Netball North Harbour
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BASIC UMPIRING

Here are a few very basic umpiring rules.  If you are a first time umpire or just want to refresh yourself with the rules come along to our "First Steps to Umpiring" Classes which are a great way to learn basic umpiring along with people of the same umpiring level as yourself. 

WHERE AND WHAT PART OF THE COURT DO I UMPIRE FROM?

Games are umpired by two umpires who stand on opposite sides of the court (outside the court lines).  Always umpire "to your right" from the centre circle.  You are also umpiring the entire sideline of the court on your side of the court.  You run with the play of the ball right down to "your" goal end.

WHO BLOWS THE WHISTLE FOR THE CENTRE PASS?

The whistle is blown for each centre pass by the umpire who had a goal scored in "their" goal end prior to the next centre pass.

HOW DO I KNOW WHO HAS THE CENTRE PASS?

The easiest way to remember who has the centre pass is to hold your whistle (or a hair tie around your wrist) in the hand of the side that has the next centre pass, ie: hold your whistle in your right hand if the team on "your" side of the court has the next centre pass and vice versa.

WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES FOR INFRINGEMENTS?

The penalties for infringements are:

  • Free pass
  • Penalty pass
  • Penalty pass or shot
  • Throw in
  • Toss up 

A FREE PASS IS AWARDED FOR:

  • Offside
  • Over a third (the ball must be touched by a player in each third of the court)
  • Stepping
  • Held ball (when ball is held for more than 3 seconds)
  • Replayed ball 

WHERE & WHO TAKES A FREE PASS:

  • The free pass is awarded to the team where the infringement occurred and the pass can be taken by any player allowed in that area

A PENALTY PASS IS AWARDED FOR:

  • Contact (with the ball or player)
  • Obstruction (being within .9M of the player with the ball)

WHERE & WHO TAKES A PENALTY PASS:

  • The player who infringes must stand beside and away from the passer and cannot move until the ball has been released
  • The pass is taken by any team member allowed in the are where the infringement occurred

PENALTY PASS OR SHOT:

 If contact or obstruction by the defenders occurs in the goal circle, a penalty pass or shot is awarded where the infringer was standing

RULE BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE FROM NETBALL NORTH HARBOUR - $5.50