How do warnings, suspensions and ordering off work?

Under Rule 18, umpires can use these game management actions in addition to the sanction for an infringement, normally working through them in this order unless an offence is serious enough to need a higher action immediately:

1. Proactive advice: specific, succinct feedback to a player for low-level incidents that do not compromise safety, without holding time. If a player needs to be spoken to more than once, it is treated as repeated infringing.
2. Advance and/or escalate a sanction: a sanction may be advanced up to half a third (even into the goal circle) and/or a free pass escalated to a penalty pass, without holding time.
3. Warning: for a player who does not change behaviour. Only one warning can be given to a player in a match. A warning must be given for all unsporting behaviour.
4. Suspension: the player takes no part for two minutes playing time, which starts when play restarts. Only one suspension per player per match. No substitute is allowed and the position is left vacant (unless it is the Centre, in which case another player moves to Centre).
5. Ordering off: the player takes no further part. A substitute may return after four minutes playing time.

To give a warning, suspension or ordering off, the umpire holds time, signals the official bench, uses the specific term and tells the player the behaviour concerned. These decisions are joint and binding on the co-umpire, and must be applied in the same period of play as the infringement.

Source: Rules of Netball 2024, Rule 18.