Netball: umpiring

umpiring ANSWERS
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Help! I'm 14 and am umpiring m...

Hello. I am a 14 year old girl. I have never umpired before, and i am expected to umpire this weekend.  I will be starting on 10-12 year olds. As you can see i dont have much experience at umpiring and i am pretty nervous that im going to stuff up or call the wrong award for the infringment that occured. I have read the Netball Australia umpiring book but some of the words are too fomral for my liking, i dont quiet undertsand. ANY TIPS PLEASE?!

Archived User Coach

Umpiring question obstruction ...

If a shooter, say GS, is shooting, marked by GK, is the other shooter GA allowed to stand with her arms up under the net (within a metre of GD) while the shooter prepares to take the shot, or can she only raise her arms for the rebound once the shooter has shot? Or is it obstruction GA on GD?

Teresa Coach, Australia

Junior netball umpiring query ...

Can someone please confirm the ruling on a goal scored at Junior level (net 9 feet), when the ball bounces off the post above the net, before dropping in to the goal. I presumed that this would not be allowed as a goal as it uses the post like a back board in basketball but was told by another coach that this was ok? Does anyone know the official ruling here? Thank you

Sabine Turner Coach, Scotland

Question about a netball rule ...

HiRecently I was umpiring a very challenging game.I was questioned about a decision i had made during the game, to which I said that if a further explanation was required that the player should approach me at quarter time. This particular player and a number of others on court continued to be extremely challengingAt quarter time this player approached me not to ask for an explanation but to challenge my decision and it would seem the tone that I had put on my decision, which she seemed to think was made by me with a harsh tone.I explained that i would not tolerate her attitude on court. She then said that as i had made my point that she wanted to make hers. My understanding of this is that, although I do not have to give an explanation I did because sometimes it helps with the attitude of players if they know what they had done wrong. On this occasion the player concerned wanted to make her point, this is what I need clarification on.She said that she was going to report me to the league as I did not allow her to have her say.I was not aware that my tone was harsh, and did ask the other team if they felt I was, to which they said that they absolutely did not.This player was a defender, and the only thing I can think of is that when she asked for an explanation for my decision I was running back to the centre line as a goal had been scored, I was at this point running back, entering the score, calculating whose centre pass it was, so may be my tone may have been a little rushed.Although I feel that I am was happy with my decisions on the day, I was wondering where I stand when something like this happens. Are players allowed to voice their opinion, I didn't think they were, but can not find anything in the rule book that definitively says one way or the other.I am a firm umpire, and feel that I know the rules thoroughly having played at a very high level myself int he past.I am a grade C umpire and the team was in one of the higher divisions, so really should know better.

Maria Massey Coach, England

offside at a centre pass | Spo...

Need some help on a dispute on a decision I made during a match I was umpiring recently.A player was tying her shoe laces in my half of the court. A goal had been scored in the half I was umpiring. Centre stepped in the centre circle whilst this player was still attending to her shoe lace. So in affect she had not got herself on side and then gone off side she just did not get on side.I blew the whistle to start play as the centre was ready. As the player who was in my half and was off side, I blew for offside.Can I have clarification on this please, was I correct, or should the other umpire have called this offside even though the player was in my half?Secondly, a reputable umpire told me a couple of months ago, that the umpire blowing the whistle to start the game at a centre pass, controls both sides for off side? I.e. All players that go offside at the centre pass, to the left and right of the centre circle. I was not suite about this so need clarification on that too.Thanks in anticipation.

Maria Massey Coach, England

Can you bat the ball?

Do you have to catch the ball or can you just bat it with your hand to another player?

Fettes College Coach, Scotland

Rules question: Causing contact?

After my opponent release the ball can I use my body but not arms to block in front of her so as to prevent her from going to the front?( In centre third) If the opponent just run ahead and crash on the defender, is it a contact?Or in fact the action of the defender preventing the attacker to run towards goal third is obstruction or a rule called" causing contact"?

Archived User Coach

Obstruction when shooter steps in

When a shooter steps in to shoot, but no defender was in place at that time, can one come up and then defend within the 3ft of the shooter but are 3ft from their original landing foot? Does the 3ft need to be 'established' before they defend or can they defend anytime after they step in?

Archived User Coach

Umpiring - how can I improve?

I'm starting out umpiring and find it so difficult. I know the rules and have no problem keeping up with play but find it hard to decide who fouled who or notice players going offside or all the other things all going on at once! When you're playing it seems obvious but from the side it's so much harder. Is it me and should I just accept it's not for me, or does it get easier? Any advice welcome.

