What is a primary care person and what are they allowed to do?

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.