All umpires should know the match protocols as well as the rules. These ensure umpires maintain a consistent and professional standard.

• inspect the court and surrounding area
• inspect players uniforms, jewellery (including no tongue/naval studs, cultural adornments),adornments (sharp hair clips, etc) fingernails must be short.
• tick the 7 players names on the scorecard of each team, and names need to be ticked if there are substitutions
• please remember that if a player who is marked as playing up from a lower team does not take the court, either write next to the name at the end of the game "Did not play"or cross out the name of the player
• toss for ends after captains have notified the result of their toss, winner of the toss takes the northern end (which is the pavilion end) and umpires to the right
• instruct the timekeeper to notify of 30 secs and 10 secs.
• bench upmire to blow for 30 sec and 10 sec countdown.
• walking umpire takes ball to centre circle and places it in the middle and walks backwards to the sideline. Signals to Co-umpire and Bench when ready.
• at intervals, bench umpire meets co-umpire in middle, both verify the next centre pass and then walk over to the scorer and tell them, help scorer with card if needed
• same procedures at 30 and 10 sec countdown
• Injury / Illness. After on court player calls for time - verify, WHY, if time is given
• bench will tell you if it is a 2 minute or 30 second injury time allowed. If it is the umpire taking Umpire Time for eg for blood , then you notify bench.
• walk away from injury area to score bench. Umpire controlling injury has right of way. Co-umpire is on other side of bench.
• ensure the injured/ill player is receiving treatment, or game is recommenced.
• ensure injured/ill player is involved in any team changes
• note where and who had the ball. No need to pick it up
• blood call - this can be made by anyone on the court-allow upto 2 minutes- blow whistle and signal bench by holding your arm straight up into the air then cross other arm over it, this is umpires time
• 1st Injured / Ill player must be treated courtside, subsequent injuries the player must leave the court and are either substituted or the position is left vacant
• reserve umpire indicates each centre pass, keeps knowledge of the game, sees to needs of match umpires at intervals, and is prepared to take over in an emergency.
• timekeeper is to notify of 30 and 10 sec (if stoppage is required up to 2 mins, otherwise one whistle as soon as it is apparent teams are ready to restart
• official score is correct
• no drink or water bottles are allowed on courts

WHISTLE

• Used for infringements. Loud enough to be heard by the players
• Long sustained roll to start and end quarters / game
• Medium whistle roll to signal Time for stoppage and to retart
• 30 sec and 10 sec whistles are short whistle roll, with the 10 sec whistle more urgent if used.

The type of whistle is important as some do not give a good roll sound. Metal is better than plastic. Hand whistle is best.