For parents of children aged 5 to 10 starting netball in Netball Australia's Woolworths NetSetGO program in 2026. Covers the Net, Set and Go stages, ball size and post height, scoring, positions, what to wear and session and game length.
Woolworths NetSetGo is Netball Australia's grassroots program for children aged 5 to 10. Your child joins the stage that matches their age:
Experience level does not matter: each stage welcomes beginners and experienced players alike. Equipment and activities are adapted to the age group's developing bodies.
Sources: https://netball.com.au/NetSetGO-Participants and https://netball.com.au/netsetgo/faq
| Stage | Ball | Goal post |
|---|---|---|
| Net (ages 5-6) | Soft-touch balls | Modified goal rings |
| Set (ages 7-8) | Size 4 | 2.4 m |
| Go (ages 9-10) | Size 4 | Between 2.4 m and 3.05 m |
| Full netball, for comparison | Size 5 | 3.05 m |
The participant pack includes a size 4 netball.
Sources: Netball Australia NetSetGO Modified Rules fact sheet (August 2026), https://netball.com.au/sites/netballnation/files/2026-08/NA%20NetSetGO-Modified%20Rules%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf and https://netball.com.au/NetSetGO-Participants
Ladders, finals and best and fairest awards are possible only in full netball.
Source: Netball Australia NetSetGO Modified Rules fact sheet (August 2026), https://netball.com.au/sites/netballnation/files/2026-08/NA%20NetSetGO-Modified%20Rules%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
Rotate. In both Set and Go, players should experience all positions over the course of the program or season. Game time should be evenly distributed among all players, and teams can make unlimited substitutions at any time.
If a game is one-sided, coaches are told to do whatever it takes to keep it a good experience for everyone, such as moving players into positions they do not usually play or resting the more skilled players. In Go, the non-scoring team can also take the centre pass.
Source: Netball Australia NetSetGO Modified Rules fact sheet (August 2026), https://netball.com.au/sites/netballnation/files/2026-08/NA%20NetSetGO-Modified%20Rules%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
Netball Australia's guidance is:
For comparison, full netball is 4 quarters of 15 minutes.
Sources: https://netball.com.au/netsetgo/faq and Netball Australia NetSetGO Modified Rules fact sheet (August 2026), https://netball.com.au/sites/netballnation/files/2026-08/NA%20NetSetGO-Modified%20Rules%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
Umpires use modified rules so children can learn and succeed. Children are taught the real rules (such as 3 seconds to pass) from the start, but umpires allow extra time in a game: up to 5 seconds in Set and up to 4 seconds in Go.
Set (ages 7-8)
Go (ages 9-10)
In both stages the advantage rule is not applied (except advantage goal), and each team may make unlimited substitutions, with the substitute tagging the player leaving the court.
Source: Netball Australia NetSetGO Modified Rules fact sheet (August 2026), https://netball.com.au/sites/netballnation/files/2026-08/NA%20NetSetGO-Modified%20Rules%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
Registration includes a participant pack with a size 4 netball, a Suncorp Super Netball team-branded t-shirt (you choose the team during registration) and a Woolworths NetSetGo fidget spinner. T-shirts cannot be personalised with a child's name, for child safety reasons.
Netball Australia has run a free national "Come and Play Day" so children can try a session before registering (the 2026 one was on Saturday 14 February 2026). Prices vary by centre.
Programs generally run for 8 to 10 weeks, mostly following school terms, with Winter and Spring the most popular seasons. Each centre sets its own schedule.
Sources: https://netball.com.au/netsetgo/faq and https://netball.com.au/NetSetGO-Participants