Court Surfaces

Choosing the right surface for netball is essential, and an investment that with the right choice can last for a very long time.

In theory, any surface that meets England netball’s performance standards for netball surfaces is suitable for netball, but with so many options on the market, we have developed extra guidance on the options to help you choose what right for your community.

Surface Requirements

England Netball wish to ensure that the game of netball is played on surfaces that are fit for purpose in relation to the level and type of netball being played..

As such, they have established four classes of surface for indoor and outdoor facilities and adopted minimum and preferred requirements for the various categories of play.

Outdoor Surfaces

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Along with the benefits of getting out in the fresh air, playing outdoors is cheaper, and for those who have access to a decent court in their local area, it’s natural to want to make use of it. Having the right playing surface is crucial for safety and enjoyment of the game. Here we explore the options available

Macadam Courts

One of the most common outdoor surfaces for netball is open textured porous asphalt – also known as macadam. These hard surfaces provide excellent bounce and are relatively low maintenance. If built to England Netball’s specifications, players should enjoy good grip and fast sprint starts in all-weather conditions. However, there is no shock absorption so anyone looking for more comfort on the joints is likely to prefer an alternative surface..

Sand-Dressed Artificial Turf

With operators looking to maximise the use of their outdoor facilities, sand-dressed artificial surfaces, also known as GEN2 or 2G pitches, have become increasingly popular. Artificial surfaces are a good option for netball players who appreciate greater shock absorption and are comfortable with a slower pace of game

Polymeric Courts

While less common than asphalt or artificial surfaces, polymeric courts are another option for outdoor netball as they provide good levels of shock absorption. Sometimes found on artificial athletics tracks, or in playgrounds, these ‘rubbery’ surfaces come in a range of colours and have a high traction topcoat so can look and feel great. The downsides are that courts need to be laid on an asphalt base and can lose their grip quite quickly after installation so it’s a more expensive option for venue operators to install and maintain.

Acrylic Courts

Acrylic netball courts are hugely popular in warmer climates like Australia and New Zealand and are found in many tennis clubs in England due their smooth, fast playing surface with excellent bounce. Whilst it may be tempting to consider this a great surface option for combined netball and tennis courts, its lack of porosity reduces it value in the UK.

GEN2 Courts

Sometimes, the best surface for your community is a multi sport surface that can cater for several sports throughout the year. We have worked together with other NGBs to produce a ‘GEN2’ guidance note, which although isn’t the best option for competitive netball, it is ideal for those playing socially or are being introduced to netball at a slow pace. In conclusion, the choice of outdoor surface depends on many factors. Location, community needs, level of play, and budgets all play a contributing part. If you want to find out more about investing in the right playing surface and how to make sure it’s a safe and enjoyable netball experience, please contact facility.development@englandnetball.co.uk

Indoor Surfaces

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When deciding on your indoor sports floor there are several factors to consider as you will be investing in a surface that will be part of your facility for many years. Therefore, we feel it is important for you to make an informed choice. Our official Indoor Sport Flooring partners DYNAMIK have supported us with their expert opinion with options for playing indoor netball at Community, Club, Premier or International Level. This, together with our own experience of netball surfaces has allowed England Netball to share valuable insight into the decision-making process when choosing which type of sports flooring to select.

Sprung Wooden Sports Floor

This is considered a suitable surface for all levels of netball up to and including International matches. Sprung wooden floors that meet England Netball’s performance requirements allow the highest level of netball to be played. All sprung wooden floor systems require regular intensive maintenance and if used for non-sporting events must use floor protection such as DYNAMIK giant carpet tiles to protect the surface from indentation and damage.

Sprung Sports Floor (Synthetic Surface)

A solid (non-foam backed) synthetic playing surface installed onto a sprung base or undercarriage replicates the performance and feel of a wooden sprung floor. This type of sprung system utilises a solid synthetic playing surface which can be polyurethane (PU), sport linoleum or sport vinyl and offers low levels of maintenance compared to a sprung wooden floor that requires sanding many times at a cost to the facility. It is therefore a very cost-effective option over a period of time. It is suitable for all levels of netball up to Premier level. Some lower level International fixtures may be played but it wouldn’t be considered suitable for events such as the Commonwealth Games or Netball World Cup.

Roll Out Vinyl Courts

Netball Super League fixtures are currently played on ‘timber effect’ portable roll-out vinyl court, typically installed over an existing area elastic sprung floor to create a clean, uncluttered showcourt. When overlaying an existing sprung floor with a DYNAMIK Roll-Out court, a combined elastic system is created. Combined elastic surfaces that meet England Netball’s performance standards are considered suitable for all forms of netball up to and including VNSL fixtures and lower level International fixtures. It is not considered a suitable surface for events such as the Commonwealth Games or Netball World Cup nor non-sporting events due to low levels of indentation resistance. If you are considering purchasing this system to create a clean court environment for elite level fixtures, consideration must be made for the storage, installation time and installation expertise required.

Foam Backed Cushioned Vinyl

This surface option is mainly suited to Community and Club levels of netball. It is possible for Premier level netball to be accommodated but is not considered ideal. It is unsuitable for International level netball. Whilst a popular choice amongst the education sector, current requirements from the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) states that activity spaces, such as those used for sport, must now be sprung A3 or A4 area elastic floors. A foam-backed vinyl is a point elastic floor (P1, P2 or P3) and as such would not meet the current legislation. Whilst spongy point elastic surfaces offer a good level of player comfort, caution needs to be applied if using tables, chairs or heavy sports equipment as these can indent or damage foam-backed surfaces. They also come in varying degrees of thickness where softer surfaces are not considered ideal for wheelchair users due to their high rolling resistance and increased user fatigue.