Game day umpiring information

Collection of Score Card: 

Collect your scorecard from the office for outdoor games or NHV's courtside desk for indoor games. Sometimes the second team to register will take the card to the court. You should arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for the game you are umpiring. Teams need to provide a timekeeper and scorer and these people should stand together.

Teams from Year 5 and upwards need to collect a scorecard.  Teams playing 6v6 futureFERNS use modified score cards and do not need to record a score.  Instead they complete a quick match evaluation at the end of the game to assist us with grading of teams. 

Whistles: 

Whistles are sold at the office.  

Clothing: 

It is preferable that you wear colours different from the team you are umpiring. If you are umpiring your own team you could wear a top of another colour. Qualified umpires are required to wear their umpires uniform. 

Checking the teams: 

Check all team members listed on the card to ensure they have correct uniform, smooth short fingernails and no jewellery (note, earrings may NOT be taped). Draw a line on the card to ensure no further players can be added. If a player is not ready to start, then they will need to wait for a goal to be scored and be checked & allowed to enter the game by the umpire. 

Missing Umpire: 

The team responsible for providing the umpire will need to take a player off the court who will then umpire the whole game.   They cannot change umpires during the game unless that umpire is injured, even if the scheduled umpire arrives late. If the missing umpire is provided by Netball Hutt Valley then send someone to advise the office. 

Umpiring areas and helpful hints: 

Please note, there are some slightly different umpiring details for the 6v6 fomat, check  out the information HERE for this age group.​​​​​​​

• Always umpire to your right. Your area is half the court when a line is drawn through the Centre Third from one side-line, through the Centre Circle, to the other side-line. Never call an infringement in the other umpire’s half.
• You are also responsible for the whole side-line on your side of the court, and the end side-line in your area. If the ball goes out in the other umpires end (but on your side-line) you call the out of court and control the throw in, then the other umpire takes control again.
• You look after the same area for the whole game – it is the teams that swap ends at intervals
• If a goal is scored in your end, you blow the whistle for the next Centre pass
• Players are responsible for getting back in time for the Centre pass, you don’t need to wait (for example) for the WA to get back on-side.
• The lines are part of the court, so a player’s foot may be on the line. If it is over the line, even by a teeny bit, then they are out of court or offside.
• The ball may bounce off the goalpost and be caught and then a shot may be taken. Players may not use the goal post for support, or move it.
• Sanctions [Penalties] (for obstruction, contact, contact with the ball, moving the post causing the shot to miss) are awarded to a team, so that team can choose which player takes it
• During a Penalty Pass/Shot the infringing player must stand to the side and away and not move or speak until the ball is released.
• Free passes are awarded for other infringements and no player has to stand down.
• Be courteous and consistent with your calls and penalise with a smile!

Required number of players: 

Teams need a minimum of 5 players to take the court. 

• Team short of players or late: If you do not have 5 players when the bell rings for the start of the round, then inform the teams that the late team has 1 minute to arrive. If after 1 minute that team is still short of players you will award the game to the opposing team. The team who did not turn up will be fined the Late Default Fee, and you will record the default on the card as ‘late default’ before returning it to the office. If you are taking your own time, blow your whistle for teams to take the court and when they are on court ready, then start the one minute as above.
• Team has 5 players, then one gets taken off (for example to be the umpire) : record the default as ‘insufficient players’ and return the card to the office
• Team of 5 players has an injury leaving only 4 players: - no late default fee, record the default as ‘default due to injury’ and return the card to the office. 

Injuries: 

If there is a serious injury, stop the game and send someone to report the incident. If an ambulance is necessary the game may be able to be moved to another court. Injury time will be 30 seconds in 2016, and the injured player must leave the court. 

Conduct issues: 

If the players or supporters become aggressive, don’t panic! Send someone to the office or umpires' room to seek support.  It's better to sort any issues now rather than try to put it right afterwards.

• Sending a player off (this is a last resort action)
  • Penalise by awarding a free pass or penalty pass/shot
  • Advance the penalty
  • Warn the player two times – remember to tell them that their behaviour is not in the spirit of the game
  • If you do have to remove a player you need to note in the comments section, example: Suspended (name of team, position, quarter) for (length of suspension, ie 2 goals)
• Spectator Issues
  • You can start by penalising the team they are supporting to try and settle the situation
  • Stop the game, and get help from the office
  • Either re-start the game while the official is on their way over, or wait for them to arrive. 

A game should not be called off unless officials have been called to help and it is the last resort. If a game is called off a report will need to be filed with Netball Hutt Valley. Generally if you know the rules and display confidence the teams and supporters will have confidence in you and situations will settle quickly.