This summary covers (1) Rules specific to our competition and (2) a summary of general playing rules.
This is a social competition, and umpires will help to clarify rules wherever possible. If you have any queries, please ask officials before your game or in the breaks.
- Players on court:
- Total players on court Max 7, Min 5
- Male players on court Max 3, Min 1
- Positions: Maximum one male player positioned in the attacking third (GA/GS) and maximum one male player positioned in the defending third (GD/GA). No restrictions on who plays in centre third (C, WA, WD)
- Borrowing players:
- A team may borrow up to two (2) players from other teams to make up numbers.
- Teams may only borrow from the same or lower grade.
- Borrowed player(s) can only play on the wings.
- Umpires or organisers must be notified of a borrowed player prior to the start of the game.
- Borrowed players cannot be used in a semi final or final
3. Player registration and Finals eligibility
Players must play at least 1 game and be registered by round 5 (10 week season) or round 7 (12 week season), in order to be eligible for finals. Players can only register for one team on a given night of the week during the season
4. Game Length
Games consist of 4 x 9 minute quarters, with 30 seconds break at quarter time and three quarter time, and 3 minutes break at half time
5. Equipment
To play in our competition, all your team members need the following:
- Suitable sports clothes (uniform shirts are encouraged)
- Netball Bibs* (all teams must have their own set)
- Sports shoes with non-marking soles
- Netball Gloves if required
*Bibs are available for rental at $10 per team per game. If both teams bring the same coloured bibs, an alternative set will be loaned free of charge.
6. Jewellery/Fingernails
- All jewellery must be removed before you go on the court.
- Fingernails must be cut short, or covered by gloves.
7. Umpires
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Umpires have authority to enforce rules during a game. Their decision is final.
A player may consult umpire during break or before or after game, in order to clarify a ruling. No further discussion beyond this. Umpires may assist new players with rules at any time at their discretion.
8. Player Conduct
Players are required to conduct themselves in a suitable manner. Over aggressive or dangerous play, dissent toward officials & swearing are examples of misconduct. This is covered by the rules of Netball, but players must also abide by the Scoreline Sports Player Code of Conduct.
Sanctions for misconduct may include:
- Advancing a penalty (moving it forward on the court)
- Warning
- Suspension from the court for a specified period.
- Ordering off for remainder of the game.
- Forfeiting of the game
Competition organisers reserve the right to impose further sanctions after the game, which may include:
- Suspension of player(s) for a number of weeks
- Banning of player(s) from the competition
9. Competition Points
Allocated as 2 for a win, 1 for a draw.
Teams may receive adjusted points if they join a comp or switch grades mid-season.
10. Variations to Rules
Competition organisers reserve the right to make variations to rules & sanctions at their discretion, in order to ensure the safety & enjoyment of participants, officials and spectators, & to meet obligations to venue management. All teams will be advised if there are any changes
(a) Playing positions and their roles on the court
There are seven playing positions in a team. Each has an important role to play for their team:
(b) Starting the game – centre pass
Before the whistle, all players must start in the goal thirds except the two Centres. The Centre with the ball must be wholly within the Centre Circle and must obey the footwork rule after the whistle has been blown. The opposing Centre stands anywhere within the Centre Third and is free to move.
After the whistle the Centre pass must be caught or touched by a player standing in or landing wholly within the Centre third.
A player must not break at the centre pass, which is moving into the Centre third before the whistle is blown for the Centre pass.
A free pass would be awarded to the opposing team in any of these instances above.
Players must get onside quickly at the centre pass. The Centre with the ball must hurry back to the centre circle and step straight in. If she waits for her players to get back onside, this is called “delaying play”.
This would result in the Centre receiving a caution, a penalty being given and advanced up the court.
(c) Footwork in the centre circle
The footwork rule still applies in the centre circle. As soon as the Centre steps into the circle, their leading leg becomes their landing foot and the footwork rule then applies. That is, if they lift or move their landing foot and place it back down again, a free pass will be awarded to the opposing team due to footwork.
The umpire will blow the whistle to start play once the Centre has placed one foot wholly in the circle.
