What are the most common infringements and their penalties?
Rule- Australia
- Netball Australia
- World Netball rules
- Junior netball
- Club netball
- 2024 edition
- Umpires
- Rules of Netball
Sanctions in the 2024 Rules of Netball (all are free passes unless noted):
- Held ball: a player in possession must pass or shoot within three seconds.
- Footwork: after a one-foot or two-foot landing, the player may step or pivot but must pass or shoot before regrounding the lifted foot. A player in possession may not drag or slide the landing foot, hop on either foot, jump from both feet and land on both feet, or fall to the ground and reground the landing foot.
- Repossession: after releasing the ball, a player may not touch it again before it touches another player or rebounds from the goalpost.
- Playing the ball on the ground: a player may not fall on the ball, or gain possession while lying, sitting or kneeling.
- Short pass: there must be enough space for an opponent to deflect or intercept the ball between passer and receiver. Free pass where the receiver caught or touched it.
- Over a third: the ball must be caught or touched by a player in each third of the court. Free pass at the transverse line where the ball entered the third incorrectly.
- Offside: entering a court area not designated for that player's position. Free pass where the player entered. A player is not offside if a body part is on, but not over, the line.
- Out of court: a throw-in to the other team, in line with where the ball went out.
- Obstruction and contact: penalty pass (see the questions on those rules).
Source: Rules of Netball 2024, Rules 11 to 17.
Added 24 Oct 2026