Scorer and Timekeeper's Guide to NSA World Netball Rules Senior 2026

World Netball Rule 3.1 and 5.4, with the Technical Officials Manual. Before the start, the names of all players and team officials must be given to the scorers, and each team names a captain.

Scorer 1 (official score sheet):

• Match details: court, event, match number, venue, date, both team names, and the umpires, reserve umpire, scorers and timekeepers (surname and initial).
• Team details from each team's official team list: up to 12 players and up to 5 team officials (6 if one is a team doctor), in alphabetical order by surname.
• Starting positions for the first quarter, only for the seven players starting on court.
• After the captains' toss, the team taking the first centre pass.

Scorer 2 (running score sheet): date, event, court, venue and team names in the same order as Scorer 1's sheet, which side each team's goal is, and the first centre pass.

Team 1 is normally the home team, on the team bench to the right of the official bench.

Print everything clearly; don't use handwriting.

From the World Netball Technical Officials Manual (2024). Scorer 1 keeps the official score sheet and records every shot, goals and misses, as they happen (Rule 5.5 b):

• Goals are numbered in sequence for each shooter, with GS and GA recorded separately for each team (1, 2, 3...).
• Misses are shown as a dot in that shooter's column, on the line of the current centre pass.
• As each goal goes in, also cross through the next number in that team's progressive score.

Special cases:

• A shot deflected or intercepted by a defender that doesn't score is a miss. If a defender's deflection goes through the ring, it's a goal (Rule 9.3).
• Don't record a missed attempt if a sanction is then awarded for it (for example a defender moves the post, or the infringer at a penalty pass takes part early). Only the shot from the new penalty pass counts.
• A disallowed goal (the shooter infringed while shooting) isn't recorded as an attempt.
• A penalty pass shot is recorded against the shooter who took it.

Shooter changes: when a GS or GA is replaced, draw a red box around their last action (an X in a box if they hadn't shot), and leave room for the new shooter's record.

Cross-check the score with Scorer 2 regularly, and at every break.

World Netball Rule 8 and the Technical Officials Manual. Centre passes alternate between the teams. The scorers keep the record and call the correct centre pass if an umpire asks (Rule 5.5).

Recording:

• After the captains' toss, write the team taking the first centre pass on line 1. Then record each centre pass only once it has been taken.
• At the end of each quarter, rule off the last line. The umpires come to the bench and confirm the next centre pass; it should match your record.

Pass check: at any time an umpire may ask for a "pass check". Scorer 2 calls the team and shows the direction with an arm signal.

High-risk moments:

• A stoppage straight after a goal. Before play restarts, Scorer 2 clearly signals the centre pass direction with an arm.
• The start of a quarter. Reconfirm the team and direction with the umpires before play restarts.

If both umpires indicate the wrong centre pass: the scorers must notify them before the centre pass is taken (Rule 8.5 b), by the electronic or audible means the event organiser set before the match. If a wrong centre pass is taken anyway, record the team that actually took it.

Handling errors: don't stop the match. Scorer 2 keeps the running score while Scorer 1 fixes their sheet, and vice versa.

From the World Netball Technical Officials Manual (2024). Scorer 2 is the caller, keeps the running score sheet, and is the only official who watches play all the time. Never put your head down to write while play is on.

Calling a shot: team, position, then IN or OUT, once the action is complete. Don't anticipate.

• Examples: "England GS in", "Wales GA out".
• After a goal, also give the score (Team 1's score first) and the team with the next centre pass, for example: "England GS in, 31, 30, Australia centre".
• Use as few words as possible, and the same order and language all match.

Watch for:

• the umpire's goal not scored signal: a disallowed goal (for example held ball, footwork or contact by the shooter) isn't counted as an attempt;
• a goal at the same moment as the whistle to end play: check with the umpires whether it counts;
• a deflected shot that misses is called OUT; one that goes through the ring is a goal.

Running score sheet: record only goals (not attempts), one number per line for one team, matching the centre pass record.

If you make a wrong call, tell Scorer 1 straight away, note the goal number, and check again at the next interval. Cross-check the score with Scorer 1 regularly and at every break.

World Netball Rule 5.6-5.7 and the Technical Officials Manual. The two timekeepers are jointly responsible for each period and interval being the right length. Use count-down timers, plus a real-time clock showing seconds.

Timings (Rule 2):

• Quarters: 15 minutes of playing time.
• Intervals after quarters 1 and 3: 4 minutes.
• Half-time: 12 minutes, or 8 minutes if agreed. Check which before the match.

Before each period: tell the umpires when 30 seconds and 10 seconds remain (the manual suggests alerting at 32 and 12 seconds on the timer).