Teresa Coach, Australia

What counts as a replay ball?

I’m starting my second year of umpiring but I’ve never fully understood what counts as a “Replay ball” specifically, how many times does a player bounce the ball with one hand for it to count as replay ball, or if a player puts down the ball how many seconds before they can pick it back up if they can? Because I’ve seen players on court do that. Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

Faith Brookes Coach, New Zealand

Netball Umpiring

Hi,I'm 12 and a senior netball player for my school team. I am learning how to umpire but my teacher is giving me a hard time saying I'm not a good umpire and that the other girls have done years of practice of umpiring unlike me. I just have to ask what's obstruction? I get all the umpire rules but obstruction. Please help as I am umpiring in a few days for a netball game and it's the first game I am umpiring.

Phoebe Victoria Hope Nyah Cudby Coach, New Zealand

How to deal with an unfair and...

I play in a back to netball league, the various other teams also agree that one of the umpires is rude and overbearing with a lot of the players. Her decisions are not explained and she doesn't answer any questions we have. We don't feel we learn anything from her. She also shouted a sarcastic comment across the court to me during the match. Is this something we can complain about? We look to her for guidance and encouragement and she just snaps back and is rude. Advice what to do about this situation would be good. Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

paula xox Coach, England

Toss ups no more? Are they sti...

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?

maa Coach, Australia

Intimidation debate - GK block...

I'm very new to netball having grown up playing basketball and rugby at high levels and recently was getting taught by a 'more experienced coach' as this is mixed netball and the dynamic is very different. He said to the men that to minimise being called by umpires for being too close as the height difference percieves they're, one tactic is to turn your back and to get up close and to stare at the hoop. He said if he were umpiring he wouldnt count this for intimidation as there no eye or physical contact, simply blocking some of their view. I saw one of the men try this in a match yesterday and the umpire called them for intimiation? I'm trying to learn the margins as it seems every umpire/coach has their own opinion of this.Thanks in advance!

Billy Coach, United Kingdom

Replayed ball - how do you ump...

Some umpires blow every ball that's bounced into hands - is this correct?Some umpires allow the girls to bounce the ball as long as they are not gaining ground up the court. Does anyone have a clear definition of how to umpire this rule?

Michelle Newman Coach, England

Intimidation?! | Sportplan

My GD was do face marking in a game and doing a fantastic job at blocking the GA entering the circle and not being able to shake her off, the umpire for the other team repeatedly called her for intimidation.To me it did not appear to be intimidation and the player herself umpires and sees this in many of the high level games. She is not pushing, no arms are used in fact it is the other players pushing into her. Is this intimidation I thought that was a pretty tough call. What constitutes as intimidation?

Archived User Coach

Playing advantage then no adva...

If advantage is called by the umpire and then no advantage gained by the non offending team due to the ball being lost/intercepted,should play be brought back for a free/penalty pass depending on the infringement that advantage was called for?

Archived User Coach

Obstructing player with back t...

I am a coach and an umpire, but i have been doing more coaching than umpiring of late. I have noticed a particular peculiarity with regards to the obstruction rule that i have seen more and more than i really do not think is correct. I have politely challenged asking the umpires concerned and also a second opinion from another umpire and they agree with me.We have had a defending player who is standing less than a foot away with her back to the person shooting with her arms up who is clearly interfering with the shot. The explanation i was given by the umpire that let this go unchallenged said that as long as the player can bring her arms up to shoot that is ok.My argument is that if a side or goal line pass is taken and the defending player has her back to the playing taking the pass then that shouldn't be challenged either.I agree that sometimes when the shot is under the post it is difficult to get 3 feet or with covid rules 4 feet away. But a lot of shooter follow there shoot through before releasing the ball, and when this is impeded sure all of these things constitute obstruction.Please help me, because although i am pretty confident that i am right and this umpire, and a number of other umpires i have noticed are doing the same. Can i please have feedback.

Maria Massey Coach, England

I'm a fast runner and keep get...

I'm a fast runner and keep getting pulled for footwork as I'm catching the ball whilst running. How can I train myself to jump for the ball?

Archived User Coach

Simultaneous possession by two...

When two players on the same team catch the ball simultaneously, and one player releases the ball, what should the umpires decision be? Should it be "Held ball", or should play continue?

Ron Padgett Coach, Australia

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