Penalty Shot Award Meaning in Netball

A penalty shot award is a decision by the umpire allowing a shooter to take an undefended shot. This happens when a defender fouls a shooter inside the goal circle during a scoring attempt. The penalized defender must stand out of play and cannot try to block the resulting shot. This award provides the attacking team with a high-probability chance to score a point for the team. A goal shooter earns a penalty shot award after being bumped by the goal keeper during a jump. The shooter may choose to pass the ball instead if a teammate is in a better spot. This rule ensures that illegal defensive physical contact does not prevent a fair scoring opportunity during the game. One real-world example shows an umpire pointing to the post after a defender contacts a shooter’s arm.