Scorer and Timekeeper's Guide to Netball Australia Bench Officiating 2019

Scorer 1 records every successful and unsuccessful shot at goal, separately for each team's GS and GA.

• A goal that is not a sanction is recorded as a number (1, 2, 3 and so on), counting up separately for each shooter.
• An unsuccessful attempt is shown as a dot.
• An unsuccessful penalty pass attempt is shown as P. A successful penalty pass shot has a circle around the goal number.
• Do not record a missed attempt for which a sanction is then awarded. Do record unsuccessful attempts that are deflected or intercepted by a defender.
• Progressively, cross straight through the next number under the appropriate team as each goal is scored. Mark the quarter-time score with a bracket, and circle the final score at the end of the match.
• Print clearly (not handwriting), keep figures inside the boxes, and check all totals a second time.

• After the captains' toss, record the team taking the first centre pass in line 1 of the First Quarter Ctr Pass column, using a team abbreviation (for example E for England, J for Jamaica). Abbreviations for the two teams must be offset on opposite sides of the box.
• After each goal, record the centre pass alternately. In Australia the preferred approach is to wait until the umpire has blown the whistle for the centre pass before writing it down.
• Always record each attempt or goal from the left hand side of its box, and start each new quarter on the left hand side.
• At the end of a quarter, if the final centre pass produced no activity, rule a line through the middle of the row. If there was activity (or a goal), rule a line immediately under the final pass taken.
• As soon as the quarter ends, check the next centre pass with Scorer 2. The umpires then come to the Official Bench and advise the next centre pass, which should match your records. Write that team at the start of the next quarter's column.

Scorer 1 records changes in the player record boxes on the score sheet.

• At the start of each quarter, write each player's starting position in the top left corner of their box.
• Note changes the teams make, or those on a Substitution/Team Change Form handed to you, in the column for that quarter. Write the change to the right of the initial entry, separating positions with a forward slash, for example "GA / GS".
• For a player who did not start the quarter but later took the court, put a dash in the top left corner and then the position, for example "- / GA".
• If a box runs out of space, use the Player Changes Sheet.
• At the end of a quarter, mark an X in the box of any player who did not take the court. Do not do this earlier, in case a change still happens.
• Goaler (GS or GA) changes must be indicated on the sheet when they occur, whether during or at the end of a quarter.
• Team managers are responsible for advising changes immediately they are made.

Two timekeepers officiate each match. Timekeeper 1 is the official timekeeper (match timer, intervals, stoppages) and Timekeeper 2 is the backup timer, which may be the electronic timer or scoreboard. Count-down timers should be used for all timing, and a real time clock showing seconds is also required.

• Playing time: start the match timer and electronic timer when the umpire's whistle starts play, hold time when the umpire signals play to stop (whistle, hand signal and eye contact), and restart when the umpire signals play to resume.
• Intervals (2019 manual): 4 minutes between the first and second quarters and between the third and fourth. Half-time is either 8 or 12 minutes, set by the event organiser, so check before the match. Start the interval timer as soon as the quarter finishes and reset the match timer during the interval.
• Warnings: activate the umpire alerts for the 30 second warning (32 seconds on the timer) and the 10 second warning (12 seconds on the timer). In Australia, signal that the bench is ready to start play with a discreet nod to the umpires.
• End of a quarter: as best practice in Australia, activate the umpire alerts at the same time as the siren. If no siren is used, activate them 2 seconds before the time is due to elapse.
• Late team: if a team does not take the court at the scheduled start or restart, 30 seconds is allowed. Start the 30 second timing when instructed by the umpires and activate the alerts at 2 seconds on the timer.
• Record: use the Stoppage Form to record the real time each quarter starts and ends (no seconds).

All stoppages for injury, illness or blood are up to 30 seconds. Both teams may make substitutions and team changes during an interval or when play is stopped for these reasons, and the player concerned must leave the court. In Australia, Timekeeper 1 manages these stoppages.

