Netball Rules of the Game
Senior 6 · Physical Education
Netball Rules of the Game
Lesson 3 of 3
25 min
World Netball asks its umpires to "apply the Rules of the Game fairly, communicate clearly and maintain a calm, decisive control while ensuring that player safety is the paramount consideration". Two umpires share the court, each controlling one half; a reserve umpire, scorers and timekeepers support them from the bench. This lesson sets out their duties under Rules 4, 5 and 18 of the Rules of Netball, 2024 edition, the 23 official hand signals, the steps of game management from advice to ordering off, and what umpires must do when a player is injured.
Definition
Controlling umpire: the umpire who controls the half of the court where play is happening; the other is the co-umpire.
Reserve umpire: a third umpire on the umpires' bench, who replaces an umpire if needed and supervises suspended players.
Game management: the actions an umpire adds to a sanction to control behaviour: proactive advice, advancing or escalating a sanction, warning, suspension, ordering off.
Hold time: stopping the clock, for example for injury, blood or a warning.
Independent concussion observer: a neutral medical professional at top events who may ask for a player to be substituted for suspected concussion.
| Official | Duties (Rules 4 and 5) |
|---|---|
| Umpires (2) | Before the match: check the court, goalposts and balls; check players' equipment (no jewellery, short nails); toss for ends. During it: each controls one half of the court lengthwise, including its goal line, and the throw-ins on one whole side line, moving along the side line and behind the goal line and keeping off the court. They blow the whistle to start and end each period, restart after a goal, penalise infringements, and hold time. To penalise they whistle, state the infringement, signal, and show where the sanction is taken |
| Reserve umpire | Replaces an injured or ill umpire; helps before the match and at intervals; supervises a suspended or ordered-off player and tells her when the time is up; signals the direction of the centre pass; checks late players; passes on a concussion observer's request to stop play |
| Scorers | Record players, positions and changes; goals and missed shots; the order of centre passes; tell the umpires if a wrong centre pass is indicated |
| Timekeepers | Warn the umpires 30 and 10 seconds before each period; time play, intervals and stoppages; signal the end of each quarter so the controlling umpire ends play |
| Decision | Signal |
|---|---|
| Start or restart play | Arm held high, angled towards the goal end of the team with the centre pass |
| Hold time | Facing the timekeeper, one hand vertical and the other horizontal to form a T |
| Direction of pass (centre pass, sanction or action) | Arm outstretched to the side, pointing to the goal end of the team with the pass |
| Advantage | Arm sweeps across the body towards the goal end of the team with advantage |
| Goal scored | Arm held vertically |
| Goal not scored | Arms move from side to side across each other above the waist |
| Offside, over a third and other incorrect positions | Hand traces a medium upward arc towards the incorrect area |
| Held ball (3 seconds) | Arm held vertically with three fingers displayed |
| Short pass | Hands a short distance apart, palms in; one hand moves towards the other |
| Footwork | Hands, palms down, move up and down in opposite directions |
| Obstruction of the player with the ball | Hands, palms inward, held a short distance apart |
| Obstruction of a player without the ball | Arms angled out from the body below the waist |
| Contact | Hand, palm down, taps the opposite forearm |
| Tactical change | Forearms circle each other above the waist |
| Warning | Arms crossed above the head |
| Suspension | Arm held vertically with two fingers displayed |
| Ordering off | Hand sweeps from the player towards her team bench |
Foul play (Rule 19) is unfair play (delaying play, intentional or repeated infringing, disputing a ruling, intimidation such as covering an opponent's eyes or stamping), unsporting behaviour (retaliation, abusive language or gestures) and dangerous play (forceful, careless or reckless actions, especially any contact with the head or neck). The umpire adds game management to the sanction, normally in this order:
A serious offence can go straight to a higher step. A warning, suspension or ordering off is a joint decision of both umpires.
Worked example
Worked example 1: the steps in one match. The GD keeps stamping her foot as the GS shoots.
Worked example
Worked example 2: running a school match. You have two trained pupil umpires and four helpers.
Video: "What's New in the Rules of Netball Umpire's Hand Signals", Netball Australia. Copy each 2024 signal, then practise them in sequence: whistle, call, signal, point.
Warning
Injury, blood and concussion. Umpires must hold time when they see bleeding, an open wound or blood on clothing, and on request for an injury; the player is treated off court or substituted. For a blow to the head, follow the ERC Guidelines 2025: suspect concussion if the player is confused, has a headache, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision or seems unusually sleepy; remove her from play and refer her to a health professional, and do not let her play again until she has been assessed. If a player is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call 912 and start CPR.
Practice
Remember
Further reading
Sources and credits
