New Guidance for Netball FacilitiesCharlotte Malyon, England Netball

Alastair Cox, AC Associates

englandnetball.co.uk/facilities

Court Info

Competition Level Training Level Netball Design GuidanceCommunity Suitable for recreational

leagues, workplace events and junior district level competition.

Suitable for recreational programmes and community club training.

Indoor Community Courts

Outdoor Community Courts

Club Suitable for competitive play up to senior County Clubs’ League.

Suitable for club training (up to County level) and County performance programmes (indoor only)

Indoor Club Courts

Outdoor Club Courts

Premier Suitable for Regional and National League competition.

Suitable for Regional and National Club training. Regional performance programmes and Superleague development squads.

Indoor Premier Courts

International Suitable for Super League fixtures and International competition.

Suitable for National performance programmes and Superleague Clubs. International Courts

Community Venue Example

2 x tennis and 1 x netball court at King George’s Field, Barford, Warwickshire

Contractor – Smith Construction

Club Venue Examples

Shirley High School, CroydonContractors – Charles Lawrence Surfaces

Club Venue Examples

Stanborough Netball CentreContractor – Hunts Contractors

Club Venue Examples

The Deanes School, EssexContractor – ETC Sports Surfaces

Premier Venue Example

Beacon of Light, SunderlandContractor - Tolent

International Venue Example

Echo Arena, Liverpool

Design Guidance Content

• Principal Playing Area• Run offs• Multiple court run offs (with and without separation barriers)• Space for team bench and match officials• Space for spectators• Surface class and performance standards for outdoor and indoor

courts• Line markings guidance• Goalposts• Lighting• Multiple court layouts• Clear height requirements for airhalls and domes• Guidance on informal courts• Frequently asked questions – can you guess the most frequent?• Performance standards explained

Run Offs – Part 1

• Community Level = recreational, social, training, juniors

• Preferred run off set as 2m at the back 1.5m

• Minimum level determined in accordance with venue operators risk assessment

• ‘Common sense’ approach to risk management, assisted by not led by the netball club, coach or league / competition organiser

• EN affiliation = insurance

• Completed risk assessment checklist essential

Run Offs – Part 2

• Club Level = adult Competition, up to County Premier standard

• Minimum run off set as 2m at the back 1.5m sides

• This threshold is now written in England Netball’s Domestic Guidance for competition (England’s adaptation of the INF Rules)

• New facilities must bear in mind that anything less than this, risks formal competition not being possible

• Existing facilities with less, require parties to adopt risk management procedures and monitor accidents / issues

Surface Performance Requirements

Surface Class

Surface Type Facility Type Community Club Premier International

Class 1 Area elastic or combined elastic

Indoor Preferred Preferred Preferred Minimum

Class 2 Point elastic Indoor Minimum Minimum Minimum Unsuitable

Class 3 Shock absorbing

Outdoor or covered outdoor (e.g. domes or airhalls)

No preference No preference n/a n/a

Class 4 Non or low shock absorbing

Outdoor or covered outdoor

No preference No preference n/a n/a

Outdoor Performance Standards – 1

General Description Test MethodClass 3Shock

absorbing

Class 4Non / low shock

absorbing

Qualifications / Additional consistency

requirements

Slip resistance and consistency¹

DryBS EN 13036-4 ² ≥75 As Class 3

All test positions shall give mean

results within ±5 of the overall mean for the

court

Wet²

Rotational resistanceDry

BS EN 15301-1 ⁴ 15-45 Nm As Class 3Nm = Newton

metresWet²

Ball rebound and consistency

Dry BS EN 12235 ⁵≥ 80%

(≥1.0m)As Class 3

All test positions shall give mean

results within ±5 of the overall mean for the

court

Wet²

Outdoor Performance Standards –2

General Description Test Method

Class 3

Shock absorbing

Class 4

Non / low shock

absorbing

Qualifications / Additional

consistency requirements

Shock absorptionDry

BS EN 14808 25-45% No requirementWet²

Vertical deformation

DryBS EN 14809 ≤ 4.0mm No requirement

Wet²

Surface regularity BS EN 13036-7No undulation greater than

6mm

Subject to the tolerance

detailed in note 6 below

Outdoor Performance Standards – 3

General Description Test Method

Class 3

Shock absorbing

Class 4

Non / low shock

absorbing

Qualifications / Additional consistency

requirements

Water permeability BS EN 12616 ≥ 150 mm/h

Gradients Surveyors level

Permeable surfaces

Recommended fall: 0.5% (1:200)

Maximum fall: 0.83% (1:120) Falls measured on a single plain

Impermeable surfaces

Minimum fall: 0.83% (1:120)

Maximum fall: 1.0% (1:100)

Accuracy of line markings

Steel tape or equivalent

All line markings shall be within ±15mm of their

specified positions

Line Markings Guidance

• All painted line markings within the PPA and run offs must achieve ≥75 SRV

• Measurements taken from outside of the lines (apart from transverse lines)

• White lines, if netball is the primary sport

• If not the primary sport, either red or any other colour apart from yellow

• Why? Umpires have fed back that yellow line markings are difficult to pick out

Goalposts – INF Rules

¹A goalpost is placed at the mid-point of each goal line. It consists of the following:• A vertical metal pole 65-100 mm (2.5-4 in) in

diameter and 3.05 m (10 ft) high. • The pole is:

• Inserted in the ground or sleeved beneath the floor so when it is knocked there is a minimal amount of movement and it remains stable

• Placed so the back of the pole is at the outside edge of the goal line

• Covered with padding of uniform thickness not more than 50 mm (2 in) thick and extending the full length of the pole

• A horizontal metal ring made of steel rod 15 mm (5/8 in) in diameter with an internal diameter of 380 mm (15 in)

• A horizontal metal bar of length 150 mm (6 in), projecting from the front edge at the top of the pole, to which the ring is attached

• A net (preferably white) fitted to the ring, clearly visible and open at top and bottom.

Goalposts – Domestic Guidance

• Where it is not possible to fit socketed posts, freestanding posts can be used for training, recreational use and junior competition. For adult County leagues and higher levels of competition, either socketed or floor fixed goal posts are strongly advised.

• England Netball also recommends that the goal post has adjustable height settings that allow the goal height to be 2.44m, 2.75 and 3.05m. This is so that alternative versions of the game can be accommodated.

• Socketed post storage is recommended for when the posts are not in use. Site: Marlborough College, Wiltshire

Contractor: Courtstall Services Ltd

Image supplied by: Alistair Cox Associates

Clear Height Requirements for Airhalls and Domes

Frequently Asked Question

Highgate School, London hosting a junior County tournament in April 2016 on a sand dressed artificial

grass surface.

3G surfaces are not considered suitable for netball

Can netball be played on astroturf / artificial grass / 3G?

Although not a popular choice for traditional netballers playing in County Leagues, affiliated netball can be played on sand dressed artificial grass surfaces and are a good multi sports solution where space is a premium. The most important factors are appropriate levels of slip resistance, having a short pile length for good ball bounce and keeping sand on the surface to a minimum. Shock pads underneath sand dressed surfaces make for a slower game of netball but this is less of an issue for juniors and recreational users. A great example facility is at Highgate School in London (illustrated below).

Hockey PlusHockey Plus – Netball Option

Acknowledgements

Fran Connolly, England NetballAlastair Cox, Alastair Cox Associates

Tony Atherton, Sport England