Rules

1.     All matches will be played according to the IFNA Netball Rules.
2.     A team [Each team not Club] will be deducted 5 points if the correct league fees determined by the Committee prior to the beginning of the winter season have not been paid by midnight on the night before the first fixture of the winter netball league.
3.     Matches will consist of 4 quarters of 15 minutes each, with 2 minutes interval after the first and third quarter and 3 minutes interval for half time (unless otherwise stated by the Herefordshire Netball Committee).
4.     All matches will commence on time with central timing being utilised. No injury time will be allowed.
5.     Matches may only be cancelled by the Herefordshire Netball Committee. (See Appendix 1).
6.     All players must be affiliated to Your National Governing Body (England Netball) with the Team they are representing prior to playing any matches. Teams are required to produce a (England Netball team) list of all registered players at the beginning of the season and thereafter if any changes are made OR upon request by the Herefordshire Netball Committee.

Teams who are found to have played unaffiliated players will automatically forfeit the game and the points will go to the opposing team, the game will not be re-played. A Committee member should be contacted if anyone has concerns over player affiliations.

7.     No player must play for more than one team at any one time, but a player may transfer once per Season to a

different team, having first notified the League Secretary( and pay the appropriate fee.) 1 Season is Winter followed by summer.

8.     New teams entering the League must do so through the lowest division. Or one most appropriate to their level of play as decided by the Committee. In the event of uncertainty a playoff will be held between the relevant teams.
9.     To be eligible to enter the new season of the Hereford Netball League, a team must have an England Netball qualified umpire.

A completely new team wishing to enter the HNL will be given a 12 month ‘break in’ period before having to have a qualified umpire. This would give the team 12 months for a team member to attend umpiring courses and become a qualified umpire.

10.   Points will be awarded for each match as follows:

5 points for a win

3 points for a draw

2 points for losing but scoring within 5 goals or less of the winning teams score

1 point for losing but scoring 50% or more of the winning teams score

11.   Any team arriving late will have one goal per minute awarded against them up to 5 minutes – after this time the game will be awarded to the complete team. Rule 9 will then be applied.
12.   If a game is awarded to a team by default, the scoring procedure will be applied at the end of the season. (See Appendix 2)
13.   Injured players should be treated with care and only moved off the court when considered safe to do so. The game will resume once the player has vacated the court and the match will continue in accordance with central timing. In the event an injured player cannot be moved from the court before the end of the match the following will apply:

– If play ceased within the first or second or third quarter, the match will be rescheduled
– If play ceased within the fourth quarter, the score will stand

14.   Umpiring:-
    B Award: Can umpire all Divisions
    C Award: Can umpire all Divisions
    Awaiting C Award: Can umpire Divisions 2 and 3, may umpire Division 1 with prior approval from County Officiating Lead/Assessor
    Into Officiating Award: Can umpire Division 3, may umpire Division 2 with prior approval from County Officiating Lead/Assessor
    Awaiting Into Officiating Award: May umpire Division 3 with prior approval from County Officiating Lead/Assessor
    
    

    Brief explanation:
    An Awaiting C Award or an Awaiting Into Officiating Award umpire is generally an umpire who has reached the standard of the award they are working towards and are just awaiting their final assessment.  Sometimes these assessments are difficult to arrange therefore this allows an umpire to officiate games at their correct level and keeps them “sharp” whilst waiting for an assessment date.  

    This is different to umpires working towards their next award and who still require the input of a mentor. 

15.   There should always be two umpires and two scorers per match. Each team must organise an umpire and a scorer for the game either before or after their match. Teams failing to provide an umpire for the required match will be fined £10.00, plus £10.00 to be paid to an umpire if one is available on the night. If no umpire is present, the two teams playing may wish to:-

– Agree to 1 umpire

– Postpone the match until two qualified umpires are available, in which case the offending team will incur all costs for the re-scheduling of the match, including the £10.00 fine.

