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Memorandum
To:
Umpire, Bench Official and Competition Stakeholders
Date:
23 February 2015
From:
Lainie Houston – Umpire Development Manager
Re:
Listing Players on the Scoresheet/Playing a 13th player
Dear all,
The purpose of this memo is to differentiate between the definition and intention of the Official Rules of Netball
versus competition specific rules and how these apply to listing names on the scoresheet/playing a thirteenth (13)
player.
1. Official Rules of Netball:
Relevant rules:
 Rule 4.4: Before the start of the game, the names of up to twelve (12) players, one of whom shall be the
Captain, must be provided to the Scorers. There shall be no limit to the number of substitutions, which
can be made in a game (refer Rules 6.1.1. and 6.1.2).

Rule 6.1.1: Both teams have the right to make substitutions and/or team changes either:
o (i) at an interval; or
o (ii) when play is stopped for injury or illness. However, in this case the injured or ill player for
whom play was stopped must be involved in that team’s substitutions and/or team changes.

Rule 6.1.2: There is no limit to the number of substitutions which can be made by a team provided that
players used do not exceed the twelve (12) named for the match (refer Rule 4.4).
PENALTY for Rule 6.1.2
Free Pass to the opposing team where the ball was when play was stopped. The player concerned shall leave the
Court. This position shall be left vacant, unless it is the Centre, when one player shall move to Centre to allow
play to continue.
Rule Purpose/Clarification: The intent of Rules 4 and 6 within the Official Rules of Netball are to allow up to
twelve (12) players to take the court at any point throughout a match (ensuring that the correct substitution and
team changes rules are adhered to). The only time the penalty for Rule 6.1.2 should be applied is when a team
has played thirteen (13) players – this would be after all other twelve (12) players have had court time at some
point during the match and a thirteenth (13) player then takes to the court.
Protocol:
Immediately the score bench becomes aware that a team has played 13 players, the Bench Manager (or Scorer 1)
must:
 Notify the reserve umpire.
 The reserve umpire must immediately notify the closest match umpire.
 The match umpire must immediately hold time and apply the penalty listed above for Rule 6.1.2.
Where no reserve umpire has been appointed, the Bench Manager (or Scorer 1) must immediately notify the
closest match umpire a team has played 13 players. The match umpire must immediately hold time and apply the
penalty listed above for Rule 6.1.2.
It is important to note that the occurrence of the above scenario would be highly unlikely to occur within any
competition or event.
2. Competition/Event specific rules:
Across all competitions and events, it is acknowledged that there are specific rules in place to manage player
eligibility, however the guiding principle should always be about equity and inclusion and not restriction.
Adding players to the Score Sheet after a match has commenced: It is important to note that the Official Rules of
Netball do not stipulate that a player may not be added or a change made to the scoresheet after the match has
commenced. If a competition/event has this as a competition specific rule, it is important to understand that a
breach of this rule must be managed as a competition/event breach and not a breach of the Official Rules of
Netball. It is therefore not the responsibility of the umpires to manage and a player must not be penalised under
Rule 6.1.2 of the Official Rules of Netball.
If, under the competition/event rules, a breach did occur, teams would need to follow the complaints/appeals
procedure outlined within the competition/event rules.
Kind regards,
Lainie Houston
Umpire Development Manager