Affiliations
Affiliations are valid from 1st September to the following 31st July and are administered via county associations. The Dudley Netball League DOES NOT have anything to do with affiliations, other than ensuring members notify us of their affiliation details for the current season. Players have to produce their official England netball affiliation card, or proof of affiliation or print out before they can play. It is not the committee’s responsibility to provide a player’s proof of affiliation but if you need advice on affiliations, we will try to help.
Blue Book
The Blue Book is situated at the signing-in desk. Please record details of any injury sustained during a game. You might find this useful back up for insurance claim purposes. This book may also be used to record any other comments you wish to draw to the attention of the committee. The entries are discussed at committee meetings.
Committee
The Dudley Netball League Committee is on hand to give support and advice. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have a query or need help with anything. If anyone is interested in joining the committee or helping out, you will be very welcome!
General Safety and Conduct
Whenever possible, leave valuables at home. Unattended kitbags etc can be a temptation to thieves; ensure you leave them in a safe place.
Kitbags and equipment should not be placed where they will cause an obstruction to umpire’s movements.
An area will be designated as the team bench for the duration of the match where coaches, team managers and reserve players will be situated. The team bench area will be to the left of the umpire and on the side line of the defending end as in the first quarter of the match. All spectators must stay with the team bench.
Personal Accident Cover
Please note that Personal Accident Cover provided in conjunction with the England Netball affiliation covers you for permanent disablement such as loss of sight or limb and not temporary injury or disablement. In view of this you may wish to take out separate critical care insurance.
Postponements
In the event of inclement weather, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman will liaise and decide by 4.30pm on the playing nights whether it is necessary to postpone matches. The Match & Registration Secretary will notify team secretaries or named alternative contact so that they may pass on the message to team members. The Umpiring Coordinator will contact umpires to inform them of any such postponement.
Registration
Please ensure that all Registration Forms and Match Cards are completed in BLOCK CAPITAL letters. Please ensure that players’ Christian names are written in full (NO INTIALS). A minimum of 7 players to be recorded on each team’s Registration Form and their affiliation number must be shown. This form must be handed in before you play your first match.
Allow yourself at least FIFTEEN minutes before your matches commence so that you can sign in and complete the match card.
Once registered, if a player’s details change, i.e. name and/or address, please let the Match & Registration Secretary know so that the record can be amended or if we know her married name we will be able to cross-reference should you put her maiden name down on a match card!
Playing Kit
Your kit is a registered playing uniform. We appreciate that in our climate we need protection and some of us have to have special allowances. No 3/4 length trousers or shorts are allowed. Dudley Netball League has a strict on-court dress code and it is noticeable when even one player wears a different item of kit; therefore offenders will be fined.
Reserve Week
Please ensure that your players are aware of the reserve week in the League calendar as postponed matches may be played on these dates. We have provisionally set aside dates at the end of the season for any matches postponed due to inclement weather.
Rules Interpretation (England Netball Directives)
Gloves: No form of glove may be worn when playing netball. If, for medical reasons gloves are required, then on production of an appropriate medical certificate, the umpire may allow seamless leather gloves to be worn. These players are advised to have personal liability insurance. Umpires are reminded that they still have to be satisfied that any gloves worn do not present an obvious hazard to other players.
Jewellery & Medic Alert Bracelets: All jewellery must be removed. A wedding ring must be taped if worn. Players wearing jewellery should not be allowed on the court. Only a medic alert bracelet may be worn during a netball match. The bracelet must be secured in such a manner that it will not constitute a danger to an opponent i.e. with clear tape, suitably taped to ensure that it cannot be removed or lifted off by any accidental contact.
Scarves: If these need to be worn because of religious practices, the player, together with the coach should ensure that the material used for the head covering is soft, without embellishments which might constitute a danger and with potential flowing/flapping edges held securely around the neck or tucked into the shirt collar. It should be as neat and secure as possible.
Timing
Timing for all league matches will be as follows:-
4 x 10 minute quarters – with two x one minute intervals and two minutes at half-time.
Umpiring
The League will be pleased to pass on names of anyone wishing to go on an umpiring course.