League Rules

Wisbech Netball League Rules

As of September 1st 2024 , we as a league will be following the new rules set out by England Netball (EN). These can be viewed here England Netball | Rules and Updates

The rules set out below should be read in conjunction with the new (2024) EN rules & are only applicable to teams playing in the Wisbech Netball League (WNL).

1. AGM/RULES FORUM

1.1 All clubs must send two representatives to the County AGM's and all teams must send two team representatives to the WNL AGM explained further in 11.4

1.2 Each occasion of non-attendance to the AGM's mentioned above will be judged individually & will be penalized by loss of points or exclusion from the league.1.3 The WNL must be represented at all County Committee meetings. If there isn't a county representative elected, the committee will decide on the team responsible for attending each meeting & let the team captain know.

2. FACILITIES FOR PLAY

All fixtures will be played at Thomas Clarkson Academy, Wisbech or Estover Playing Field, March.

3. LEAGUE POSITIONS

3.1 Points will be awarded as follows:6 points for a win
4 points for a draw
3 points if within 5 goals of opponents score
2 points if within 50% of opponents score
1 point if less than 50% of opponents score

4. CANCELLATIONS

4.1 Any team cancelling a match before 5pm on the day of the match will be deducted 2 points & the opposing team will be awarded 6 points. A cancellation fee of £15 must be paid to the league by the team cancelling as payment for the court costs. The fixture result will be recorded as 0-30 to the non-cancelling team.

4.2 If a team cancels but then all the matches are cancelled by the league organizer, this match will be reinstated and the cancellation fee refunded.

4.3 In the event of a match being cancelled the opposing team will be awarded 30 goals. In the event of a draw at the end of the season, where one team has received 30 goals through a match being conceded, the goals will be wiped from the calculations in order that the result will reflect a true picture of a team's performance.

4.4 If a team continues to cancel then they will be deducted 4 points the second time, 6 points the third time & so on plus the £15 cancellation fee for each occasion. Games may not be re-arranged except in exceptional circumstances upon agreement of the WNL Committee.

4.5 Any team conceding a match in progress who is able to continue playing, will have to pay both umpires fees & they will lose their match by default.

4.6 If there is a serious injury & a player cannot be moved the umpire's will decide whether to abandon the match. If the match has been played for more than 45 mins & the two team's scores are not within 20 goals then the scores will stand. If not then the match will be re-arranged.

4.7. A team with five players or more must take to the court or this will deemed as a cancellation after 5pm. Please see rule 4.8.

4.8 Any team cancelling a match after 5pm of the day of the match will be deducted 2 points and the opposing team will be awarded 6 points. The team cancelling must pay both umpires as set out on the umpire rota before their next fixture and a cancellation fee of £15 must be paid to the league as payment for the court cost. The fixture result will be recorded as 0-30 to the non-cancelling team.

5. APPOINTMENT OF UMPIRES

5.1 All umpires must find a replacement if they cannot umpire & notify the umpiring secretary of the changes.

5.2 At the discretion of the umpiring secretary new umpires may umpire 3rd Division matches with a qualified umpire opposite. A team can arrange for their own umpire to be shadowed if the umpire secretary is made aware.5.3 A minimum of 1 named umpired must be provided for each team. All new teams have one year before they need to have a fully qualified umpire. In this instance a named trainee umpire for the new team must be signed up to EN umpire training before the league starts and the umpire secretary must be made aware.

5.4 All umpires must be affiliated to EN

5.5 The decision of an umpire shall be final and given without appeal whilst the match is in place. Any complaints or queries please contact the umpiring secretary in writing within 48 hours of the incident. This correspondence must be from the captain present at the game.

5.6 In line with EN pregnancy guidance an umpire may continue to umpire when pregnant as long as they are physically capable and in agreement with the league organizer to a maximum of 30 weeks.

5.7 All umpires will be paid at the start of each match when a team hands over the scorecard.

5.8 Teams will be deducted 2 points if their umpire (as stated on the rota) fails to take to the court.

6. RESULTS

6.1 All scorecards must be filled in correctly with team name, player names, signatures, match date and any other relevant detail before the start of each match. Players names must be set out as shown on their EN affiliation. It is the team's responsibility to upload the front and back of the scorecard to the results website. The scorecard must be uploaded within one week of the game. A 1-point deduction will be incurred for late or missing scorecards and the result of the opposition scorecard will be used for the final score.

6.2 The umpires must sign both cards & give them back to the teams. The umpires will chose the player of the match for the team card they have.

6.3 All players must be listed on the scorecard. Guest players (i.e not registered to a team and/or not affiliated) must be highlighted by marking GP at the side of their name. Playing up or down must also be stated by writing the team they are registered to by their name on the scorecard.

