LTU
Learn to Umpire
We know it can be daunting to be in charge of a netball game, but without umpires, there would be no game! We at Netball Rotorua, are trying to build up our umpire base and make it a better experience with more support.
Become an Umpire
Register yourself as a Netball Rotorua Umpire for 2025. Click here
Where Do I Start?
Here are some ideas to help you become more confident with your umpiring:
• Arrive at the courts at least 30 minutes before the game is scheduled to start.
• Ensure that you have your own whistle (preferably a finger whistle) and centre pass indicator.
• Ensure you know the Netball Centre’s procedure for picking up the scorecard before the start of the game and any rules of the competition that need to be applied. These may include interval times (¼, ½, ¾ time), injury/substitution rules, the number of named players in a team and how the 30 and 10-second warnings are handled.
• Warm up/cool down. Players need to warm up well, so does an umpire. Don’t forget to cool down too.
• Remember the dress presentation of an umpire often reflects on how they umpire the game. Ensure you are wearing a different colour to that of the two teams, preferably white
• Develop the four C’s — Consistency, Control, Confidence and Communication.
» Be consistent in your rulings throughout the court.
» Maintain control from the first whistle - be fair, firm and alert.
» Convey confidence to the players, develop a warm, friendly manner.
» Communicate positively - listen, be polite, make eye contact and be calm.
• Blow your whistle loudly so that players can hear it. Your voice should also be loud and clear. Always look at the players when ruling and clearly indicate where to take the sanction.
The umpire needs to check for the following:
- Players’ fingernails are cut short and smooth.
- Players have no sharp adornments on — a wedding ring and/or Medic Alert bracelet may be worn but must be taped.
- If applicable, ensure players are wearing their correct uniform.
- Ensure that all players have on their correct designated playing bib.
- The team captains should have tossed and notified the umpires and the scorers of the result.
- Ensure there are two scorers – one from each team standing together in a position easily visible to the umpires.
- If team uniforms/bibs are the same or similar in colour, ensure one team wears different colour bibs (extra bibs are available upstairs in a variety of colours)
- Always try to be in the best possible position to see what is happening.
- Try to be between the centre circle and the transverse line whenever the centre steps in to take the pass going your way.
- During play, try to be in line or slightly ahead of the player with the ball.
- While play is in your co-umpire’s half, position yourself at their transverse line.
- Keep off the court except if heading to centre third after a goal is scored for next centre pass.
- When play is in the goal circle area, it is likely that your best position will be behind the goal line and on the same side of the goal post as the player with the ball. Beware of being too close to the goal post as you look up, you will miss what happens at ground level.
- Keep your shoulders facing the court both while moving and when you are stationary.
- It is advisable if there are scorers from each team that they stand together on the sideline at halfway.
- Distinguish between the two teams and their uniforms.
- When the captains inform you which team has the first pass, write even (E) under the name of this team on the card and write odd (O) under the other team’s name.
• Adding both teams’ scores together will tell you who has the next centre pass.
• If the score is 3-9 ( 3 + 9 = 12, an even total) the next centre pass will be taken by the team listed under 'E' (evens).
• If the score is 12 - 11 (12 + 11 = 23) an odd total, the team listed under 'O' (odds) will have the next centre pass.
• If you do have any difficulties with the score card and centre pass, make sure that you address it immediately. If you cannot work it out, call for a Centre Official to give you guidance.
AFTER THE GAME
• Indicate the final score on the score card and follow the Centre’s procedures for completing the scorecard and handing it in.
As all games are controlled by two umpires you must be sure that you know the areas that you are responsible for.
THESE ARE AS FOLLOWS
• The court is divided in half at the centre circle from side-line to side-line.
• Always umpire to your right.
• You will control all throw-ins on the whole side-line of your side of the court and control the goal line to your right.
• You blow your whistle for the centre pass after a goal has been scored in your goal circle.
• Always indicate the direction of the centre pass.
• You may appeal to your co-umpire for a decision in your half.
The two umpires must work together
AT THE START OF THE GAME
- Stand side by side with your co-umpire on the sideline at halfway.
- The bench-side umpire (where the scorecard is) blows the 30 and 10 second warning whistles for the teams to take the court.
- The co-umpire walks to the far side at 10 seconds giving the ball to the centre taking the first centre pass.
KNOW WHAT TO DO AT A STOPPAGE FOR INJURY, ILLNESS OR BLOOD (check the competition rules as they may differ)
- Umpire signals stoppage time.
- Umpires stay on their respective side-lines.
- For blood stoppages the umpire who is dealing with the blood ensures the court, clothing and ball is clean before restarting play.
- Restart with the whistle as soon as substitutions/team changes have been made or when the 30 seconds is up. Whichever comes first.
KNOW WHAT TO DO AT AN INTERVAL
- Umpire signals time.
- Umpires meet mid court.
- Umpires discuss next centre pass.
- Umpires confirm centre pass with the scorers.
- Change the odds/evens over on the scorecard if necessary as per the scoring system identified earlier.
IF A TEAM HAS 5 PLAYERS THEN THE GAME CAN START
A late player may go on court but only after:
- Being checked by the umpire
- A goal has been scored or/
- Immediately following an interval or/
- After a stoppage for injury or illness. Then the late player must take the vacant position on the court.
What if: the player comes onto the court without notifying the umpires?
- The player is sent from the court until the correct time for entry (as per above).
- The umpire awards a penalty pass to the opposing team, where the ball was when play was stopped, with a player from the infringing team allowed in that playing area to stand out of play for the penalty.
CENTRE PASS
- The centre in possession of the ball stands with at least one foot wholly in the centre circle.
- If the centre does not have one foot wholly in the circle when the whistle is blown then a free pass is awarded to the opposing team in the centre circle.
- The opposing centre is in the centre third and free to move.
- All other players are in their respective goal thirds and are free to move but must not enter the centre third until the whistle has been blown.
- If a player enters the centre third before the whistle, then a free pass is awarded in the centre third to the opposing team (unless advantage can be played).
- A team can make as many substitutions as they like in any one game. But they may only use up to the number of named players for the game.
- A player who has previously been substituted may return to the game at a later stage.
- Substitutions and team changes can be made in the following cases:
- A player has been injured or is ill. The injured or ill player must be involved in that team’s sub/team change.
Procedures for substitutions and team changes
- During an interval.
- All injury/illness/blood stoppages are up to 30 seconds. The injured player must leave the court within the 30 seconds.
- Both teams may make substitutions and/or team changes within the 30 seconds.
- If a team leaves a position vacant at a stoppage, a player may come on in this vacant position after a goal is scored, at the next stoppage for injury illness or the next interval.
- If a player comes on to the court at the wrong time, the player is sent from the court until the time they were allowed to enter the court. The umpire awards a penalty pass to the opposing team where the ball was when play stopped, with a player from the infringing team allowed in that playing area to stand out of play. • Only the Primary Care personnel can come on to the court at the stoppage for injury/illness.
- Coaching is allowed from the sideline provided all players other than the injured player stay on court.
The 2024 Rules Update sees a change to the stoppages rule. The new rule means teams no longer have to fake an injury to make positional changes during play, they can just request a ‘tactical change’ immediately after a goal has been scored. This is in addition to the ability to make changes at an interval or at a stoppage for injury, illness or blood. Video
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