Updated – 08/01/2025
08/1/2025 – Tactical Changes
We have had a couple of queries about Tactical Changes during the holiday break and provide the following clarifications.
Do I have to ask the controlling umpire (the umpire who currently has the ball in their area of control) for a Tactical Change or can I ask the other umpire?
Tactical Changes can only occur after a goal has been scored however, either umpire can be asked for a Tactical Change by any on court player. It is often better to ask the non-controlling umpire as the controlling umpire will be busy with everything else going on in their goal circle. If the non-controlling umpire does hold time for the tactical change to occur, then the controlling umpire should restart play.
Can I only ask for a Tactical Change directly after a goal is scored?
No. Whilst Tactical Changes are mostly requested just after a goal is scored, players will often ask for a Tactical Change whilst the ball is still progressing to the goal circle. This often happens when an on court player is requesting the change from the non-controlling umpire and a goal is imminent. ‘Umpire, can we have a Tactical Change after this goal please’?
What can an umpire do if they think a player is requesting a Tactical Change to break the momentum of play, particularly in the last few seconds of a quarter.
If an umpire thinks a team or player is misusing the Tactical Change they can refuse the request and or penalise the individual for delaying play (Rules 10.4 and 19.1 and 19.2). Misuse can be an issue where matches are centrally timed. Umpires maintain the right to refuse a Tactical Change at any point but some leagues and competitions have implemented a regulation (not a Rule!) that Tactical Changes can not occur in the last 30 seconds of a period of play. It is however very rare that a player or team would attempt to misuse the Tactical Change for the other 14.30 minutes of a quarter!
What’s the difference between a Rule and a Regulation.
The Rules of the Game are set by World Netball and are reviewed and updated on a 4 yearly cycle. Only those points outlined in Rule 21 may be varied and all Netball in England must be played to World Netball Rules and authorised amendments outlined in the Domestic Rules Guidance (linked below)
https://d2cx26qpfwuhvu.cloudfront.net/englandnetball/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/02113955/2024-Domestic-Rules-Guidance-September-2024-v1-1.pdf
Regulations are set individually by league and competition organisers and ordinarily change once a year following an AGM. No regulation may be set which changes or adapts the Rules of the Game outside of those permitted within Rule 21 or the England Netball Domestic Rules Guidance. Where this occurs, the form of Netball played will not be recognised and authorised and will not meet the requirements set out in England Netball membership and insurance policies.
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England Netball – 2024 Rules of Netball Update General Release
England Netball – 2024 Rules of Netball Update Webinar
Session Slides – England Netball – 2024 Rules of Netball Update Webinar – Click here to download
Please note there is no certificate of viewing option for this session.
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England Netball – Contact and Game Management General Release
England Netball – 2024 Rules of Netball Contact and Game Management Webinar
Session Slides – England Netball – 2024 Rules of Netball Contact and Game Management Webinar – Click here to download
Foul Play Check List – England Netball – 2024 Rules of Netball Contact and Game Management Webinar – Click here to download
11/11/2024 – Proactive Advice
We have been made aware of an ongoing discussion regarding the use of Proactive Advice.
Below is an extract from the World Netball Rules FAQ which covers this specifically and provides the required level of clarity.
Rule 18, 13 – 16
Question
Do you give proactive advice for each infringement (for example, obstruction and then contact and then….)?
Answer
No. Proactive advice is given only once. If a player needs to be spoken to specifically more than once then this is treated as repeated infringing and the Game Management action is a penalty
pass which is advanced [Rule 18.16].
In addition to the above the following FAQs below cover the section of the Rules Book which relates to advancing sanctions and multiple Game Management considerations.
Question
Rule 18.21 – What does multiple mean? The rule talks about an individual player having multiple advanced and/or escalated sanctions and Rule 18.23 states that following proactive advice or
an advanced and/or escalated sanction then a warning will be issued.
Answer
Multiple means more than 1. A player must be warned if they have more than 1 advanced or escalated sanction.
Question
Rule 18.21 – If a player has had a sanction advanced for unfair play (e.g.intentional infringing) and this player intentionally infringes
again, may the umpire penalise and advance again or is it expected that the umpire must warn the player?
If the 2nd infringement was a different unfair play action (e.g. 1st was intentional 2nd was delay) what action should the umpire take?
Answer
Rule 18.21 provides that if an individual player has multiple advanced and/or escalated sanctions, the umpire must issue a warning. “Multiple” in plain English is read as “consisting of,
including, or involving more than one.” Therefore, the next instance of unfair play requires that a warning be given.
Rule 18.21 refers to an individual player having multiple advanced and/or escalated sanctions and does not state that these must be for the same type of unfair play. The next instance of unfair play would require that a warning is given.
Question
Rule 18.22 What does cumulative advanced and/or escalated sanctions for a team mean?
Answer
The plain English definition of cumulative is; ‘increasing by successive additions’. This rule refers to a team rather than an individual receiving advanced and/or escalated sanctions. The application of this rule requires the umpire to consider both the number and type of infringements along with game context.
England Netball did liaise directly with World Netball prior to the roll out of our 2024 Rules of Netball Update Webinars so these remain current and provide the current interpretation of these Rules from both a World Netball and England Netball point of view. Video links can be found below.
Following an extensive consultation period, World Netball have updated the Rules of Netball. These updates will become effective for international matches from 1st January 2024 and will include the Nations Cup later in January. England Netball has made the decision to also implement the 2024 Rules in the Netball Super League this year, which will give our elite athletes and coaches, umpires, and technical officials the best platform for continued international success and to provide the netball family with the opportunity to see the 2024 updates in practice.
For us to update our educational materials and offer training materials to the netball family, domestic implementation in England will be from 1st September 2024. This means that all recognised and authorised netball must continue to be played to the 2020 Rules of Netball until this time.
Click here to view the – 2024 Rules of Netball
Click here to view the – World Netball Summary of Changes document
Click here to view the – 2024 World Netball Technical Officials manual
Click here to find out more about the key updates to the Rules of Netball
World Netball have created several fantastic resources which are shown below and at the bottom of the page. These display the main updates in video form, accompanied by helpful fact sheets.
Click here to see the Fact Sheets
Should you have any questions regarding the 2024 Rules of Netball update, please submit these using the link below. The questions submitted will be answered in due course and these will help formulate an FAQ document which will be shared with members in the New Year.
2024 Rules of Netball Update – Question Submission – Click Here
2024 Rules of Netball FAQ – To view the answers to FAQ questions – Click Here
Download the 2020 International Netball Rules Book
