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...

Fast Net vs regular netball!

Fast Net is a modified version of netball intented to generate a more spectator, sponsorship and tv-friendly game. According to Wikipedia it was primarily developed for the new international competition, the World Netball Series. Fast Net features modified rules that are outlined below (modified from the Wikipedia article). Outside of these, the standard rules of netball apply.

Substitutions: Teams are allowed to use rolling substitutions, with no stoppages in play per substitution and with unlimited substitutions per quarter. Standard international rules only allow substitutions either between quarters or when a player is injured.

Two-point shots: Similar to three-point field goals in basketball, the goal shooter (GS) and goal attack (GA) may shoot goals from outside the shooting circle. These goals count for two points; in a power-play quarter, they would count for four points. Umpires raise one arm for a single-point goal and two arms for a two-point goal. In standard netball rules, goals can only be shot from within the shooting circle and count for one point only.

Centre passes: After each goal, the team that conceded the goal takes the next centre pass; teams alternate taking the first centre pass of each quarter. Under normal rules, a coin toss determines the first centre pass of the match, after which centre passes alternate between the two teams.

Helpful notes on speeding up the restart of play (centre passes)!

It is the responsibility of all players in a team to take the centre passes! Sure, it is the centre that steps into the circle with the ball, but she/he can only do this when everyone else in her/his team is on the right side of the transverse lines. Otherwise the team may be penalised.

When a goal is scored, immediately sprint back to your starting position. You only have to be behind your transverse line. A foot on the line is ok since the line is considered to be part of your playing area. For tactical reasons there are some positions that are better than other and which you would seek depending on the opponents and your own team, but for now focus on speeding up the game.

Check the umpire’s arm to see the direction of the centre pass. It is common that the umpires during a high level game put down their arms when reaching the centre third.

Correct centre pass?

Some players, especially beginners, seem to have difficulties with conducting a basic centre pass so I thought it would be good to write something about it.

When you, as a centre, get the ball - step directly into and "wholly within" the circle. This means that no part of the feet should touch the court outside the circle (the line is part of the circle). Many players step or jump into the circle with both feet. This is normal and ok, but according to the rule book grounding only one foot is ok as well. That means that one foot can be in the air when the whistle is blown. 

However, being "wholly within" the circle is not necessary after the whistle has been blown. After the umpire signals the centre can take a step outside the circle if she/he wants. Pivoting with one foot outside the circle is also ok, as long as the footwork rule is obeyed. 

Is a goal scored when the whistle for "time" is blown at the same time?

This is an attemt to clarify four (4) common questions about scoring a goal at the end of a quarter or a half.

1. If a shooter takes a successful shot at the same time as the umpire blows the whistle for time – is a goal scored?

Normally the answer depends on the following, stated as per Rule 15.1.iv.

"If the whistle for an interval or "time" is blown before the ball has passed completely through the ring, no goal is scored."

So only if the ball has passed completely through the ring when the whistle is blown, a goal is scored. If a part of the ball is still above the ring when the whistle is blown, then no goal is scored. Simple as that.