 Games are played on a rectangular court with raised goal rings at each end . Each team attempts to score goals by passing a ball down the court and shooting it through its goal ring . Players are assigned specific positions , which define their roles within the team and restrict their movement to certain areas of the court . During general play , a player with the ball can hold on to it for only three seconds before shooting for a goal or passing to another player . The winning team is the one that scores the most goals . Netball games are 60 minutes long . Variations have been developed to increase the game 's pace and appeal to a wider audience . 
