X Tables
Netball Maths

Maths in netball: team positions

Use space, direction and shapes in movement.

Quick answer

Maths in netball: team positions uses shapes, space, and direction to help players move effectively on the court. You can learn about positions by looking at how players are arranged, where they move, and how they work together.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to describe the positions of players in netball using simple shapes, space, and direction words. Success signs:
  • You can name the 7 netball positions
  • You can explain where each player stands on the court
  • You can use words like "left", "right", "middle", "in front of", "behind" to describe where players are
  • You can draw or show where players are on a netball court

Why this matters

Netball is a fun team sport where players need to know where they are and where others are on the court. Understanding positions helps players work together better, pass the ball more easily, and score more goals. Maths helps us understand space, shapes, and direction – all important in netball. When you play netball, you use maths every time you:
  • Look at where your teammates are
  • Move to a new spot to get the ball
  • Think about where to pass the ball
  • Understand how to form a good team shape
This is like learning a map of the court – where players are, how they move, and how they work together.

How it works

Netball is played on a court with 7 players on each team. Each player has a special position. These positions are like different jobs on a team. Players are arranged in specific shapes on the court. You can use maths to describe where they are. Here’s how to understand netball positions:
  1. Look at the court – it is a rectangle with a circle in the middle
  2. See how players are placed – some are near the middle, some near the sides
  3. Use words like "left", "right", "middle", "in front of", "behind" to describe where players are
  4. Draw a simple picture of the court and mark where players are

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine a netball court. The court is a rectangle. In the middle, there is a circle where players can move freely. Here are the 7 netball positions:
Position Where they are What they do
Goal Keeper (GK) Closest to the goal area on the right Stops the other team from scoring
Goal Defence (GD) Just behind the GK Helps stop the other team from scoring
Wing Defence (WD) On the left side, near the goal area Stops the other team from scoring
Centre (C) At the middle of the court Passes the ball to other players
Wing Attack (WA) On the right side, near the goal area Helps score goals
Goal Attack (GA) Just behind the WA Helps score goals
Goal Shooter (GS) Closest to the goal area on the left Shoots the ball to score goals
Real-world example: Imagine you are playing netball with your friends in the garden. You have to stand in the right place to help your team. You might be the Goal Shooter, standing near the goal. Your friend could be the Centre, standing in the middle. You can use words like "in front of", "behind", "to the left", and "to the right" to describe where you are.

Try it as a mini adventure

Netball Court Challenge: You are the coach of a netball team. Your job is to place 7 players on the court. You have to make sure each player is in the right position. Let’s play a game!
  1. Draw a rectangle to represent the court
  2. Mark the middle circle
  3. Place 7 players in the correct positions
  4. Use direction words to describe where each player is
  5. Try to move one player and see how it changes the team shape
Example:
  • Player 1 is the Goal Keeper. She stands on the right side, near the goal.
  • Player 2 is the Goal Defence. She stands just behind the GK.
  • Player 3 is the Wing Defence. He stands on the left side, near the goal.
  • Player 4 is the Centre. He stands in the middle of the court.
  • Player 5 is the Wing Attack. She stands on the right side, near the goal.
  • Player 6 is the Goal Attack. He stands just behind the WA.
  • Player 7 is the Goal Shooter. She stands on the left side, near the goal.
Can you draw this on paper? Try to describe where each player is using words like “left”, “right”, “middle”, “in front of”, and “behind”.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking all positions are the same distance from the goal.
    Why it happens: Not looking carefully at the court layout.
    Fix: Look at a netball court diagram and notice how players are placed in different areas.
  • Mistake: Confusing "left" and "right" when describing positions.
    Why it happens: Not knowing which side is which.
    Fix: Stand in front of the court and say "left" and "right" with your hands.
  • Mistake: Thinking players are in the same spot every time.
    Why it happens: Not understanding that players move during the game.
    Fix: Watch a game or practice and see how players move around the court.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help children learn netball positions by:
  • Using simple words like "left", "right", "middle", "in front of", and "behind"
  • Playing a game where you draw a court and place players in positions
  • Using everyday examples like "the toy is in front of the chair"
  • Letting children act out positions or draw the court
  • Practising counting from 1 to 7 to help with player numbers
What to say:
  • "Can you show me where the Goal Shooter is?"
  • "Where is the Centre in relation to the Goal Keeper?"
  • "Can you draw a netball court and mark where each player stands?"
What not to worry about:
  • Children may get confused at first – that's normal
  • It's okay if they don't know all positions right away
  • Practice and play help children learn

Practice questions

  1. What is the position of the player who stands closest to the goal area on the left side?
  2. Where is the Goal Defence in relation to the Goal Keeper?
  3. Which player is in the middle of the court?
  4. Can you name all 7 netball positions?
  5. Draw a netball court and label the positions.
Answers:
  1. Goal Shooter
  2. Just behind the Goal Keeper
  3. Centre
  4. Goal Keeper, Goal Defence, Wing Defence, Centre, Wing Attack, Goal Attack, Goal Shooter
  5. Draw a court with 7 players in correct positions

FAQ

What is netball?

Netball is a fun team sport played by two teams of seven players each. Players pass a ball and try to score goals by shooting the ball into the goal area.

How many players are on a netball team?

There are 7 players on each netball team.

What do the positions in netball mean?

Each position has a special job on the court. Some players stop the other team from scoring, others pass the ball, and some try to score goals.

Why do we need to know positions?

Knowing positions helps players move better, pass the ball more easily, and work as a team.

Can I play netball at home?

Yes! You can play netball in your garden or living room. Use your hands to pass a ball and practice moving to different positions.