County League Updates
The T&W County League is run to the current IFNA Rules of Netball. However due to the limits of time and personnel, the application of some of the IFNA rules have to be modified. All Umpires should ensure they are familiar with the County League rules and in addition clarifications on the application of a number of rules which directly affect Umpires are listed below.
Common Sense – at all times common sense should be applied by Umpires to ensure that matches go ahead and players enjoy the experience. The County League is a competition provided to encourage and provide participation and should be umpired in the spirit of participation and enjoyment.
See below for clarification of the following rules:
Neutral Umpiring
3 Hour Rule
Injury Time
Blood Injuries
Suspension of a Player
Scorers
Reporting Issues
Neutral Umpiring. Umpires should ensure they do not umpire teams from Clubs who they play for, Coach, or have close links with – for example if a player on court was a close relative, eg: sister, partner, daughter.
3 hour rule – Umpires are not permitted to participate for 3 hours on any night, unless their third hour is playing. So, an Umpire may play once and umpire once OR umpire 2 matches and then play. On occasions umpires may be required to umpire for 3 hours to cover for a last minute gap but this should only be done last minute and Umpires should not be offering to umpire a match knowing it is their third hour.
Injury Time – there is no option to add time at the end of matches so all stoppages must be minimised. Injuries should be dealt with as per standard rules with the following considerations:
Most teams do not have spare personnel so players on court may have to help an injured player from court and help settle them in the bench area. These players should not be penalised for leaving the court.
If time is needed to settle an injured player, common sense should be applied but time lost should be kept to a minimum. It may be that the game has to restart and the player off court assisting returns when ready.
If the injury is serious and the player can’t be moved, the Umpires should consult with the Captain’s and reach a decision on continuing or abandoning the match.
Blood Injuries - In the event that a player sustains an injury that leads to bleeding the match must be stopped and the player leave the court for treatment. Any blood on the ball or the court must be cleaned up. Rule 9.3.1 (vi) also states that blood-stained clothing should be replaced. In the County League it is unlikely that teams will have a supply of spare dresses so, common sense must be used and the steps below followed:
The player with blood-stained clothing must leave the court, clean all blood from their person, apply a covering to the wound to avoid further blood staining and, if possible, change or remove any stained item of clothing. If the clothing is significantly stained than it must be replaced.
In the event that alternative clothing is not available, any blood stain should be dried off so that when wiped with a clean dry tissue it doesn’t leave a residue. This should be confirmed by an Umpire before the player is allowed back on court.
If the blood stain can be covered in some way this should also be done. For example, it could be taped over with Elastoplast or the team on court could swap to overhead bibs, depending on the location of the stain.
Remember that the County League is primarily participative and that a solution should be found if possible, to ensure that players can continue playing. All rules relating to substitutions following a blood injury, etc., apply as detailed in the Rules of Netball 2020 edition.
Suspension of a player – in the event that a player is suspended during a match;
Division 1 / 2 – the scorer on the bench of the suspended player’s team, s will be requested to time and administer the 2 minute suspension.
Division 3 and below – as there are no scorers at these matches it is recommended that the suspension is for 4 goals. The Umpire issuing the suspension should administer the suspension period.
Scorers – teams in Division 1 and 2 are required to provide a Scorer for each match. In the event that a team does not have a Scorer then a player must leave the court to perform this role. The only exception to this would be a match being played as a friendly where the scoring could be done by one person.
Teams in Division 3 and below do not have to provide a scorer but this is under review (September 2021) and teams are being encouraged to score if they have a spare player on the bench. If one team or both are scoring then they should use the flip over scoreboards too so the teams on court know the score (and the other umpire).
Reporting Issues - Should an issue arise on any night, the Umpires are ultimately in charge of the match and should make a decision with reference to relevant rules and applying common sense. Consultation with the Captain’s of the teams on court may also be appropriate. Assistance from a member of the County Committee should also be sought if one is there on the night and available, particularly the Umpiring and Competition Secretaries – Natalie McKenna, Cat Witty and Liz Wisniewski.
