1. INTERPRETATION
    • Day to day interpretation of these by-laws shall be the responsibility of the Umpire present at the time.
    • Appeals against interpretation shall be taken up with the on duty Leisure Program Attendant on the day.
    • Unresolved appeals against interpretation can be lodged in writing to Centre Management.
    • All Australian Netball Association rules shall apply unless otherwise provided for in these by-laws.
  2. REGISTRATION
    • Teams are required to pay a two (2) game upfront payment prior to the first match (in addition to the first game fee). This fee will be used as a bond.
    • The team bond will be used in lieu of the two (2) finals matches (Semi Final and Grand Final match week) games fees, provided teams are financial (i.e. paid their game fee) and that the bond has not been lost for other reasons. The loss of team bond and/or use of the team bond in lieu of finals game fees will be entirely at Centre Management discretion. There will be no bond refunds.
    • No premiership points will be awarded to non-financial teams and they may be withdrawn from the competition with loss of bond.
    • All players must have current first and last names registered on official team registration forms. Captains and vice-captains must have first and last names, addresses, contact numbers and email addresses registered on official team registration form.
    • In the event of a player, fill in or guest player not having sufficient information on team registration to cover official correspondence, including the processing of a Management Inquiry, the designated team contact will be required to take the responsibility of identifying and informing that player of the situation.
    • Failure to assist in these matters may result in action against the team which may include withdrawing the team from the competition.
    • Grading and re-grading of teams will be at the sole discretion of Centre Management.
    • A team contact, whether it is a coordinator, coach or manager, must distribute copies of the Centre By-Laws and Centre Conditions of Entry to all players and supporters.
  3. FORFEIT FEES
    • If no match is played, then a forfeit fee of one (1) team game fee will apply to the team responsible for the forfeit. If a team wants to forfeit they must notify the centre.
    • In the event of a forfeit and no match conducted, the game fee paid by the non-offending team will be credited to the following week’s game. If a scratch match occurs (A scratch match is defined as a ‘friendly’ game between the two fixtured sides) then no credit will be awarded to the following week to cover court/umpire costs incurred by the centre.
    • Any team forfeiting twice in any one season can be replaced without notice at the discretion of Centre Management.
    • No further premiership points will be awarded to forfeiting teams until such time as the forfeit fine has been paid in full. Lost points are NOT redeemable. Forfeit fees must be paid by the next fixtured game.
    • Registrations for new seasons will not be accepted from teams with outstanding debts.
    • Team bond are not able to be used to pay for a forfeit fee unless an arrangement is made with Centre Management.
  4. TEAM UNIFORMS
    • All players in each team are required to present themselves in conforming uniforms for each match (same coloured top).
    • Bibs can be provided to teams with a deposit of a driver’s license or set of keys.
    • Four (4) weeks grace will be allowed from the commencement of a season for players to produce conforming uniforms. If players are not in correct uniforms after this time a one (1) goal penalty will be enforced for each offending player.
    • Any new player/s joining a team during the course of a season will be required to wear conforming uniform.
    • A team replacing another team at any time during the season in progress shall be allowed four (4) weeks grace to comply with conforming team uniform.
    • Board Shorts, Denim Shorts/Jeans and track pants are not considered as suitable attire.
    • Player’s shoes must be enclosed; leisure based non-marking and not contain steel caps.
    • Fill in Players must wear similar uniform to avoid penalty points. This will be at discretion of the Leisure Program Attendant on Duty.
  5. ELIGIBILITY OF PLAYERS
    • Teams are required to ensure score cards display the players that are present and ready to play for the fixture match. To register a new player to the team an email must be sent to the centre.
    • Penalty for including the names of players who are not present and ready to play in the match is a loss of all premiership points accrued for that season.
    • Late arrival players who are ready to, play, may have their name included on the match score sheet before half time. Should it be discovered during the course of a match that the name of an on-court player does not appear on the score sheet, the players name may be added without penalty.
    • A substitute player who is present and ready to play but does not actually participate in the match shall be considered a legal player as long as they are financial (i.e. paid their game fee) and have their name on the score sheet.
    • Any registered player shall not be permitted to play for another team in the same grade unless approved By Centre Management. In the event a registered player plays for another team they must play in wing position (WA/WD).
    • Players are ineligible to fill in for lower ranked divisions than their registered team. If this occurs it will result in an immediate forfeit. The game may continue to be played with no refunds given.
