To step on the lines - yes or no?

This will help you to remember whether it is OK or not to step on the lines!

1. All lines (50 mm wide) are part of the court.
2. The lines are part of YOUR playing area.

This means basically that the same line can be part of different playing areas. For example if "blue" GK and "yellow" GD step on the same transverse line, it is OK for both players to do that. It's just that the transverse line is considered to be part of the goal third in GK's case and centre third in GD's case.

Here are a few other examples to illustrate:

• A player who holds the ball and steps ON the side line but not outside is deemed to be on court.
• At a centre pass: a GD who is standing ON the transverse line, but with no part of the foot in the centre third, is deemed to be in the goal third as he/she should be.
• A WA who steps ON the line bounding the goal circle can do that without going offside.
• A centre positioning for the centre pass can have one or both feet touching the lines of the centre circle but no part of the foot outside of the centre circle line.*

(* However, when the whistle is blown the centre can take a step outside the circle as long as he/she does not break the footwork rule.)

Look at the umpire!

Recognize the following situation?

After the umpire blows the whistle, the game stops or slows down, and players are looking at each other and trying to figure out what went wrong, what decision was made, and where to take the free pass or the penalty pass. Some are talking loudly to each other, some are turned to the umpire trying to listen and some are just standing silently with big question marks over their heads.

Clearly, the communication between the umpire and the players has faulted... But the interesting question is – who is to blame?

Current world rankings?

One can find them at IFNA's website. Australia is currently one (1) single ranking point ahead of New Zealand...