• When the umpire signals to hold play (the hand signal forms a "T"), stop the match timer and start the stoppage timer set at 30 seconds.
• On the Stoppage Form, record under the team concerned the time showing on the match timer (minutes and seconds remaining in the quarter) and the position of the player concerned.
• If play has not restarted, tell the umpire when 10 seconds remain. On the umpire's signal, restart match time, then stop, clear and reset the stoppage timer.

For other stoppages (for example a serious injury, injury to an umpire or bench official, or equipment, court or weather problems), the umpire decides the length. Stop the match timer, start the stoppage timer and hold up the visual signal. If the umpire extends the stoppage, keep the signal up and keep timing. Record the type, real time and length on the Stoppage Form.

When the umpire signals to the Official Bench that a player has been suspended (arm vertical with 2 fingers displayed), the timekeeper starts the suspension timer, already set at 2 minutes, when play recommences.

• Stop the suspension timer for any stoppage or held time and during intervals.
• Verbally tell the reserve umpire when the 2 minutes has expired, then stop, clear and reset the timer.
• The reserve umpire controls the suspended player and indicates when to re-enter the court.
• Scorer 1 records warnings, suspensions and orderings off in the Comments section, with team, player position, quarter and time remaining.

The correct centre pass must be settled before it is taken, because once taken it cannot be corrected.

• If the umpires disagree on which team takes the centre pass, the umpire nearer the Official Bench does a "Pass Check" with the scorer. Scorer 2 calls the team and shows the pass direction by arm signal as on the running score sheet.
• If both umpires indicate the wrong team, the scorers confirm it is wrong, Scorer 1 (with the Bench Manager, as best practice in Australia) advises the umpires, and Timekeeper 1 activates the umpire alerts. If this happens before the pass is taken, the umpires hold time and seek clarification from the bench.
• If the pass is taken before notification can be made, Scorer 1 circles the centre pass where the difference occurred on the score sheet, continues in the pattern the umpires indicated, and draws it to the umpires' attention at the end of the quarter.
• At the start of a quarter, the scorers should reconfirm the team and direction with the umpires before play restarts.

Both scorers are jointly responsible for an accurate score record.

• Check whether the error can be identified and fixed easily. Do not stop the match.
• If it cannot be fixed easily and the problem is on Scorer 1's sheet, Scorer 2 keeps the Running Score Sheet going while Scorer 1 finds and corrects the error. If it is on Scorer 2's sheet, Scorer 1 keeps the official Score Sheet going while Scorer 2 corrects theirs.
• Scorers cross-reference the score regularly: by a glance at the running score, when Scorer 2 asks for a check, and at each break or interval.
• Cross out errors with a single tidy straight line (horizontal, diagonal or an X). No whiteout or erasing is allowed on any match document.

Extra time applies only in matches where a result is required, and the decision must be made before the match starts. Have a visual signal for Extended Time and an additional score sheet, running score sheet and shooting statistics form at the bench.

Under the 2019 manual:

• There is a 4 minute interval after full time. Teams change ends and may make substitutions and team changes.
• Extra time is two 7 minute halves with a 1 minute interval between them (teams change ends and may make changes). The first centre pass of each half goes to the team entitled to the next centre pass.
• If scores are still tied after the second half, play continues without stopping until one team has a two-goal lead, and the bench holds up the Extended Extra Time visual signal.
• Normal stoppage procedures for injury, illness or blood apply throughout.
• Scorer 1 records on the additional score sheet, continues the centre pass sequence, and checks the score with Scorer 2 often near the end of each period and in Extended Time.

• The timekeeper gives Scorer 1 the start time and full time in real time (seconds are not recorded). If extra time is played, full time stays as the end of the fourth quarter and the end of extra time is recorded as well.
• Scorer 1 calculates the shooting statistics separately for each player who played GS or GA.
• Scorer 1 checks the score with Scorer 2, writes the winning team in the Match Won by section, and records the final score (winning team's score first).
• All bench officials put their initials by their names to show they agree with the final recording.
• Warnings, suspensions, orderings off and any emergency stoppages are recorded in the Comments section, including team, player position, quarter and time remaining.
• Both timekeepers initial their names on the score sheet.
• The score sheet and all other match forms go to a designated event official. The top copy is the official record, the 2nd and 3rd copies go to the team managers and the 4th to the media manager.