Choosing the correct goals for netball can be more complicated than it first appears! Post height, ring size and fixing method all affect whether the equipment will suit your players, court or environment. Our range covers freestanding and socketed posts, post padding, nets, rings, and garden posts. If you're not sure which type suits your situation, the guide below covers the key questions.

What are the regulation dimensions for a netball post and ring?

World Netball, the governing body for netball, specify that a netball post upright should measure between 65mm and 100mm in diameter and stand 3.05m high. It should be covered with padding of uniform thickness (no more than 50mm thick) which extends the full length of the post. Regulation rings should be made from steel rod, 15mm in diameter, with an internal diameter of 380mm, attached via a 150mm horizontal bar projecting from the top of the post. The net fitted to the ring must be open at both the top and bottom, with a minimum length of 380mm and a maximum of 457mm.

Typically we'll refer to any posts that meet the World Netball regulations as 'International' or 'International Standard'. England Netball however do recognise that it's not always practical/appropriate, to use full specification netball posts. Therefore freestanding netball posts, and uprights with a smaller diameter are acceptable for practice, home use and low level competition. These posts will usually still meet the ring diameter and height requirements, two of the most important parts of the regulations.

For more information about the positioning of the post on the court, please see our netball court guide.

What height netball post do I need?

This depends on who will be using it. For all players aged 12 and over, the World Netball regulation post height is 3.05m (10ft). This is the standard height for school, club, and senior competition. For younger players, lower heights are used so that shooting remains achievable and players can develop proper technique (rather than simply heaving the ball as high as possible!).

For High-Five Netball, the introductory format for children aged 5 to 9, the post height is 2.44m (8ft). As players move into the junior game at ages 9 to 11, the height rises to 2.74m (9ft), before reaching the full 3.05m from age 12 upwards.

England Netball recommends buying posts with adjustable height settings covering 2.44m, 2.74m, and 3.05m, so that a single set of posts can accommodate all versions of the game. Adjustable height posts are a sensible investment for any school or club running sessions across multiple age groups, or for home users wanting to adjust the height of the ring as their child grows up.

What's the difference between freestanding and socketed posts?

Freestanding netball posts stand on a weighted base and can be moved between sessions, making them a practical choice for multi-use spaces and school halls. Socketed netball posts drop into ground sockets, giving a stable installation suited to dedicated netball courts. We recommend that socketed netball posts are installed at the same time as the playing surface, as retro-fitting these can be difficult.

Freestanding posts are generally fine for training, recreational use, and junior competition, though the base should always be checked for stability before use.

Do I need post padding?

For competitive play, World Netball regulations require posts to be padded to their full height, with padding no more than 50mm thick. For non-competitive play, post padding is strongly recommended.

Unless stated, our posts are supplied without padding, so this should be added to your basket separately, if required. It's worth checking the dimensions of your existing post before ordering, since padding is sized to fit specific post diameters.

What about garden and home use?

Garden netball posts are typically lighter than those found in clubs/schools, with smaller diameter poles and a base designed to sit on a hard surface rather than be anchored into it. The lower end models sometimes feature a ballast box, that can be filled with sand or water to prevent it from toppling. Wall-mounted rings are also an option for home use, particularly where a solid exterior wall is available and space is limited. Wall-mounted rings should only be attached to structurally sound walls. Players should never try to physically hang/dangle from any netball ring - a move sometimes seen in basketball.

For home use, an adjustable freestanding post covering the junior heights (2.44m and 2.74m) is generally the most practical starting point, since it grows with younger players. If older or adult players will also be using it, look for a model that reaches the full 3.05m.

Can I use a basketball ring/post for netball?

Whilst basketball and netball rings are the same height, basketball rings are larger - 450mm diameter (18 inches) vs 380mm (15 inches) for netball.

A basketball goal will also feature a backboard, which isn't used in netball.

For competitive matches or training, the two aren't interchangeable.