Netball first-aid kit checklist: ankles, knees and fingers.
Netball has quick stops, landings and a ball that meets fingertips at speed. A netball kit needs the general basics plus more for sprains and finger injuries. Here is a list built around that.
What a netball kit has to cover
A UK study of amateur female netball players in the 2016/17 season found the most common injury sites were the ankle (36%), the wrist, hand and fingers (24%) and the knee (22%). Ligament injuries were the most common type. Other studies show a similar pattern.
So a netball kit needs cold packs, bandages for support, finger tape and finger splints, on top of the usual wound care.
Netball first-aid kit checklist
Benchkit has no separate netball template yet. Its Volleyball add-on (finger tape, finger splints and extra cold packs) matches netball's needs, so this is an adult Standard kit with those extras (45 items):
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Wound care | |
| Plasters, assorted (fabric) | 40 |
| Knuckle & fingertip plasters | 10 |
| Blister plasters (hydrocolloid) | 6 |
| Sterile gauze swabs 10×10 cm | 10 |
| Non-stick sterile pads | 10 |
| Sterile wound dressing, medium | 2 |
| Sterile wound dressing, large | 2 |
| Adhesive island dressings | 4 |
| Sterile eye pads | 2 |
| Sterile saline pods 20 ml (wound & eye wash) | 6 |
| Alcohol-free cleansing wipes | 10 |
| Sterile cotton-tipped applicators (pack) | 1 |
| Hydrogel abrasion dressings (turf burn) | 4 |
| Petroleum jelly (anti-friction) | 1 |
| Clean water bottle for rinsing | 1 |
| Tape & support | |
| Elastic bandage 7.5 cm | 2 |
| Elastic bandage 10 cm | 2 |
| Conforming gauze bandage | 2 |
| Cohesive bandage 7.5 cm | 2 |
| Triangular bandage (sling) | 2 |
| Rigid sports tape 3.8 cm | 2 |
| Rigid sports tape 2.5 cm (fingers) | 3 |
| Pre-wrap / underwrap | 1 |
| Micropore surgical tape | 1 |
| Finger splints | 4 |
| Cold | |
| Instant cold packs | 6 |
| Reusable gel packs | 2 |
| Resealable bags (for ice) | 6 |
| Emergency | |
| Foil emergency blankets | 2 |
| CPR face shield / pocket mask | 1 |
| Emergency card (printed, in the lid) | 1 |
| Tooth rescue box / small sealed cup | 1 |
| Tools | |
| Tuff-cut scissors | 1 |
| Tweezers | 1 |
| Tick remover | 1 |
| Safety pins | 6 |
| Hygiene & protection | |
| Nitrile gloves (pairs) | 10 |
| Hand sanitiser | 1 |
| Waste bags | 2 |
| Disinfectant wipes (equipment) | 1 |
| Tissues (pack) | 1 |
| Cards & lists | |
| First-aid guide / quick cards | 1 |
| Concussion recognition card | 1 |
| Contents list (printed, in the lid) | 1 |
| Notepad & pen | 1 |
The netball extras
| Added for volleyball | Extra | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Rigid sports tape 2.5 cm (fingers) | +2 | Narrow tape for buddy-strapping fingers and thumbs. |
| Finger splints | +2 | Support for a jammed or injured finger until it is checked. |
| Instant cold packs | +2 | Ankle and finger injuries both need cold, often at the same session. |
Outdoor courts are often tarmac, so falls cause grazes. Keep plenty of saline, non-stick pads and plasters. Indoors, check where the hall's own first-aid box and defibrillator are.
For sprains, the British Red Cross first-aid advice is to rest, apply a wrapped cold pack for up to 10 minutes, and support and raise the injury. Never put ice straight on the skin.
Is there an official England Netball list?
We could not find a published England Netball contents list. Suppliers sell kits they describe as designed around England Netball's needs, but the governing body's guidance is not a fixed list. Check with your county or regional netball association for any rules that apply to your league.
Keep the netball kit stocked all season
Set up a kit in Benchkit (choose Volleyball for the finger extras), print the QR sticker, and let players tap what they used. Missing tape and cold packs go straight onto a shared refill list. Free for teams.
Set up your kit, freeQuestions
What should be in a netball first-aid kit?
The general basics (plasters, sterile dressings, saline, wipes, gloves, a foil blanket, a CPR face shield, scissors) plus extra instant cold packs, elastic and cohesive bandages, narrow finger tape and finger splints.
What are the most common netball injuries?
Studies point to the ankle, the knee and the fingers or hand. One UK study of amateur players found the ankle (36%), wrist, hand and fingers (24%) and knee (22%) were most often injured.
Does England Netball publish a first-aid kit list?
We could not find a published contents list from England Netball. Check with your regional association for any rules that apply to your league.
Sources
- Partner, Upsall and Francis (2018): Injury epidemiology in female netball players during the 2016/2017 season in the UK, Leeds Beckett University
- British Red Cross: Strains and sprains
- Hockey Canada Safety Program: first-aid kit content list (via Hockey Alberta)
- St John Ambulance (UK): Deluxe sports first aid kit (archived copy)
First-aid information, not medical advice. Kit lists are guidance: what you carry should match the training of the people using it. A first-aid course (for example from St John Ambulance or the Red Cross in your country) is the best preparation. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.