Game Management Actions

World Netball Rules 2024

Brief cap of principles of Game Management:

Players on the court are responsible for complying with the Rules of the Game and are expected to respond to rulings by the umpires and adjust their play accordingly. Similar requirements apply to team officials and bench players. (This includes coaches of teams)
Normally an umpire will work through these game management actions in the order unless serious instances occur. Please be mindful that if you have given proactive advice or advanced a penalty, you must continue to escalate if infringing happens. E.g. two advanced infringements should not occur, but rather escalate to warning.

Proactive advice:

a player is provided with specific feedback to change their behaviour
- g. ‘WD, that’s persistent off side, stay out of the circle please’
- g. ‘Goal Defence, that is a late contact, address your timing or pull out’

Advance/Escalation:

Advance and/or escalate a sanction: a sanction may be advanced up to half a third (this may be to inside the goal circle if the infringement was in the goal third) and/or a free pass escalated to a penalty pass.
- g. ‘Goal attack, that’s deliberate obstruction, advance to centre circle’.
- g. Goal Defence, that’s dissent, advance to here.
  Note: when advancing, be really clear where you are advancing to. Half a third is a large distance, so ensure you get it right.

Warning

Issue a warning to a player: a player is warned that suspension will follow if the player continues to infringe any of the foul play rules.
- g. ‘Goal Attack, that is repeated obstruction it’s now a warning. Any further will lead to a suspension’.

Suspend a player

Suspend a player: a player who is suspended takes no part in play for two minutes playing time.
- g. ‘WD that dangerous play, you are suspended for 2 minutes.

Note: make sure they stay with the time keeper, manager for the duration of their suspension.

Ordering off

Order a player off: a player who is ordered off takes no further part in the match. A team may replace this player after four minutes playing time.

Discipline of Team officials (coaches etc) and bench players.

During a match (including intervals, stoppages and when the ball is both in and out of play) team officials and bench players must not:

Criticise the umpires or their decisions.
Use offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures.
Use excessive noise or interruption.
Encourage foul play by on-court players.
Enter the court other than in extreme circumstances where player safety is endangered.

Sanction: Penalty pass where the ball was. Nobody has to be out of play.

E.g. Hold time “that is disputing an umpire’s decision, penalty pass here”. A warning may be issued to a specific person if required. If in a serious case, the umpire may request executive to remove a spectator, bench official or person from the event. This is senior executive’s responsibility, not the umpire.
Note: If spectators and coaches are causing concerns, please send someone to control to notify the umpires committee or senior executive and someone will come to the court to support you.

Foul Play / Dangerous play.

A player must not take any action, either unnecessarily forceful, careless, reckless or dangerous that could affect the safety of another player. This specifically includes (but is not limited to) any action that results in either head and/or neck contact or contact of the head and/or neck with any part of the playing enclosure including the goalpost.

Action: Player is suspended or ordered off if intentional.

When umpires are considering whether a suspension or ordering off is more appropriate, they should consider the following factors (which are not exhaustive):

Was the action intentional, reckless or avoidable?
Did the action have a low or high impact on player safety?
Was the action at low or high speed, on the ground or in the air?
Was the action low or high force?
Did the action occur while stationary or moving?

Unsporting Behaviour

A player must not act in any way that may add hostility to a match or is contrary to accepted standards of good sporting conduct and to the integrity or image of the game.

Retaliation: A player must not retaliate even if an opponent infringes the Rules of the Game.
Abusive behaviour: A player must not use any offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures towards anyone in the playing enclosure.
Actions contrary to good sporting behaviour: A player must not act in a manner contrary to accepted standards of good sporting behaviour or to the integrity and image of the game
- Action: Penalty pass, player given a warning and specific description.
- g. “that’s a warning for retaliation, penalty pass to opposing team”.

Unfair Play

A player must not play unfairly even if player safety is not endangered. This includes any instance of delaying play, intentional infringing, repeated infringing, disputed ruling or intimidation.

Action: Advance play, penalty pass awarded to opposing team.
e.g. “That’s intimidation, advance to under the post, penalty pass or shot” and put the infringing player out of play.

Examples of unfair play

Delaying play, Intentional or repeated infringing, Disputed ruling, Intimidation
- A player, either with or without the ball, must not intimidate an opponent by using behaviour designed to distract (including verbal comments) to obtain an unfair advantage. Examples of intimidation include (but are not limited to):
  Covering an opponent’s eyes.
  b. Swiping the ball directly at an opponent’s face.
  c. Making unnecessary loud or sudden noises.
  d. Stomping the ground.
  e. A player waving their arms erratically.
  f. Sledging an opponent.