When can teams make substitutions and positional changes?
Rule- South Africa
- Netball South Africa
- Telkom Netball League
- Senior netball
- All ages
- World Netball Rules 2024
- 2026
- Fans
The league's published rules don't change substitutions, so the World Netball Rules of Netball (2024 edition) apply (Rule 10):
- A team names up to 12 players. Seven are on court, one of whom must play Centre.
- Substitutions and team changes (players swapping positions on court) are unlimited, using players named for the match.
- They can be made:
- during any interval (quarter-time or half-time);
- when play is stopped for injury, illness or blood;
- as a tactical change straight after a goal, when an on-court player asks the umpire to hold time for it. Team officials stay at the bench and the change must be quick, or the team is penalised for delaying play.
- Umpires can refuse tactical change requests that become frivolous.
- If an injured player isn't replaced, play goes on with that position empty (someone must move to Centre if it's the Centre).
Telkom Netball League extra: each team also gets one 1-minute Strategic Timeout a match.
Added 22 Oct 2026