Umpiring

General umpiring information

• Umpiring tips and signals – click here
• Netball Australia Umpire Exam online – click here
• Netta Do’s & Don’ts – click here

If you are interested in Umpiring or gaining your umpires badge contact the QNC Umpires Convenor (see Contact Us)

WHERE TO UMPIRE:

You have control of:

• The full sideline on which you stand
• The court area to the right of the centre circle
• The baseline to your right
• The centre circle when the goal has been scored in your half (The first centre pass of each quarter is controlled by the umpire to whose end the ball is going ie the centre’s goal end)

The role of the umpire for Netta teams is to coach the team members to learn the rules.

MODIFIED RULES:

There are some modified rules for Nettas as follows:

• 6 seconds to release the ball
• 4 feet or 120cm to defend in the court areas
• No defending goal shots
• If players obstruct, ie are within the 4 feet or 120cm, they do not stand out of play
• Players can shuffle their feet so long as forward progress is not made (this requires your judgement)
• The goal can be scored through the lower Netta ring or the top ring

CENTRE PASSES:

The first centre pass is taken by the team who either chooses first centre at the tossing of a coin (the usual practice) or has the first centre ‘left over’ if the other team chooses an end rather than first centre at the toss.

After that first centre pass, the centre passes alternate until the end of the game.

All players are in their goals thirds except for the centres who are in the centre third.

After scoring a goal, it is the players’ responsibility to get behind the goal third lines so you can blow your whistle to restart play.

PASSING THE BALL:

Players need to have one grounded foot to pass the ball.

Players have to be within the field of court when they pass the ball unless they are taking a throw in (within the court also includes the lines so players can have their feet on the line and still be in the court of play).

OFFSIDE:

All players have areas they can go into.

If they are in an area they are not allowed to go into, they are called ‘offside’.

A free pass is awarded to the other team where the player went offside.

FOOTWORK:

In Nettas, the players can shuffle to regain balance. Their shuffling should not make forward progress of significance.

POSSESSION OF THE BALL:

Players cannot throw themselves ont3 the ball to gain possession (this often happens in Nettas).

Only one player at a time can be in possession of the ball.

If 2 players gain possession simultaneously, a toss up between the 2 players is done to award possession.

If a player has possession and another player puts their hands on the ball after the first player, you can call ‘possession Queenscliff’ or ‘possession to team ‘x’.

If a player has possession and another player removes the ball from the first player’s hands, award a penalty to the first player for ‘contact’.

THROWING THE BALL IN ONCE IT HAS GONE OUT:

If a ball goes out of the court of play and lands on the ground or hits an object or person outside the field of play, blow your whistle, say ‘Throw in Queenscliff’ or ‘Throw in team ‘X’.

Players have to put their foot or feet towards the line – not touching it.

All other players must be on the court before the player throws in.

Once they are ready to throw, they have 3 seconds to release the ball. (6 seconds in nettas)

OVER A THIRD:

The ball has to be touched in each third.

From the centre pass the ball must be touched in the centre third.

From a baseline throw in, the ball has to be touched in the goal third, then each third it goes into.

From a sideline throw in, the ball must be touched in the third next to the third where the throw in is taken.

SHOOTING GOALS:

Shots for goal may only be taken if a player lands in the goal circle.

The only players who can shoot for goals are the Goal Shooter and Goal Attack.

If the ball accidentally goes into the goal ring by another player, play on.

BLOWING YOUR WHISTLE:

Blow your whistle:

• At the centre passes you control
• When a goal is scored
• When you award a penalty or free pass
• When the ball goes out
• When you do a toss up (the whistle is blown as you release the ball)
• To signal the end of play after the central hooter has gone

VERY IMPORTANT: Read the rule book as it has everything you need to know in it.