Rules & Interpretations
Home 1: Technical specifications 2: Time 3: Team 4: Match officials 5: Technical and event officials 6: Sanctions and actions 7: Advantage 8: Centre pass 9: Scoring a goal 10: Stoppages 11: Playing the ball 12: Passing distances 13: Footwork 14: Offside 15: Out of court 16: Obstruction 17: Contact 18: Game management 19: Foul play 20: Simultaneous and mutual infringements 21: Variations for other levels of play

Rule 9: Scoring a goal

Scoring is at the heart of netball, and while the rule itself is short, there are several important details umpires need to be aware of.

Conditions for a Goal

A goal is scored when:

Valid Shot

A shot is taken by the GS or GA (defined as a throw, bat, or deflection toward the ring in an attempt to score a goal without the ball first touching the ground)

Through the Ring

The ball passes completely through the ring from above

What Counts as a Shot?

A shot is judged by the umpire and is usually straightforward, but note:

  • A deflection by the GA or GS directly toward the ring counts as a shot if taken within the rules.
  • A long pass from a GA/GS that happens to go through the ring without intent to shoot does not count as a shot.

The shot must be taken with the GA or GS wholly within the goal circle, including the line bounding the goal circle. If they have contact with the ground outside the goal circle while catching or touching the ball, it is an incorrect shot, and a free pass is awarded to the opposing team where the contact outside the goal circle occurred.

Important: A GA/GS may lean over the circle so long as no part of their body touches the ground outside it while catching or touching the ball.
Remember: Other standard rules (e.g. footwork, held ball) also apply during a shot.

When It Doesn't Count

If the ball goes through the ring in other circumstances, play continues without a goal being awarded or any other action being taken:

  • Thrown by a non-GA/GS player
  • Passed or deflected from below the ring
  • Passed into the ring from outside the goal circle by a GA/GS without an intent to shoot

Goal Signalling

Umpires signal a successful goal by raising one arm vertically.

Important: Only signal once the ball has passed fully through the ring—avoid pre-empting if the ball is still bouncing on the ring.
Goal Signal

Goal Signal

Infringements During a Shot

Contact and obstruction rules apply as usual when a player is shooting. In practice, some situations require particular attention:

Contact on Shooter

Contact on the shooter's arm or body, even slight, can interfere with the shot and so we will have a lower threshold for interference that we would have in other areas of the court.

Shielding

A second attacker may legally shield the defender, but defenders must not lean on or push the attacker.

Good cue: If the defender would fall forward if the attacker moved, they are leaning and should be penalised for contact.
Rebounds

Rebounds often involve physical contest, but interference (e.g. holding, pushing, standing on feet) should be penalised.

Interference With Shot

This is a specific penalty that applies only to shooting situations. It occurs when:

Goalpost Movement

A defender causes the goalpost to move and interferes with a shot in progress.

Downward Ball Contact

A defender touches the ball on its downward flight toward the ring, including reaching up through the net.

Umpiring Tips
  • The key element in post contact is whether the movement interferes with the shot. Negligible post movement or contact before the shooter begins their motion may not warrant a penalty.
  • Be especially alert in men's/mixed matches or where the defenders are lifting each other as that makes downward deflections more likely.
  • If the attacking player causes the post to move (e.g. during rebound positioning), play continues.
Terminology: Use correct terminology—this is interference with the shot, not using the goalpost (which is addressed under Rule 11).

Advantage and Scored Goals

If the umpire blows the whistle for a defensive infringement and the shot is successful, the goal still counts.

Infringement Already Called

If the infringement and player have already been called (e.g. "Contact GD"), simply signal the goal.

Infringement Not Yet Called

Signal the goal and call "Advantage contact GD".

See Rule 2 for how to handle penalties that have not been taken at the end of a quarter.

Time Held and End of Quarter

If time is held or the quarter ends after the ball has been released on a valid shot—and it passes through the ring—the goal counts. Note this is a change from the previous rules that considered whether the ball had passed completely through the ring.

Umpire's Whistle

The umpire's whistle, not any venue buzzer, determines the end of play.

Clear Communication

Signal clearly to the official bench that the goal is counted, and confirm verbally if needed.

Co-umpire Consultation: If unsure whether the shot was released before the whistle, confer with your co-umpire—they may have had a clearer view of the timing.