A player with or without the ball cannot move into an area of the court that is not designated for their position.
This will result in a free pass being awarded to the opposing team.
Hopping or dragging the landing foot is not allowed.
If you break the footwork rule, a free pass will be awarded to the opposing team
A player attempting to intercept or defend the ball must be at least 3ft (1m) away from the player with the ball. This distance is measured from the landing foot of the player in possession of the ball. The defender may jump to intercept or defend the ball from this distance but you must ensure if you do jump to defend a ball, you don’t land any nearer that 3ft or this is obstruction (i.e. shortening your distance).
A penalty pass will be awarded if you obstruct a player as described above.
(g) Obstruction of a player not in possession of the ball
Your arms can be outstretched when you are a marking your player off the ball if you are trying to:
These instances are not classed as obstruction but you will be penalised if you mark a player with your arms out or potentially if you stand under the post with your arms up whilst waiting for a rebound (although the umpire may choose to play advantage if the opposition aren’t being impeded).
‘When attacking, defending or playing the ball, opposing players may come into physical contact with each other. Provided the players do not interfere with each other’s play or use their bodies to gain an unfair advantage over their opponent, it is deemed to be ‘contest’ and play continues. ‘Contact’ occurs when a player’s actions interfere with an opponent’s play whether these are accidental or deliberate.
Generally, an attacker is moving into a space to receive the ball and a defender is drawn into causing contact when trying to intercept. If the attacker was in that space first, the decision goes their way and against the defender. A defender must be able to intercept the ball cleanly.
However, no contact is allowed off the ball. This includes attackers pushing off, backing into or pushing through a defender to get into space to receive the ball. If the defender was in that space first, then the decision goes their way and against the attacker.
The umpire’s role is to watch the game and determine what is ‘contact’ and what is ‘contest’ . It may not always seem obvious to you as a player why a particular decision has been made or why advantage has been played but please respect the decisions that they make.
The umpire should stand at the position at the side of the court where they want the penalty to be taken from. If you’re ever unsure where to take the penalty from, you need to look at the positioning of the umpire for guidance.
Failure to set the penalty correctly in this way will result in a reversal of the penalty and a free pass to the opposing team.
A lot of contact disrupts the flow of the game. It also puts your team at a tactical disadvantage because when a player is taken out of play on a penalty, they are not able to contribute to the team’s defence. It’s far better to pull out of a challenge if you think you’re going to contact the player and concentrate on defending the next pass instead.
(i) Penalties against a player
Once the player taking the penalty pass is in the correct position, the player may choose either to play the ball immediately or to wait for the infringer to stand out of play. If the player chooses to play the ball immediately:
Please observe the above rule if a penalty is given against you!
(j) Taking free passes and penalties
You have 3 seconds from setting the free pass/penalty in which to take it. If you decide that another player would be better taking it, you must place the ball back on the floor.
Do not walk towards the other player to pass it to them (footwork) or hand it to them (short pass).
Any player allowed in that area may take the free pass/penalty.
Only the GS and GA are able to score goals for your team. They must be wholly inside the goal circle to shoot.
The ball is thrown back into play from the point where it went off the court. It is out of court when it contacts anything outside the court area (except the goalpost).
When taking a throw in, a player places her foot up to but not on the sideline or backline of the court. The lines are part of the court. If any part of your foot is touching the line or you step into the court in the process of taking the throw in, this is deemed to be a foul throw. At least one foot must be within 15cm (6in) of the line though.
This includes walking on the court to pass the ball to another player if you decide that they should take the throw in. In this instance, you should leave the ball on the floor outside the court for the player to then pick up.
You have 3 seconds from when you take up your position at the side of the court in which to throw the ball.
You must also wait until all players are back on the court before taking the throw in.
If any of the above occurs, a throw in to the opposing team will be awarded.
The ball cannot be thrown over a complete third of the court without being touched or caught by a player (i.e. it cannot cross two transverse lines).
A free pass shall be taken from the area where the ball crossed the second transverse line (i.e. where the ball shouldn’t have been).
A player may not replay the ball. Specifically you can’t:
