If you have any questions regarding umpiring, rules, code of conduct or anyother netball related query, please email a member of the management board who will try to answer your question.
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Pregnant Players/Umpires
Please click here for guidance on pregnant players/umpires particiapting in the game of netball.
Please note that these guidelines are under review and that the new ones will be available as of the beginning of September. We will update the information of any changes at that time.
Gloves
The current directive on the wearing of gloves issued by England Netball is as follows:-
No form of glove may be worn when playing netball. If for medical reasons gloves are required then on production of an appropriate medical certificate a local league, County, Regional Committee or England Netball may allow gloves to be worn.
These players are then to be advised to have personal liability insurance.
Umpires are reminded that they still have to be satisfied that any gloves worn do not present an obvious hazard to other players.
Gloves should be plain, soft leather type, seamless or with internal seams.
Head Scarves
Following several enquiries regarding the wearing of ‘head scarves’ due to religious or cultural reasons, health and well being issues and the fact that there is no rule in the IFNA rules to cover these circumstances
England Netball has agreed the following directive: -
'The priority must be to encourage increased participation in sport, while being sensitive to religious practices, cultural differences and health and well being issues, and with due regard to the safety of all participants.
With this in mind the player, together with the coach/teacher/parent etc should ensure that the material used for the head covering is soft and without embellishments, which might constitute a danger to any other player on the court, and with potential flowing / flapping edges held securely around the neck or tucked into shirt collar.
It should be as neat and secure as possible.
Peaked caps would not be considered as appropriate.
Jewellery Studs
The question of studs wherever they are placed (i.e. tongue, ears, nose etc., etc!!) has been raised endlessly
There is no debate at International, National, Regional or County playing levels, this rule (1.4.3) is adhered to in its strictest senses but there is scope for local leagues to introduce some flexibility into their own rules. In other words if a player is involved in
International, National, Regional or County squads you have no choice. No stud or no play!!
With players involved in local leagues only then on a game organised by personnel other than England Netball then everyone is subject to the league rules. The league may choose to adhere strictly to the above rule or they may decide to make certain allowances as they are an autonomous body, but with these comes the
responsibilities, restrictions if someone is injured.
Umpires have a duty to ensure in the normal way that all their pre-match duties are adhered to. This includes the checking of jewellery and nails etc.
Umpires should not however be asking players to physically show that they have no adornments as it is hoped that all players would respect that the umpire is dealing with her pre-match duties as an umpire according to the rules. However, if during a match a player is found to still have an item of jewellery on after having been asked to remove ‘all
jewellery’ then again the umpire will deal with this by asking for it to be removed. If
the player should refuse then she would be asked to leave the court and not continue
the game until it was removed.
Leg Braces
The International Federation of Netball Associations issued the following directive
'If the brace be adequately covered with tape or some form of covering the player could take the Court
In light of this agreement and to bring the conditions in line with those pertaining to the wearing of gloves, England Netball is recommending the following:-
Players wearing leg braces to protect injury or surgery and who are prepared to take the risk of playing, may take the Court provided the brace is covered adequately thus presenting no obvious hazard to other players. Such players are advised to have personal liability
Umpires should note that it is their responsibility to check that the covering, usually in the form of soft crepe bandage-type material or thick layers of tape, is secure enough to prevent any metal or hard plastic surfaces causing injury to other players should a collision occur.
Umpires have no responsibility in respect of a player’s decision to play while wearing a leg brace, unless the covering is inadequate.
Is the Line part of the court?
Question 1.
Can you please clarify for me, is your foot being on the line out?
I know it is on a throw in from outside of the court or at a centre pass.
I believed that your foot or ball on the line, when the other side of the line is a forbidden area, is always out. An example would be someone catching the ball on the side line and their foot being on the line but not over.
Answer
In the example you have given (i.e catch the ball and your foot is on the line (not over, touching outside of court or into an area you are not allowed) the line is part of the court - as per rule 1.1.5 in the rules book.
At a throw in -
- the player throwing the ball in shall - not enter the court (which includes lines bounding the court) until the ball has been thrown (rule 18.4.2)
At a centre pass -
- the Centre in possession of the ball shall stand wholly within the Centre Circle, on either one foot or both feet (rule 11.1)
Lost Possession
Question 2.
Many umpires(As did I before it was clarified to me) class a "re-possession" to be as little as whizzing through a players hands touching them without a control being involved.
This I was told was wrong as the ball has to be caught with a reasonable amount of control before it is classed as dropped and regained.
I also understand that one bounce to gain control of the ball is allowed, but often umpires pull this up as lost possession, especially if its been a stray ball.
Can we all be told the same definition of "replaying the ball".
Answer
Replay is one of the rules that at various levels is not always umpired correctly. There can only be replay of the ball i.e. if dropped after having possession or control.
The rule book lists what is allowed and what isnt when playing the ball.
A ball that hits someone or "whizzes through someone's hands" cannot be replay.
Yes you can bounce the ball 'once' to gain possession if not batted, thrown, held, or tipped first etc.
All these descriptions are in the rule book.
For full details, please see "playing the ball." in your Rules Book.
Out of Court
Question 3.
If a player jumps back onto the court and catches the ball with out having first made contact with the court, what should I do?
Answer
As per rule 10.4 - A player having no contact with the ball may stand or move out of Court but before playing the ball, the player must re-enter the court and no longer have contact with the ground out of court.
a throw in to the opposign team, at the point where the player was out of court.
Question 2.
Is the ball out of court if it hits the goal post and comes back onto the court?
Answer
As per rule 10.2 - A ball, which hits any part of the goalpost and rebounds into play, is not out of Court
