 points, you know Team A is winning by 2 points. You can also find out how many points you need to win by subtracting the other team’s score from the target score. For example, if the game ends at 20 points and one team has 15 points, they need 5 more points to win.

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you’re watching a netball game between Team A and Team B. Here’s how the scoring might look:
Team Points Shot Type
Team A 2 Goal
Team B 1 Goal
Team A 3 Goal
Team B 4 Goal
Now, let’s add up the points:
  • Team A scored 2 + 3 = 5 points
  • Team B scored 1 + 4 = 5 points
Both teams are tied at 5 points! If Team A scores one more goal, they will have 6 points and will be ahead. Let’s try another example:
  • Team A: 10 points
  • Team B: 7 points
To find out how many points Team A is ahead by:
  • 10 - 7 = 3 points
Team A is ahead by 3 points.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Netball Score Challenge You are the scorekeeper for a netball game between two teams: the Sparkles and the Stars. The game has 3 quarters. In each quarter, you need to add up the points and see who is winning. Quarter 1:
  • Sparkles scored 3 goals
  • Stars scored 2 goals
Quarter 2:
  • Sparkles scored 1 goal
  • Stars scored 4 goals
Quarter 3:
  • Sparkles scored 2 goals
  • Stars scored 1 goal
Your challenge: 1st time: Add up the points for Quarter 1. 2nd time: Add up the points for Quarter 2. 3rd time: Add up the points for Quarter 3. 4th time: Add up the total points for each team. 5th time: See who is winning. Answer: 1st time: Sparkles 3 points, Stars 2 points. 2nd time: Sparkles 1 point, Stars 4 points. 3rd time: Sparkles 2 points, Stars 1 point. 4th time: Sparkles 6 points, Stars 7 points. 5th time: Stars are winning by 1 point.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Adding the points wrong by counting them twice.
    Why it happens: Sometimes children get excited and count the same point twice.
    Fix: Count each point only once and use fingers or a counter to help.
  • Mistake: Not knowing which team is ahead.
    Why it happens: Children may not understand that the bigger number means the team is winning.
    Fix: Use visual aids like drawings or counters to compare numbers.
  • Mistake: Subtracting the wrong way around.
    Why it happens: When finding the difference, children might do 7 - 10 instead of 10 - 7.
    Fix: Always make sure you subtract the smaller number from the bigger number to find the difference.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:
  • Playing a simple netball scoring game at home with their child.
  • Using counters or small objects to represent points.
  • Practising adding and subtracting scores together.
  • Encouraging children to explain how they know who is winning.
  • Reinforcing that bigger numbers mean more points and more wins.
How to help in 5 minutes: 1. Set up a small game using counters or toys. 2. Ask your child to score points for two teams. 3. Have them add up the points. 4. Ask them to say who is winning. 5. Practice subtracting to find the difference. What not to worry about: - It’s normal for children to make mistakes at first. - Encourage them to try again and learn from their errors. - Keep the focus on fun and understanding, not just getting the right answer.

Practice questions

  1. Team X scored 4 points and Team Y scored 6 points. Who is winning?
  2. Team A scored 8 points and Team B scored 5 points. How many more points does Team A need to win by 3?
  3. Team C scored 3 goals and Team D scored 2 goals. What is the total score?
  4. Team E scored 10 points and Team F scored 12 points. How many points is Team F ahead by?
  5. Team G scored 5 points and Team H scored 7 points. How many points does Team G need to tie the game?
Answers:
  1. Team Y is winning.
  2. Team A needs 1 more point to win by 3.
  3. The total score is 5 points.
  4. Team F is ahead by 2 points.
  5. Team G needs 2 more points to tie the game.

FAQ

What is the goal of scoring in netball?

The goal of scoring in netball is to get the ball into the goal area to earn points for your team. The team with the most points at the end wins the game.

How do you add up scores in netball?

You add up the points by counting how many goals each team has scored and then adding those numbers together.

Can you play netball maths without a real game?

Yes! You can practice adding and comparing scores with toys, counters, or even drawing pictures of goals.

Why is it important to know who is winning?

Knowing who is winning helps you understand the game better and makes it more exciting. It also helps you make decisions about how to play.

How can I practice netball maths at home?

You can practice by playing pretend netball games, using counters to represent points, or even drawing a simple score chart to track points.