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JOIN NOWToss ups no more? Are they still part of the game?
At a recent game the opposition umpire said that we no longer do toss ups and rather rudely overruled my team's umpire. I have not been formally involved in umpiring for about 5 years and had not heard this - toss ups were still in the rule book when I did the online umpiring test earlier this year. Can anyone enlighten me?
maaCoach, Australia
ANSWERS
Netball CoachCoach
Toss ups is still in the rule book, but unfortunately more and more umpires are not acknowledging that fact. In some cases should be applied instead they seem to apply Basketball rules as when it comes to two players getting their hands on the ball at the same time etc.....
Janet Coach, Australia
As Carla has stated toss ups are still in the rule book and still have a place in the game albeit limited these days. The current umpiring view is that umpires should no longer use toss ups unless absolutely necessary as they slow down the game and can give the impression of an inability to make a decision if used too often. They were used in the past to decide on simultaneous possessions & infringements e.g. contact, breaking at centre pass, offside. We are now encouraged to either call the possession (play continues/no player stands out), make a penalty decision if warranted or verbally acknowledge the simultaneous offence and apply the advantage rule so play can continue. A toss up can still be appropriate for thrown ins and a true simultaneous possession(see my earlier comments re this on Sportplan) but these situations are rare. Sounds like your rude umpire overstepped her mark and got carried away with her self importance.
Lee-annes NetballCoach, Australia
i have the opposite problem. i play indoor netball, and we had 4 tossups in our game one day. i tend to agree that it is more out of indicision than good umpiring in our case, and that making a decision or playing the advantage is a much better way for the game. but it is still part of the game if the umpire deems it necessary.
