Netball in Kerala

Verified profileAchievements, tournaments, coaches and scholarships on this page are compiled from federation and government sources (Netball Federation of India (Wikipedia), Wikipedia — India national netball team, Netball in India, Asian Youth Netball Championship).

Overview

Governing body: Netball Federation of India
Origin: 19th century England
Olympic discipline: No
Category: Team
Total players listed: …

Netball is one of India's most-followed disciplines. The Netball Federation of India oversees national federation activity, talent identification and Olympic qualification pathways. Major support flows in through TOPS and Khelo India for athletes who clear federation benchmarks.

Netball is not currently on the Olympic programme, but it sits firmly inside India's broader sporting ecosystem. The discipline receives support through the Khelo India movement, multi-sport events such as the National Games and Asian Games trials wherever the sport is contested, and dedicated league or championship structures run by the federation. Sponsorship, broadcast deals and private academies often fill the gap that direct government funding leaves, and several state governments offer cash awards, government jobs and land grants to medallists at the National Games and recognised world championships.

As a team sport, Netball in India is built around a club, district and state structure that culminates in national-level inter-state competition. State associations affiliated to the Netball Federation of India run age-group leagues from under-14 upwards, with the strongest pools historically coming from states with established grassroots infrastructure. Franchise leagues — where they exist — sit on top of this pyramid and have transformed athlete earnings, broadcast visibility and the professionalisation of coaching and support staff. School and college tournaments under SGFI and AIU remain the primary discovery route for players who do not come through a private academy.

At the grassroots, the route into Netball typically starts at school under the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), at the inter-university level under the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), or through a private academy registered with the state association. The Khelo India Youth Games and Khelo India University Games are the largest single discovery platforms — athletes who reach the podium at these events become eligible for the Khelo India Talent Development scheme, which funds boarding, coaching, kit, education and a monthly stipend at accredited centres. State sports awards and central government jobs under the sports quota remain a powerful incentive for athletes from smaller towns.

Netball originated in 19th century England, and in India it has developed a distinct character shaped by the country's geography, demographics and sporting culture. Whether you want to compete, coach, sponsor, write about or simply follow Netball, the practical starting point is the same: connect with your state association under the Netball Federation of India, identify the nearest SAI centre or accredited academy, and track the Khelo India and federation calendars for the events that decide selection at every level. Netball is played and developed across India under the Netball Federation of India, with grassroots programmes, state associations and national-level competition pathways.

History

How netball evolved globally and took root in India.

Netball traces its modern origins to 19th century England. Codified rules, standard equipment and international competition took shape as the sport spread beyond its birthplace, and Netball Federation of India is the body that carried it into organised Indian competition.

In India, netball grew through princely-state patronage, defence-service teams, universities and state associations. Post-independence, the discipline was formalised under Netball Federation of India, national championships were instituted, and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) later brought it into the centralised high-performance system with dedicated centres, coaching cadres and sports-science support.

Netball sits outside the Olympic programme but is firmly part of India's Asian Games, Commonwealth and National Games map, with state governments backing medallists through cash awards, jobs and land grants.

Scholarships & Funding

Central, state and private scholarships available for netball athletes in India.

Khelo India Talent Development Scheme (KISCE)
Monthly stipend (₹10,000 for Khelo India athletes), boarding, coaching and kit at accredited centres for identified netball talent (Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports).
Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
Central government scheme covering training, foreign exposure, equipment and out-of-pocket allowance (up to ₹50,000/month) for medal-prospect netball athletes; administered by the Mission Olympic Cell.

Explore all government schemes →

Indian Players

Loading…

Loading roster…

Browse the full athlete directory →

Rules

Two teams of 7 pass a ball down the court to score through a raised, unbackboarded hoop. Players occupy fixed positional areas and cannot run with the ball or hold it for more than 3 seconds. Matches run four 15-minute quarters.

Authoritative rulebook: Netball Federation of India. Age-group and school-level variations are published by SGFI and the state associations each season.

Positions

Key roles, events or positions inside a netball squad or competition.

Attackers / forwards
Primary scorers who operate closest to the opposition goal or scoring zone.
Midfielders / all-rounders
Link play between defence and attack; usually the highest work-rate positions.
Defenders
Deny the opposition space and possession in the defensive third.
Goalkeeper / last line
Specialist stopper with distinct kit and rules; the final line of defence.
Captain & vice-captain
On-field leadership, decision-making and communication with match officials.

Equipment

Standard kit and infrastructure required to train and compete in netball at a federation-recognised event.

