Netball: Whistling through the changes

Shannon Francois of New Zealand is challenged by Amanda Cameron of Trinidad & Tobago during the 2015 Netball World Cup. Photo / Getty Images

Umpires will have the ability from next year to send players off for a set period of time as part of a shake-up of the international netball rulebook.

World netball bosses voted through a series of changes aimed at making the rules "less fussy" during this week's INF congress meeting in Sydney. Among them, the game management procedures around dealing with foul play have been standardised, with a four-level grading system introduced.

The first level is a caution, escalating to a formal warning, before players can be sent off for two minutes. In serious cases, players can be ordered off for the remainder of the game.

Previously, in the case of persistent infringing, players would be sent off for a set number of centre passes, but it was up to the umpire's discretion for how long to remove them from the court. This often resulted in inconsistencies.

Former New Zealand umpire Mandy Nottingham, who is one of three New Zealand officials on INF's rules advisory panel, said the new system makes it more clear cut.

"It's really about formalising those processes so the players know the procedure. The umpire can also now enlist the help of the captain to address a player's behaviour that is of concern."

The rules advisory panel has also addressed a key gripe of spectators - too much whistle. Umpires will no longer blow their whistle when a goal is scored or the ball goes out of court. Based on analysis of ANZ Championship matches this season, it is predicted this will reduce the amount of whistle in the game by 30 per cent.

"We think that will meet with public agreement because one of the negative comments we often get about the game is the amount of whistle," said Nottingham.

The new rules will also stamp out the use of injury stoppages as tactical time-outs. From next year, the injury breaks will be cut from two minutes to 30 seconds, and the injured player must immediately come off the court.

"This was really driven by feedback from members, because the majority of those stoppages weren't for genuine injury. There was a lot of cynical use of it."

The other key change is around the setting of the penalty, allowing for better flow. Teams will no longer have to wait for the infringing player to stand down before they take a penalty pass. This measure was introduced to cut out some of the gamesmanship, as the infringing player will often be slow to retreat and set the penalty to allow their team to re-set their defence, negating any advantage to the non-infringing team.

Dawn Jones, another New Zealand official on the rules panel, said change generated the most debate among the nations, with some delegates concerned it would disadvantage the infringing side too much.

But she said all the rules changes put forward had been developed with the consultation of INF's coaching advisory panel.

INF had been trialling a two-point shot from the outer-circle area, but this was not put to a vote at congress after it was determined the rule required further trials. The new international rules will come in on January 1, with the ANZ Championship expected to adopt the changes.

Key rule changes

• The game management procedures in dealing with foul play have been standardised through the introduction of a four-step grading system.
• The use of injury breaks as tactical time-outs will no longer be possible, with all injury stoppages to be 30 seconds, and the injured player must come straight off the court.
• Players no longer have to wait for the infringing player to stand down properly before taking a penalty pass or shot.
• Umpires will no longer blow their whistle when goals are scored or the ball goes out of court. It is predicted this measure will reduce the whistle in the game by 30 per cent.
• 'Goal-tending' is no longer allowed. Players cannot block a shot once the ball is on a downward arc.