    • Whilst we recognise the right to introduce new players during the season, we observe the right not to allow teams to increase their playing strength beyond the capability of the grade in which they play by the introduction of such players.
    • A player is only permitted to play in more than one (1) game on one night at the same venue to assist a team avoids a forfeit. This player must play in wing position (WA/WD). A player may not play for more than one team in finals weeks.
    • The team captain may (in writing) ask for special permission from Centre Management for non-eligible players to play finals matches. The decision will be case by case with no guarantees.
  6. FINALS MATCHES
    • To qualify for finals matches, a player must have played at least four (4) minor round matches for that team during the season.
    • A player is not permitted to play for more than one (1) team during the final series and can only play for the team they are registered to play for.
    • Centre Management has the right to ask for proof of identification for any player believed to be playing under another name.
    • Due to a team’s inability to play finals, Centre Management has the right to approve teams to play in place of the team unable to play.
  7. TEAM RESPONSIBILITY
    • All teams must provide their own scorer for the duration of the game. Failure to provide a scorer will leave the offending teams no recourse to challenge the score.
    • A team shall be held responsible for the conduct of its members and spectators. Umpires have the capacity to penalise offending teams and teams from which offending spectators come and may be removed from the courts and facility.
    • Team Captains can approach the umpires during quarter and half time to discuss any queries with umpire decisions.
    • All players must ensure, to the satisfaction of the Umpire that fingernails, rings, chains, piercings, jewellery, medical casts, and other apparel do not present a hazard to other players. This may include cutting, taping of medical bracelets, or removal of items.
  8. PLAYER REPORTS BY OFFICIALS
    • Players, teams, team officials and supporters shall be subject to a management inquiry for any form of misconduct.
    • If Centre Management receives a written complaint about any player, team, team official or spectator or if the management deems it necessary, then they may tender a case against that player, team, team official or spectator for misconduct.
    • Misconduct shall include but not be limited to abusive language, unsporting conduct, undue rough play, resisting, striking and attempted striking or any action or behaviour that contravenes the Code of Conduct, Conditions of Entry or Competition By-Laws.
    • The Swan Active official shall complete an Incident Report Form which shall be lodged at the centre.
    • The Centre may deem it necessary, at Centre Management’s discretion, to conduct a Management Inquiry.
    • A Management Inquiry will be conducted entirely at the discretion of Centre Management.
    • All players, teams, team officials, parents and supporters are required to participate in a Management Inquiry and provide requested information to Centre Management if asked to do so. Failure to cooperate with a Management Inquiry by the reported person or other relevant participants without prior written notification to the centre may be interpreted as an admission of guilt and Centre Management may hand down any penalty they consider appropriate in that person’s absence.
    • A player or team official found guilty from the Management Inquiry may appeal the decision.
    • The appellant player or team official must lodge the appeal in writing to Centre Management within 48 hours with sufficient grounds for the appeal as well as an appeal fee of one match payment.
    • All appeal decisions will be final.
  9. ABANDONED MATCHES
    • In the event of misconduct by players, substitutes, coaches or spectators, the umpires have the authority to abandon matches. Decisions in relation to the outcome of abandoned matches will be determined by Centre Management.
  10. ILLEGAL PLAYERS
    • The penalty for playing illegal players is the automatic forfeit of the match or matches in which the offences occurred.
      Illegal players are defined as follows:

      • Playing in more than one grade on one night unless approved by Centre Management.
      • Failing to pay the appropriate game fee.
      • Playing under an assumed name.
      • Non- observance of the qualifications criteria for finals matches.
      • Playing while under suspension.
      • Playing while under suspension by any affiliated association.
  11. PREMIERSHIP POINTS
    • Teams joining the competition after the commencement of the season will receive premiership equal with the last team, nil for or against scores. This will be at Centre Management discretion.
    • Premiership points accumulated throughout the grading period will not carry across to their graded divisions.
    • Points shall be awarded on the following basis;
      • Win 3 points
      • Los 1 point
      • Draw 2 points
      • Bye 2 points
      • Forfeit 0 points
  12. PROTESTS
    • Protests from teams or players are to be lodged in writing to Centre Management within forty eight (48) hours of the incident.
  13. COMMENCEMENT OF MATCHES
    • A match cannot commence until both teams present the proof of payment to the umpire and full names appear on the score sheet.