16.   The umpires decision is final, umpires will officiate according to IFNA Netball rules.
17.   Teams must not umpire their own games
18.   Captains are to toss a coin for ends before they come on court.
19.   Each team is required to provide its own set of bibs and ball for each league match and all tournaments. A First Aid kit is the team’s own responsibility.
20.   Bibs must be worn by both teams.
21.   All team members must play in the same coloured kit.
22.   Appropriate training shoes must be worn, no black soled trainers to be worn on indoor courts.
23.   Players must remove all jewellery before the start of a match to avoid injury to you as a player and your opposition.

The only exception is a plain wedding band or a medical alert bracelet which can be worn but must be taped up.

Nails must be cut short.

24.       A fully completed scorecard, including “Your teams player of the match” must be sent by both teams to online at

www.herefordshirenetball.co.uk Any result not received by midnight on the Friday following the day of the match will result in the

offending team having a deduction of 5 points from there overall score and a fine of £10.00.

25.       No smoking or alcohol, whatsoever, is permitted on the premises.
26.       The organisers take no responsibility for any injury, damage or theft to persons on their property incurred as a result of taking part in the Hereford Netball League.
27.       Insurance – Public liability insurance will be taken out. Any personal insurance must be the player’s own responsibility.
28.       Team representatives are obliged to attend all meetings or send a Deputy in their place. The first meeting missed will incur a fine of £10.00, plus 5 points deducted from the team’s League points. All fines not paid will be added to next season’s League fees. The next meeting to mean any subsequent meeting in that year (i.e., from AGM to AGM).
29.       The complaints procedure should be used if required (See appendix 3)

Appendix 1

Cancelled Matches

Matches can only be cancelled by the committee.

If weather is inclement or the court unsafe for play, teams will be notified, and the match re-arranged by the Committee.

Teams must play if they have at least 5 players.

Teams are still encouraged to play and use the court even if less than 5 players can attend. This will then be played as a friendly and the opposing team will receive the points (see appendix 2.) The fine will be £30 to cover the umpiring cost.

If the team is unable to make the match the opposing team will receive the points see appendix 2. The fine will be £50. £30 will be paid to the umpires unless they are allocated to a different game then this will be deducted from the fine total. £20 court cost which will be added as a credit to the opposing team as they will not have played the game. The team cancelling will also need to send 2 scorers for the previous / post game

Appendix 2

Scoring Procedure

Defaulted games

This will be applied to the teams at the end of the season.

The team will be awarded the appropriate goals, according to the position in the league, and the offending team will receive 0 goals.

League Position                      Goals Awarded

1                                  75

2                                  65

3                                  55

4                                  45

5                                  35

6                                  25

7                                  15

8                                  5

Played matches

All Herefordshire Netball matches played will follow the procedure below:

5 points for a win, 3 points for a draw, 2 points for within 5 goals for the winning teams score and 1 point will be awarded to the losing side should they score half or more than the winning team’s score.

Appendix 3

Complaints

Umpires have full control of the game and the AENA netball rules apply.

Any misconduct by a player during a match, may be regulated by the umpires officiating, according to the AENA rules.

If a player has a complaint against another player this must be brought to the attention of the umpires during the game, if it can’t be resolved within the game then a formal complaint must be made in writing to the committee within two weeks. The team bringing the formal complaint must inform the officiating umpires.

Once a formal complaint has been received by the committee about a player/team, the umpires officiating will be asked for their opinions, the committee will discuss and take the following action:-

1. a) Take no further action, all complaints will be kept on file and the committees decision is final.
2. b) The team/player in question will be requested to submit a report regarding the incident in question. The committee will then review the complaint with no bias.
3. c) If required a written warning will be sent to the team captain – a player/team can have no more than two written warnings after that the team/player may be suspended or expelled from the league. The affected player/team will have the right of appeal to the committee, whose decision shall be binding.  Fees are non refundable.  They will be allowed to enter for the next season.

If a complaint is against an officiating umpire, then a letter of complaint must be made in writing to the committee with two weeks.  Both officiating umpires will be asked their opinions, the committee will discuss and take the following action:-

1. a) Take no further action, all complaints will be kept on file and the committees decision is final.
2. b) If more than two written complaints have been received the umpiring secretary will organise for mentoring to take place if this is agreed by the umpire in question, if the umpire disagrees then that umpire will no-longer be allowed to officiate in the league.