Common Sense – at all times common sense should be applied by Umpires to ensure that matches go ahead and players enjoy the experience. The County League is a competition provided to encourage and provide participation and should be umpired in the spirit of participation and enjoyment.
See below for clarification of the following rules:
Neutral Umpiring
3 Hour Rule
Injury Time
Blood Injuries
Suspension of a Player
Scorers
Reporting Issues
Neutral Umpiring. Umpires should ensure they do not umpire teams from Clubs who they play for, Coach, or have close links with – for example if a player on court was a close relative, eg: sister, partner, daughter.
3 hour rule – Umpires are not permitted to participate for 3 hours on any night, unless their third hour is playing. So, an Umpire may play once and umpire once OR umpire 2 matches and then play. On occasions umpires may be required to umpire for 3 hours to cover for a last minute gap but this should only be done last minute and Umpires should not be offering to umpire a match knowing it is their third hour.
Injury Time – there is no option to add time at the end of matches so all stoppages must be minimised. Injuries should be dealt with as per standard rules with the following considerations:
Most teams do not have spare personnel so players on court may have to help an injured player from court and help settle them in the bench area. These players should not be penalised for leaving the court.
If time is needed to settle an injured player, common sense should be applied but time lost should be kept to a minimum. It may be that the game has to restart and the player off court assisting returns when ready.
If the injury is serious and the player can’t be moved, the Umpires should consult with the Captain’s and reach a decision on continuing or abandoning the match.
Blood Injuries - In the event that a player sustains an injury that leads to bleeding the match must be stopped and the player leave the court for treatment. Any blood on the ball or the court must be cleaned up. Rule 9.3.1 (vi) also states that blood-stained clothing should be replaced. In the County League it is unlikely that teams will have a supply of spare dresses so, common sense must be used and the steps below followed:
The player with blood-stained clothing must leave the court, clean all blood from their person, apply a covering to the wound to avoid further blood staining and, if possible, change or remove any stained item of clothing. If the clothing is significantly stained than it must be replaced.
In the event that alternative clothing is not available, any blood stain should be dried off so that when wiped with a clean dry tissue it doesn’t leave a residue. This should be confirmed by an Umpire before the player is allowed back on court.
If the blood stain can be covered in some way this should also be done. For example, it could be taped over with Elastoplast or the team on court could swap to overhead bibs, depending on the location of the stain.
Remember that the County League is primarily participative and that a solution should be found if possible, to ensure that players can continue playing. All rules relating to substitutions following a blood injury, etc., apply as detailed in the Rules of Netball 2020 edition.
Suspension of a player – in the event that a player is suspended during a match;
Division 1 / 2 – the scorer on the bench of the suspended player’s team, s will be requested to time and administer the 2 minute suspension.
Division 3 and below – as there are no scorers at these matches it is recommended that the suspension is for 4 goals. The Umpire issuing the suspension should administer the suspension period.
Scorers – teams in Division 1 and 2 are required to provide a Scorer for each match. In the event that a team does not have a Scorer then a player must leave the court to perform this role. The only exception to this would be a match being played as a friendly where the scoring could be done by one person.
Teams in Division 3 and below do not have to provide a scorer but this is under review (September 2021) and teams are being encouraged to score if they have a spare player on the bench. If one team or both are scoring then they should use the flip over scoreboards too so the teams on court know the score (and the other umpire).
Reporting Issues - Should an issue arise on any night, the Umpires are ultimately in charge of the match and should make a decision with reference to relevant rules and applying common sense. Consultation with the Captain’s of the teams on court may also be appropriate. Assistance from a member of the County Committee should also be sought if one is there on the night and available, particularly the Umpiring and Competition Secretaries – Natalie McKenna, Cat Witty and Liz Wisniewski.