    • A match cannot commence with less than five (5) players. When a team has five (5) players ready to play, the match must commence.
    • If a team does not have five (5) players ready to start, a penalty of one (1) goal per minute or part thereof will be awarded until five (5) players are on the playing court ready to start.
    • Should the other player/s arrive ready to play before the expiration of ten (10) minutes after the official starting time, the match will proceed as a normal game. If no other players arrive within ten (10) minutes of the start time the game will be considered a forfeit and points awarded to the opposition team accordingly.
    • The final score awarded for a forfeit will be twenty (20) goals to nil.
  14. DRAWN MATCHES
    • In the event of an equal score at the conclusion of full time of any non-final match, then the match will be considered a draw and each team will be awarded two (2) premiership points.
    • In the event of a draw in any finals match with the conclusion of full time then the match will be continued by five (5) minute periods until a result is achieved. If a result is not achieved after two (2) extra time periods, then additional extra time periods will be played and the first team to score shall be the winner and that shall be the end of the game.
  15. TIME CLOCK OPERATIONS
    • In final matches play shall only be stopped for an injury at the umpire’s discretion for a period not exceeding three (3) minutes after which the match shall be recommenced.
    • In minor round matches time cannot be held for injury.
    • Any player who cannot be moved from the court should not do so. If due to injury the game is abandoned, Centre Management shall decide the outcome of the match.
    • No time outs may be taken in the last two (2) minutes of the last quarter.
    • Games shall commence and finish on the centre timing sirens.
    • Time clocks will start at scheduled game times. Time clocks will not be delayed to wait for the arrival of teams or players.
  16. LENGTH OF MATCHES
    • All matches shall consist of the following times unless indicated otherwise by Centre Management. Matches played are four (4) ten (10) minute quarters with a one (1) minute interval at quarter and three-quarter time and two (2) minute interval at half time.
  17. PRIZES
    • Trophies or prizes shall be awarded to winning premiership teams and runners up to a maximum of nine (9) players.
  18. TEAM WITHDRAWAL
    • Teams withdrawing from the competition prior to the end of the season will not receive a refund of bond.
    • There will be no carryover of bonds unless arranged with Centre Management.
  19. MIXED NETBALL
    • A mixed netball team must have no less than one (1) and no more than three (3) males on court at any one time.
    • The maximum number of males on court at any time must not exceed three (3). No two (2) males are allowed in the goal circle at either end at one time e.g. one in offence (GA, GS), one in defence (GD, GK) and one in centre court (C, WA, WD).
    • A mixed netball team has ten (10) minutes to have the correct male / female ratio on court, i.e. A team can start with five (5) females as long as the ratio is in place within ten (10) minutes.
  20. WARNINGS, DISQUALIFICATIONS AND REPORTS
    • Level One
      Verbal warning to offending player/s if officials perceive misconduct, officials will establish why warning was given (game can be halted to enable this).
    • Level Two
      Official will remove player from court for a time period of two (2) goals. When a player is removed from the court there will be no replacement during that time period.
    • Level Three
      Official to eject player from the game and incident report will be lodged. Any player ejected from the game will be removed from the centre and an automatic one week suspension will be in place and any further suspension will be based on severity of incident and Management Inquiry outcome.
    • Officials have the right to enforce any level at any time based on the severity of the incident.
    • Player Reports
      It is not necessary for a player to be issued any level of warning/disqualifications prior to being reported. Players can be reported by centre umpires for any form of misconduct. Centre umpires may report a player without first any level of warnings/disqualifications.
  21. MATCH EQUIPMENT
    • The Centre provides the game balls, bibs and score clocks. Please do not abuse the equipment provided. It is the captain’s responsibility to ensure that all bibs are neatly returned to the centre after each game concludes.
    • If any equipment is damaged or not to standard please report this information to the customer service desk.
  22. CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK AND PAYMENTS
    • Payments must be paid to customer service desk prior to the game commencement. The game will not commence until both teams provide proof of payment to the umpires.
    • Please note fees and Charges are subject to change annually and are effective in July each year (mid-season).
  23. FIXTURES
    • Fixturing of games will be at the sole discretion of Centre Management.
    • Centre Management reserve the right to change fixtures where necessary during the season.
    • Fixtures are available online. It is the team captain’s responsibility to ensure each player has a current copy of the fixtures.