Netball
Raised goal ring (3.05m, no backboard)
Court divided into thirds
Bib marking player position

Governing body

National federation

Netball Federation of India

Netball Federation of India is the recognised national body for Netball in India. It sets the domestic calendar, selection norms, coaching curriculum and anti-doping compliance, and is affiliated to the international federation for netball. State associations under Netball Federation of India run age-group competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Origin: 19th century England
Olympic: No
Category: Team

All federations →

Major Indian Events

Domestic championships, Khelo India events, National Games and franchise leagues that shape the netball calendar in India.

Netball Federation of India (NFI) national championships
NFI organizes age-group and senior national championships. Founded in March 1978 by Jagat Singh Chauhan — the same figure who founded the Handball Federation of India, making him a foundational figure across multiple Indian team sports.

International Events

Continental and world-level competitions where India competes in netball.

Commonwealth Games
India made its sole netball appearance at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games as hosts, finishing 12th of 12 teams.
Asian Netball Championship
India has competed since 2001; the region has historically been dominated by Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysia.
Asian Youth Netball Championship
India has competed regularly since the 1990s and hosted the event twice, in 1998 and 2006.

Leagues

No dedicated professional league is currently catalogued for netball. The national championship under Netball Federation of India remains the top domestic competition.

All leagues →

International Players

Globally recognised netball athletes to know outside India.

Lionel Messi (Argentina)
8-time Ballon d'Or; 2022 World Cup winner.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
5-time Ballon d'Or; Euro 2016 champion.
Kylian Mbappé (France)
2018 World Cup winner; multiple Ligue 1 top scorer.
Erling Haaland (Norway)
Manchester City forward; Premier League Golden Boot.
Manuel Neuer (Germany)
2014 World Cup-winning goalkeeper; Bayern Munich legend.

Records

Where to find India's official netball record book.

Olympic medalsN/A
Netball is not on the Olympic programme, so India records this discipline through Asian Games, Commonwealth, World and Continental championships instead.
Asian Games medalsTracked
India's Asian Games results in netball are compiled by the Indian Olympic Association and the Netball Federation of India.
Commonwealth medalsTracked
Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championship medals in netball are maintained by the Netball Federation of India.
World Championship medalsTracked
Senior, junior and youth World Championship medal records are held by the international federation for netball and mirrored by Netball Federation of India.
National record holdersFederation register
Netball Federation of India publishes the current senior, junior and sub-junior national records and updates them after every ratified event.

Career Options

Ways to build a career in netball — on the field, on the sidelines and behind the scenes.

Playing pathway through NFI's state associations and age-group national championships
The sport remains developing in India (current world ranking 25th) compared to established Commonwealth netball nations — this means real ground-floor opportunities in coaching, administration and grassroots development as NFI expands domestic competition
Coaching certification through NFI and Asia Netball

Explore sports careers →Coaches directory →

Related academies

1 listed

Thyagaraj Sports ComplexState
New Delhi, Delhi · Since 2010
Delhi government's flagship indoor multi-sport stadium and academy.

All academies →List your academy →

Government Schemes

…

Central and state schemes that fund training, stipends and awards for netball athletes and academies.

Loading schemes…

All government schemes →

FAQs

Common questions about netball in India.

Who governs Netball in India?▾

Netball Federation of India is the recognised national federation for Netball in India. State associations under Netball Federation of India run age-group and state-level competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Is Netball an Olympic sport?▾

Netball is not currently on the Olympic programme, but India competes at Asian Games, Commonwealth Games (where recognised), World Championships and other continental events sanctioned by Netball Federation of India.

How do I start playing Netball in India?▾

Join a school team under SGFI, a college team under AIU, or a private academy affiliated to your state association. From there, age-group state championships and Khelo India events are the standard route into the national pipeline.

What government schemes support Netball athletes?▾

The core schemes are Khelo India (talent development stipends, scholarships and boarding at accredited centres), TOPS (funding for elite athletes preparing for the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games), and state-government cash awards, jobs and land grants for medallists. Federation-specific schemes may also apply.

Where can I train for Netball?▾

Sports Authority of India (SAI) national centres of excellence, Khelo India accredited academies, state sports institutes and private academies registered with the state association are the standard training venues. The Academies section on this page lists options.

How are Indian Netball athletes selected for international events?▾

Netball Federation of India runs selection trials — typically the senior national championship, a dedicated trial event, or ranking-based selection — and publishes the selection policy each season. Objective criteria (times, distances, ranking points, weight-class results) dominate at the elite level.

Netball in every state & UT

Dedicated pages for Netball in each Indian state and Union Territory — academies, schemes, athletes and how to start.

Netball