Team Manager's Guide to Netball Australia Club Netball All Ages 2024

Under the Rules of Netball 2024, a team is up to twelve players, of whom a maximum of seven are on the court at any time, plus its team officials. During play a team must have a minimum of five and a maximum of seven players on court, one of whom must play Centre.

If more than seven players are on court, the extra players are sent off immediately and the opposing team gets possession where the ball was when play stopped. Each team names one player as captain.

Under Rule 3 of the Rules of Netball 2024:

• A team must take the court when the umpires indicate 10 seconds remain before a period of play, provided at least five players are present, one of whom must play Centre.
• If a team has fewer than five players present at the start of a period, the umpires wait up to 30 seconds. If the team takes the court within 30 seconds, play starts and the team is penalised for delaying play. If not, the umpires award the match to the opposing team.
• If a team does not have five players available at any time during the match, the umpires award the match to the opposing team.
• A late player may, after advising the umpire, take the court in a vacant position at the next break in play. A late player who enters at the wrong time is sent from the court and the opposing team gets possession.
• If a team delays taking the court after a stoppage when the umpires ask, it is penalised for delaying play.

Under Rule 3 of the Rules of Netball 2024, during a match players must wear:

• a registered playing uniform that includes their name or allocated team number and is distinct from the opposing team's uniform
• suitable sports footwear that is not spiked
• playing position initials 150 mm (6 in) high, clearly visible and worn above the waist, front and back

The position initials are GS, GA, WA, C, WD, GD and GK.

Players may not wear anything that could endanger themselves or others. Specifically:

• no body piercings, including earrings
• no adornment that may endanger player safety
• no communication devices
• any other adornment must be securely covered with tape and/or padding
• medical devices may be worn if securely covered with tape and/or padding
• player monitoring devices may be worn if secured within the playing uniform
• fingernails must be short and smooth
• hair must be suitably tied back (for example a ponytail, plait or braids) and free from any adornment

The Rules of Netball 2024 define a primary care person as a team official who is qualified to diagnose and treat injury or illness and who has no other roles, including as a player. Every team must have at least one among its officials. A team doctor is an additional primary care person qualified in sports medicine who is legally permitted and insured to administer concussion protocols.

A primary care person:

• must wear the identification the event organiser specifies (for example an arm band)
• may enter the court during a stoppage for injury, illness or blood
• may enter the court while play is in progress only in extreme circumstances where player safety is endangered (misusing this can lead to discipline)
• must tell the umpires if a player is too ill or injured to be removed from the court within 30 seconds, or if more help is needed
• may advise the reserve umpire that they want play stopped so a player with a suspected concussion can be substituted

In lower-level competitions, primary care persons must not be players, and it is preferable that they hold no other role.

Under Rule 10 of the Rules of Netball 2024:

• Both teams can make substitutions and team changes (players swapping positions) during an interval, and when play is stopped for injury, illness or blood.
• Tactical changes can also be made straight after a goal is scored, if an on-court player asks the umpire to hold time for that purpose. The umpire must be clear the request is for a tactical change and not for an injury. Players must leave or change position without delay, substitutes must take their positions without delay, and all team officials, including primary care persons, stay at the team bench.
• The number of substitutions and team changes is unlimited, provided the players used are those named for the match.
• If a team takes undue time, it is penalised for delaying play. If requests for tactical changes become frivolous, the umpires can refuse them and/or penalise the team.

Under Rule 10 of the Rules of Netball 2024:

• The umpires must hold time when they notice active bleeding, an open wound or blood-stained clothing. They also hold time for injury or illness when an on-court player, a primary care person or an independent concussion observer asks, or without a request if there is an obvious or serious injury.
• The affected player must leave the court within 30 seconds and be treated off the court. If a primary care person says the player cannot safely be moved in that time, the umpires extend it.
• Only primary care persons may go on court to assess the player. The umpires may authorise other people, including team officials, to help the player leave the court.
• Other team officials may move onto the court surround to coach or give hydration at the stoppage, but must not enter the court.
• A player with blood on their body or clothing who is not actively bleeding can leave to have it cleaned without being substituted. Any clothing that becomes blood-stained must be replaced within the stoppage time.
• If the ball has blood on it, it is swapped. Blood on the court is cleaned as the event organiser directs before play restarts.
• Both teams may make substitutions or team changes during the stoppage. If the affected player is not replaced, play can resume with the position left vacant (if it was the Centre, another player must play Centre). The player or a substitute can return at the next break in play.

Netball Australia's concussion protocols (announced 12 April 2024) set a minimum 21-day protocol for all community and junior competitions at all ages, including adult/open competitions and Netball Australia pathway programs. The earliest a player can return is the 21st day after the concussion incident, and only with medical clearance.

The 12-day minimum protocol applies only at the elite level (Origin Australian Diamonds and Suncorp Super Netball, where advanced care settings exist).

During a match, the Rules of Netball 2024 let a primary care person or independent concussion observer ask the umpires to hold time so a player with a suspected concussion can be substituted.

Under Rule 18 of the Rules of Netball 2024:

• During play, team officials and bench players must stay at the team bench. Bench players may leave it for a valid reason, for example to warm up. Moving away otherwise is penalised with a free pass to the other team.
• At all times in a match (including intervals and stoppages), team officials and bench players must not criticise the umpires or their decisions, use offensive, insulting or abusive language or gestures, make excessive noise or interruption, encourage foul play, or enter the court except in extreme circumstances where player safety is endangered. The sanction is a penalty pass to the other team.
• Either umpire may penalise this behaviour and may also give a warning to one person or to all the team's officials and bench players.
• If a warning is ignored, the umpire asks the event organiser to remove those people from the playing enclosure for the rest of the match, including any contact with the team during intervals and stoppages. In a serious case, removal can be requested without a prior warning.

Yes. Rule 21 of the Rules of Netball 2024 allows variations for other levels of play. Among them:

• Quarters can be shorter, or time can be played in halves of up to 20 minutes each, and intervals can be shorter.
• Teams can be all one gender or mixed.
• Team officials can be fewer than the rules specify, so one person may take on several duties. Primary care persons must not be players, and it is preferable that they hold no other role.
• A reserve umpire may not always be appointed.
• At least one scorer and one timekeeper should be appointed.
• A lower grade of ball (2-ply) may be used, usually inflated less.

Netball Australia says the 2024 edition applies to all affiliated competitions and events in Australia from 1 January 2024.