Starting netball and not sure what you need? The good news is the gear list is short. Netball doesn’t require much equipment, but getting a few things right (especially shoes) makes a big difference to comfort and safety.
Shoes
Shoes are the most important thing to get right. Netball involves a lot of sudden stopping, starting, pivoting, and lateral movement, so you need shoes designed for that. Running shoes won’t cut it.
What to Look For
- Lateral support: The shoe should feel firm on the sides, not just front to back
- Cushioning: Good cushioning in the forefoot helps absorb impact from landing and jumping
- Grip: A non-marking rubber sole with good traction for indoor and outdoor courts
- Ankle support: Some players prefer a mid-cut shoe for extra ankle stability, especially if they’ve had injuries
Popular Brands
ASICS dominates netball footwear in Australia. Their netball-specific range includes options for beginners through to elite players:
- GEL-Game or GEL-Netburner Academy: Good entry-level shoes for beginners and juniors
- Netburner Ballistic FF: A solid mid-range option with good cushioning and support
- Netburner Professional FF: Top-end shoe for competitive players
Other brands like Mizuno and New Balance also make suitable court shoes. The key is to buy a shoe designed for court sports, not running or general training.
Tip for juniors: Kids grow fast, so don’t spend top dollar on shoes they’ll outgrow in a season. A good entry-level netball shoe is fine for younger players. Save the premium shoes for when they’re older and playing more competitively.
Clothing
Training
At Warrandyte Netball Club, new players receive a free training top and we ask them to wear it to training. Beyond that, wear whatever is comfortable and lets you move freely:
- Your WNC training top
- Sports shorts, leggings, or a skort
- Sports socks (cushioned socks help prevent blisters)
- A warm layer for cool evenings, easy to take off once you warm up
Game Day
For competition games, players wear their club uniform. At Warrandyte Netball Club, players wear a club dress, or a shorts and polo option. Both can be worn in the same team. Uniforms are available through the uniform shop. New players don’t need a uniform for their first few sessions or trials.
A few uniform rules to keep in mind (see also Netball Victoria uniform guidelines):
- Sport shorts or briefs must be worn under dresses. No pockets, zips, or buckles on any part of the uniform
- In cold or wet weather, players can wear tracksuit pants or leggings in club colours or black, and a long-sleeved top under the uniform in club colours or white
- Compression tights and socks are allowed in black or natural skin tone
- Head scarves are permitted for religious or cultural reasons. They must be plain in colour and tied (not fastened with pins)
- Gloves must be Netball Victoria approved
- Hair must be tied back with no loose adornments
- Prescription glasses are fine to wear on court
New to competition? During the first three rounds of the season, Manningham Netball Association gives warnings for incorrect uniform rather than penalties.
Jewellery and Nails
This catches a lot of new players and parents off guard. The rules are strict for safety reasons:
- Jewellery must be removed before taking the court. This includes watches, bracelets, rings, necklaces, and fitness trackers
- Earrings: Small studs can usually be taped over with sports tape. Hoops and dangly earrings must come out
- Piercings: Any visible piercings must be removed or taped flat
- Wedding rings and medical devices: Can be worn but must be securely covered with tape and padding
- Fingernails: Must be short and smooth. If taped, use one piece of sports tape over the top of the nail and one piece around it
Umpires check jewellery and nails before every game. If you can’t remove a piercing, bring sports tape.
New piercings: If your child has recently had their ears pierced and can’t remove the earrings yet, they can still play if the earrings are securely taped. But it’s worth timing new piercings for the off-season if you can.
What to Pack
A simple checklist for training and game day:
- Always: Netball shoes, water bottle, hair ties
- Training: WNC training top, comfortable sports clothes
- Game day: Club uniform, warm-up jacket, snacks between games
- If outdoors: Sunscreen and hat
- Just in case: Sports tape for jewellery or nails
First Session?
Don’t overthink it. For your first training session or trial, all you really need is:
- Court shoes (netball shoes or court sport shoes)
- Comfortable sports clothes
- A water bottle
- No jewellery
Everything else can come later. The most important thing is to turn up.
For more about getting started, see our guides on what age to start, teams and age groups, and netball positions.