Netball Club
Netball season is in full swing and all teams are now heading into their final round of PNA grading. The club will advise after Saturday if your team changes divisions.
Fixtures are all available via my.netball.com.au.
Details of how to use this website and the my.Netball app for your mobile device can be found on our website.
Code of Conduct
When you signed up for netball you agreed to abide by the Code of Conduct. Some key points are:
Players
- Play by the rules and spirit of the game
- Bullying of team-mates is not acceptable
- Never argue with an official
- Control your temper
- Work equally hard for yourself and your team
- Cooperate with your coach
- Respect the rights and dignity of all participants
- Never consider cheating
- Learn to accept both victory and defeat with good grace
- Social media comments regarding anyone should always be positive.
Parents & Spectators
- Support all the players in the team
- Be positive about the coaches and umpires and behave accordingly
- Do not question coaches or umpire’s decisions if you have an issue contact the coordinator relevant to your age group
- Do no coach from the side-line
- Offer help to the coach if the girls are not listening or behaving appropriately
- If you have an issue regarding the standard or manner of coaching or umpiring speak to the coordinator relevant to your age group to discuss it.
The full Code of Conduct can be found on the Club website.
Respect the Umpire
Think about this next time you hear someone moan about umpires.
A standard game of netball is 60 minutes.
The ball has to be passed at least every three seconds. This results in the ball being passed (at an absolute minimum) 1,200 times a match.
Every time a player catches the ball, an umpire has to check seven things involving the player with the ball and their opponent (footwork, contact, how they got the ball, obstruction, offside etc.).
Almost simultaneously, the umpire has to look down the court and check other players are in their correct areas and are not blocking each other in their attempts to move. This could involve scanning 10 different players, while keeping one eye on the player with the ball and their opponent.
So that’s seven things, involving the player with the ball, plus potentially another 10 players to watch, each with three actions involved (contact, obstruction and offside).
That’s 38 different actions to watch for per pass, including the held ball rule. 38 times 1,200 passes equal 45,600 decisions umpires make per match. Even if that figure is split between the two umpires, that’s still 22,800 decisions each.
22,800 decisions a match! And that’s assuming players take the maximum three seconds to pass the ball. The real figure is probably much higher.
Text credit: Sarah Black