Netball team wear: the best netball outfits and trainers

The birth of netball

Netball was invented in America at around the same time as basketball and volleyball.

As the nineteenth century ended, these three ball sports emerged almost simultaneously. In 1891, James Naismith invented basketball. A few years later volleyball appeared as a less aggressive alternative.

Netball emerged by mistake. Clara Baer, a sports teacher in New Orleans, wrote to Naismith requesting a copy of the rules for basketball. She misinterpreted his diagram of the court, taking the lines that he drew to show the best places for players to patrol as fixed zonal areas that players could not leave.

And so, netball was born from this simple misunderstanding. 

It wasn’t until 1960 that The International Federation of Women’s Basketball and Netball settled on formal rules for the game with Netball’s first World Championship following three years later.

Even today, however, different specifications exist for what to wear for netball depending on the league you play in, but nearly all agree on the essentials.

Let’s review these.

What do netball players wear?

The essential netball outfit includes:

• Netball training shoes
• Netball socks
• Netball shorts and netball dresses
• Netball tops
• Netball bibs
• Ankle and knee strappings for netball

Netball uniforms and outfits

If you are playing in a netball league, your team should have netball tops, skirts and shorts that are in the same colours. 

For those playing with friends in a less competitive environment, netball bibs of different colours can be used to distinguish between the two teams.

Netball training shoes and socks

When choosing women’s netball shoes, you need to ensure that they offer a good grip on the soles and can provide excellent ankle and foot support.

A snug-fitting, robust netball trainer is ideal for this physically demanding sport. Having selected your best pair of netball trainers make sure that you lace them up tightly, using a double knot so that they continue to prevent your trainer from slipping as you play.

Extra support can also be provided by a quality pair of socks. You may want to combine sports ankle socks and sports foot-covering socks to help you avoid injuries, shin splints and blisters.

Netball skirts and shorts

It is usually a matter of preference whether you choose to play in netball skirts or shorts. 

All-female leagues have traditionally opted for netball skirts, while mixed gender or male teams will typically play in unisex shorts.

Most players wear netball shorts under their netball dress. These are made from stretch fabric, with spandex for extra comfort, and allow unrestricted movement as you play.

Netball tops and bibs

Your netball top will be chosen to match your skirt, even if it is not in the same colour. Increasingly, however, one-piece dresses are available that are made of stretchable fabric, like Lycra, and replace the separate top and skirt.

Netball bibs are used to state which position you are playing in. 

There are seven main positions:

1. Goal Keeper (GK)

2. Goal Defence (GD)

3. Wing Defence (WD)

4. Centre (C)

5. Wing Attack (WA)

6. Goal Attack (GA)

7. Goal Shooter (GS)

You will need a netball bib for each of these, displaying the abbreviated position. For example, the goalkeeper will wear a bib that says “GK” on it.

Selecting the best material for your netball clothes

Netball is a demanding and physical sport, so you want the material that the clothes you play in to be breathable and durable.

The types of fabric that you can look out for to ensure this include:

• Eyelet fabric This is the most breathable option available although those who feel the cold may find it a bit chilly since even the slightest breeze will pass straight through its small holes.
• Lycra Lycra is extremely comfortable and breathable but provides much more warmth than eyelet fabric. Lycra is very adaptable to your body providing a close-fit without constraining movement.
• Meryl Like Lycra, Meryl is very breathable and comfortable. In addition, it is naturally antibacterial and this will help you smell and feel fresher at the end of a game. 

Ankle or knee straps for netball

The strain on your ankles and knees when playing can be reduced by using straps to provide extra support. 

During the game of netball, you are likely to be landing from jumps and running the risk of twisting your leg as you follow the strict footwork rules. Netball ankle and knee straps can help improve your gameplay while lowering the risk of injury.

And, finally, what not to wear during a game of netball

Perhaps it is just as important to have an understanding of what not to wear for netball as it is to know what to wear.

Here are the items you should definitely think carefully about before wearing as you play netball.

• Check your top and shorts for zips or metal studs, as these can cause injuries.
• Jewellery is similarly not advised, although wedding rings and medical alert bracelets are usually left on. Check that you have taken off all watches, decorative rings, bracelets, hair clips and dangly earrings or other piercings.
• In some leagues, the length of your fingernails will be monitored to avoid cuts and scratches. When this is the case, you should check that you cannot see your nails above your fingers when your hands are reversed.
• Generally speaking, netball gloves are rarely permitted unless they are medically required.
• Headscarves are allowed, as long as the material is soft and contains no embellishments. Caps, however, can present a hazard due to their hard peaks.