7. START TIMES

7.1 All matches must start promptly at their allotted time; it is the umpire's responsibility to start all matches on time. If a team is late they have 10 minutes to take to the court, after that the game will be conceded as per rule 4.1 4.8. If present after the 10 minute deadline, the two teams may play a friendly for the remaining time. If a team arrives late but within the 10-minute allowance they must join in with the central timing, no time will be added on.

7.2 There will be a 2 minute interval between quarters. There will be no time added on in the event of an injury. Any player may call time if an injury occurs making sure the umpires can hear.

8. SAFETY (please see EN rules for further clarification)

8.1 When playing, all players must not wear jewellery, sharp hair accessories, gloves, scarves, sunglasses, hats (ear rings may not be taped). Laces must be fastened & belly rings must be taped or covered. Players must not chew gum whilst playing. A wedding ring, religious jewellery or medical devices may be taped or appropriately covered as per EN rules.

8.2 All players must wear appropriate sportswear and trainers Jeans and normal shoes are unacceptable. If an individual player clashes with the colours of the opposite team, the umpire can ask the team or player to wear a bib of an alternative colour.

8.3 Please see EN rules regarding pregnancy guidelines.

8.4 All matches will be played if raining & will only be cancelled if the courts are unplayable due to snow, ice, lightening or flooding. Teams will be notified as early as possible. Please don't contact the league organizer before 6pm.8.5 All teams MUST have their own first aid kit.8.6 Nails must be short & smooth, and hair must be suitably tied back.

9. FEES & AFFILIATION

9.1 All players, with the exception of guest players, must be affiliated to EN to play in the WNL.

9.2 A player who is not affiliated may play as a guest player twice per affiliated year. The name of the player must appear on the results card with "GP" marked next to their name. Before the guest player plays their third match they must be affiliated to EN and registered to a WNL team. No more than two guest players may be used in a team at a time.

9.3 Should a team breach either of the above rules (9.1 or 9.2) they will receive a 2 point deduction, and the game will be declared void, the opposing team will be awarded a 30-0 win.

9.4 Each team must register any known players at the start of the season (winter or summer). The maximum amount of players that can be registered is 20 players per season. Penalty for going over maximum registered players is £10 per person.

9.5 All teams must pay the league entry fee and respond with the registrations form by the deadline to enter the league. Any late entries will only be accepted at the committee's discretion and if accepted each team will receive a 2 point deduction and a £5 fee which must be paid before the first match.

9.6 The umpires' fees are – A award £17.50, B award £17.50, C Award £15, IOA £12.50 any unqualified umpires will receive £7.50.

9.7 Umpires undergoing mentoring during a match will receive their normal umpire fee from the teams playing. Mentors can claim compensation for the mentor sessions at the value stated by their umpire qualification from the league. The umpire secretary must be notified in advance of any planned mentor sessions.

10. PLAYERS & MANAGEMENT

10.1 A player may transfer clubs during the season only if both teams are agreeable. The affiliation secretary must be notified prior to the change. This player will then be removed from the former teams registration list.

10.2 Where a club has more than one team, it must register a minimum of seven first team members,
seven second, seven third etc. A named player may play down in the team immediately below once per season but may not return to her former team for the following two league matches. If she plays down more than once, that player will be deemed a member of the lower team and will not be permitted to play up for the remainder of the current (winter or summer) season. A named player playing two or more teams below will be deemed a named player to that team and will not be permitted to play up for the remainder of the current (winter or summer) season.

10.3 If a player plays up within her club for two consecutive league games she will be deemed to
be a named player of the team that she plays for on the second occasion. No player may play for more than one team on the same day.

10.4 Only one named player may play in the team immediately below at a time.10.5 All players must be 14 years or over to be eligible to play in the league.

The penalty for any breaches of the rules in Section 10 are a deduction of 2 points for the infringing team, and the game will be declared void, the opposing team will be awarded a 30-0 win. Should a team breach the same rule again within the same affiliation year they will be deducted 4 points for the second offence, 6 points for the third offence & so on.

11. GENERAL LEAGUE MATTERS

11.1 The WNL committee will decide on whether to run any tournaments throughout the season.

11.2 No smoking is allowed on or around the netball court area.

11.3 Please note on or around the netball courts any use of alcohol or drugs will not be tolerated. Any players or spectators breaching this rule will be asked to leave.

11.4 Every team in the league must be represented at all AGM's. If a club fails to send two representatives to an AGM, their teams in the league will have a 1 point deduction. If the same team misses a second consecutive meeting there will be a 2 point deduction per team. The third consecutive meeting that is missed will result in a 3 point deduction per team and committee discussions which could result in disqualification from the league.

11.5 A yearly committee meeting will take place before the winter league begins where at least 1 representative must attend from each club. If a club fails to provide 1 representative to the meeting a £20 fine must be paid to the league before the next season begins.

11.6 The WNL committee reserves the right to review any penalties related to all rules stated above, dependent upon extenuating circumstances, for example, life threatening events.

The WNL committee requires all players to adhere to the WNL Code of Conducts stated on the WNL website [link to be added]