Start: start the match timer when the umpire's whistle starts play.

End: when the time is up, notify both umpires at the same time with the siren or other audible signal (and umpire alert units if used). Have a hand-held air horn ready in case the siren fails. Only the umpire's whistle ends play: the controlling umpire ends it (the co-umpire if the controlling umpire is unaware).

Penalty pass at the end: if a penalty pass has been awarded in the attacking goal circle when time expires, the umpire extends play for it to be taken.

Afterwards: start the interval timer straight away, reset the match timer for the next quarter, and record each quarter's start time and full time (real time) on the Player Changes and Game Management Form.

Typical split: Timekeeper 1 runs the official time; Timekeeper 2 runs a back-up timer and fills in the Player Changes and Game Management Forms.

Only the umpires stop time. Timekeepers hold time when an umpire signals it (whistle and a "T" hand signal) and restart when the umpire signals play to resume (World Netball Rule 5.7 d).

Injury, illness or blood (Rule 10):

• Stop the match timer and start a 30-second stoppage timer.
• Tell the umpires when 10 seconds remain.
• The umpires can extend the time if the player can't be moved safely. Keep timing until they restart play.
• Record any substitutions or team changes on the Player Changes and Game Management Form.

Other reasons umpires hold time:

• to check the centre pass with the scorers;
• for game management (warnings, suspensions, orderings off);
• for a tactical change after a goal, when a player asks;
• emergencies, such as a serious injury, an injured official, problems with the court, posts, ball, weather or equipment. The umpires and event organiser decide how long. Record the reason, real time and length on the form;
• sparingly, to avoid a big loss of playing time (for example the ball leaving the playing enclosure).

Not normally stopped: for ordinary infringements, or for incidental moisture on the court or ball that isn't affecting play.

In the Telkom Netball League, time is also held for each team's 1-minute Strategic Timeout.

World Netball Rule 5.7 and Rule 18, with the Technical Officials Manual:

Timekeepers:

• Start the timer when play restarts, not when the umpire gives the suspension or ordering off.
• Stop the suspension or ordering-off timer whenever time is held, and during intervals. It counts playing time only.
• Tell the reserve umpire when the time is up. The player sits at the umpires' bench under the reserve umpire's supervision.
• Record every warning, suspension and ordering off on that team's Player Changes and Game Management Form, with an "S" or "O" in the player's row. For an ordering off, cross out that player's remaining boxes.

Each player can only be warned once and suspended once in a match.

Extra time is only played if the event organiser said so before the match (World Netball Rule 2.5). Find out before the start, and have the extra time visual signal and spare score sheets at the bench.

Format: a 4-minute interval after full time, then two halves of up to 7 minutes with a 1-minute interval. Teams change ends at each break. If scores are still level after the second half, play continues until one team leads by 2 goals (extended extra time).

Timekeepers:

• If scores are level at full time, start the 4-minute interval timer straight away and hold up the extra time visual signal. Record the real time of full time.
• Set the match timer for 7 minutes and give the 30- and 10-second warnings before each half.
• At the end of the second half: if a team leads, sound the siren to end the match. If scores are level, don't sound the siren. Hold up the visual signal for the two-goal phase instead.
• When Scorer 2 says a team leads by two, sound the siren to end the match and record the real time.

Scorers:

• Use a new score sheet and running score sheet. The centre pass sequence carries on from the end of the 4th quarter.
• Check the score frequently near the end. In extended time, underline where the scores were tied when it began.
• Scorer 2 tells the timekeepers immediately when the match should end or when extended time applies.

From the World Netball Technical Officials Manual (2024), Scorer 1 completes:

• Each quarter: the quarter score for each team, and from quarter 2 the progressive score. Mark each quarter's score on the progressive score with a box or bracket, and circle the final score.
• Shooting statistics for every player who played GS or GA: attempts and goals for each quarter, the totals and the percentage (goals divided by attempts x 100). Statistics belong to the player, whatever position they played.
• Match times, from the timekeepers' form: start time (real time), full time (when the 4th quarter ends, even if extra time follows) and extra time end, if played.
• Result: the team that won and the final score, winner's score first. Check the score with Scorer 2 first.
• If extra time used a second sheet, mark the sheets "1 of 2" and "2 of 2".

Presentation: print clearly, cross out errors with one neat line or an X, and never use whiteout or erasing.

Handing over: the score sheet and both teams' Player Changes and Game Management Forms are the official record. They go to the designated event official (often the bench manager), a copy goes to the teams, and one should be available to the media manager. The exact handover varies by event.