Playing to Win
Netball is a high-impact sport with rapid acceleration and deceleration, high-impact jumps and sharp bursts of changing direction.
Netball shoes are specially designed. They provide players with the necessary support to perform quick and agile movements whilst minimising stress through the knees and feet (so wearing a standard running type-shoe whilst playing netball is not a great idea!).
Wearing the right netball shoe can help prevent injury. Shoes also play an integral part in managing lower limb conditions and getting you back on the court quicker if you are injured.
“Good shoes take you good places.”
Factors to consider when buying Netball shoes
Shoe shopping can be difficult enough at the best of times, let alone when you have to consider the amount of force and change of direction that your feet are subjected to when playing netball!
These are the factors you should consider when buying a netball shoe:
What surface are you playing on?
Netball has traditionally been an outdoor sport. Therefore traditional netball shoes have a thick rubber outer sole that is durable enough to withstand asphalt courts' aggressive nature. However, this thickener and more durable material makes the shoe a lot heavier.
When netball ventured to indoor courts, a new range of "lighter" shoes appeared on the market (similar to running shoes). These still have a rubber outsole to ensure you have an exceptional grip, but do not need to be as durable as the shoes used for outdoor courts.
What position do you play?
Before choosing a netball shoe, think about your own playing style and lower limb biomechanics. Then select a shoe based on its features (please refer to the diagram below for our 2023 recommendations).
It may be beneficial to see your podiatrist for an assessment, and they can advise you about the best shoe for your foot type and court position.
However, as a general rule of thumb:
Mid-courters usually wear a lighter shoe for speed and comfort, as they cover a lot of distance during a game.
Defenders and shooters often prefer a shoe with much more support and protection for shock absorption and stability.
How do they fit?
Fit is incredibly important due to netball's constant and abrupt change-of-direction nature. Ill-fitting netball shoes can cause the dreaded blisters, ingrown toe-nails, plus bruised and/or thickened toe-nails.
Netball shoes should be fitted to allow one centimetre of space from the end of your longest toe to the end of the shoe. Always check the shoe's length when standing, as your foot spreads out when you are weight-bearing.
If you wear ankle braces or orthotics with your netball shoes, remember to take them when shopping for new shoes! These should be worn when fitting new shoes.
Braces can take up a lot of room within the shoe, making the shoes too tight. Orthotics also require a deeper rearfoot of the shoe to ensure your heel is appropriately secure while wearing the orthotics and not likely to slip out of the shoe.
Comfort
Shoes should be comfortable from the start. You should never have to wear them in!
Specialised Netball shoe brands
Asics has a full line of specific netball shoes endorsed by Netball Australia.
Mizuno has been making specialised sports shoes since its inception in 1906, and have a fantastic range of specialised netball shoes.
Our 2023 Netball shoe recommendations:
Where to buy netball shoes?
We recommend these local sports shoe shops to find the perfect netball shoe:
The Athlete's Foot Marion and Burnside
How often should I replace my netball shoes?
Footwear will become problematic when they are worn-out and no longer provide adequate support (or if they are not supportive enough in the first place!)
Therefore I recommend replacing shoes for sports/exercise at least every season. Although the shoe's outsole may not look worn, its midsole could be compressed and the upper stretched, meaning they no longer support your feet.
This article was originally published on the Blackwood Podiatry Blog in February 2021. It has been updated by Nicole Morgan & Ian Ngui in March 2023.