Quick answer
A netball match has 28 player-quarters: seven positions times four quarters. Share them out for equal time: with 8 players, four play every quarter and four play three; with 9, eight play three and one plays four; with 10, eight play three and two play two. Swap who gets the extra quarter each match.
Source: Substitution rules: World Netball, Rules of Netball, 2024 edition (Rules 3 and 18). The quarter counts are arithmetic.
Plan rotations alongside Sportplan's 700 netball drills and session plans.
Also with Kit: Netball team sheet generator · Netball match-day graphics
How to plan a fair netball rotation
- Count the player-quarters. Seven positions times four quarters is 28. Divide by your squad size to see how many quarters each player gets.
- Decide who sits out. Spread the sit-outs so nobody misses two quarters in a row. The tables below do this for squads of 8, 9 and 10.
- Fill the positions. Keep players who can shoot in GS and GA, the only positions that score, and move everyone else round so they learn more than one role.
- Change at the breaks. Teams can make changes at any interval, when play stops for injury, illness or blood, and straight after a goal for a tactical change (Rule 3).
- Keep a record. Note who played which quarters, and give the extra quarter to someone different next match.
Who sits out each quarter
Players are numbered 1 to the squad size. Change who gets the extra quarter from match to match.
Squad of 8
| Quarter | Sitting out |
|---|---|
| Quarter 1 | 1 |
| Quarter 2 | 2 |
| Quarter 3 | 3 |
| Quarter 4 | 4 |
4 play 4 quarters; 4 play 3 quarters.
Squad of 9
| Quarter | Sitting out |
|---|---|
| Quarter 1 | 1, 2 |
| Quarter 2 | 3, 4 |
| Quarter 3 | 5, 6 |
| Quarter 4 | 7, 8 |
1 plays 4 quarters; 8 play 3 quarters.
Squad of 10
| Quarter | Sitting out |
|---|---|
| Quarter 1 | 1, 2, 3 |
| Quarter 2 | 4, 5, 6 |
| Quarter 3 | 7, 8, 9 |
| Quarter 4 | 1, 2, 10 |
8 play 3 quarters; 2 play 2 quarters.
Common questions
How many substitutes are allowed in netball?
There's no limit. A team can name up to 12 players and make changes at any interval, when play stops for injury, illness or blood, or straight after a goal for a tactical change (2024 rules, Rule 3).
Is a substitute permitted for a suspended player in netball?
No. A suspended player sits out two minutes of playing time and isn't replaced. A player who is ordered off can be replaced after four minutes of playing time (Rule 18).
How do you rotate 9 netball players?
Two players sit out each quarter. Over four quarters that's eight sit-outs, so eight players play three quarters and one plays all four. Change who plays all four from match to match so it evens out over the season.
How do you rotate 10 netball players?
Three sit out each quarter, 12 sit-outs in all: eight players play three quarters and two play two. Note who had two so they get three next week.
How do you rotate a High 5 netball squad?
High 5 has five players on court, so there are 20 player-quarters. With 7 players, six play three quarters and one plays two; with 8, four play three and four play two.
Netball drills and guides
- Shooter Rotation
- Move into space
- Netball positions explained
- Netball team sheet generator
- Netball rules: the 10 main rules explained
Running the club too? Teamo, from the makers of Sportplan, keeps availability and match-day selection in one club app, so rotations start from who's actually there. Find out more about Teamo.
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