- A standard seven-a-side netball match lasts for one hour, divided into four 15 minute quarters.
- There are seven players allowed on court, per team, at any one time, but up to five substitutes are allowed (maximum of 12 players in total). The team players, including substitutes must be named in advance of the match.
- The team that wins the coin toss before the start of the match can choose to either take the first centre pass, or to choose the end they would like to shoot at first.
- After the first centre pass, teams take it in turn to take subsequent centre passes. The ball returns to the centre after every goal scored.
- Teams swap ends after every quarter.
- In regular seven-a-side netball, one point is scored for every goal.
- There is a three minute break between quarters one and two and between quarters three and four. There is a five minute break at half time (between quarters two and three).
- If a player becomes injured or ill during the game, a player on court may shout 'Time!' and the umpire stops the clock for up to two minutes. The injured player may continue play if they are able, or be substituted for another player.
- Apart from in an injury situation, substitutions can only be made at a quarter interval.
- There is no limit to the number of substitutions that can be made (and a player that was substituted off can be put back on court) but only players named in the team can be played (i.e. you cannot bring in a 13th player that was not named on the official team list for that match).
What happens during a netball match? Find out more about:
- Netball rules for passing [link coming soon]
- Netball rules for shooting [link coming soon]
- Netball rules for marking [link coming soon]
- Footwork netball rules [link coming soon]
- Miscellaneous netball rules [link coming soon]
