By Sophie Taylor
The 2024 Suncorp Super Netball season has almost arrived, and with it, the adjustment of SSN rules in accordance with World Netball’s 2024 Rules of Netball.
Check out the major changes below, or scroll to the bottom of the page for more information.
Eleventh Player
This season SSN clubs can add an eleventh player to their squad. Each team may elect to elevate one of their training partners to be their eleventh player, meaning the teams' squad will be increased from 10 to 11 players. Clubs must still only name 10 players for their game day team, but those 10 are selected from the 11 player squad. Teams may opt out of selecting an eleventh player.
Eligibility is down to three criteria. The first two must be met, while the third requires one of two options.
- Must be contracted for 2024 as a Nominated Athlete
- Must be eligible to represent Australia in accordance with World Netball Regulations
- Must be aged 26 or younger OR has not taken to the court in more than five SSN and/or ANZ Championship matches
Extra Time
If the two teams are tied at the end of regulation time, a 90 second break will be taken. Extra Time consists of two five-minute halves, with a half-time interval of 90 seconds. Teams will change ends at the end of regulation time and at the half-time interval of the Extra Time. The centre pass will follow on.
If, at the end of Extra Time, one team is leading the other team, that team will be declared the winner. If the scores are tied, the match will be declared a draw and each team is awarded 2 points.
Teams are permitted to make substitutions in the break before Extra Time commences and at the half-time interval.
Per regular Suncorp Super Netball rules, the Super Shot will apply during Extra Time, as will normal injury and rolling substitutions. No time outs (tactical) can be taken during Extra Time.
Short Pass
It is a fundamental principle of netball that every pass should be capable of being legally contested.
There must be enough space on the court for an opposing player to deflect or intercept the ball as it moves from the hands of the passer to the receiver.
The difference between the old rule “intercept by a hand” and the updated rule “deflect or intercept” is that the umpire must consider whether the defending player can make a genuine attempt.
Throw-in
The player taking the throw-in is not required to wait for all other players to be on court before throwing the ball.
Game Management
Cautions have been removed and umpires will now advance or escalate a sanction.
Unfair play, unsporting behaviour and dangerous play will result in more serious game management actions including:
- Proactive advice, an advancement down the court or an escalation from a free pass to a penalty
- An official warning
- Suspended for two minutes of match-play
- Ordered off for remainder of game
Cautions have been removed.
Firebirds goal shooter Donnell Wallam loves a buzzer beater.Player Safety
Umpires may hold time without a request being made if there is an obvious or serious injury.
Primary Care personnel can appeal to the reserve umpire to hold time for a concussion check. This becomes an injury stoppage and the player must leave the court.
The player safety adjustments also include an amendment to the blood rule, stating that players with dried blood on them are no longer required to be substituted, and are now permitted to clean up quickly and continue playing.
However, players who are bleeding, have an open wound or bloodstained clothing still must leave the court (and be substituted).
Goal After Whistle
In the past, the ball had to pass completely through the ring before the whistle to end period of play had been blown to be counted as a goal.
If the whistle to end a period of play or hold time is blown after the ball has left the hands of the goal shooter or goal attack, and the shot is successful, the goal will count.
Tactical Changes
Due to the incorporation of rolling substitutions in SSN, the WN Substitution rule – stating Tactical Substitutions may be made immediately after a goal is scored - will not apply.
There are two types of tactical changes; team change (when an on-court player changes playing positions with another on-court player) and substitution (when a player moves from the team bench to replace a player on the court).
This is in addition to the ability to make changes at an interval or at a stoppage for injury, illness or blood.
Centre Pass
If a team believes the centre pass is being signaled incorrectly, the updated rule allows an on-court player to appeal to the umpires before the centre pass is taken.
The umpires will check with the scorers who will confirm the correct centre pass.
The appeal can only come from an on-court player, not the bench or coach, and must be made before the centre pass is taken. Once it’s taken, any mistakes cannot be rectified.
Toss Up
A toss up was previously used if an infringement occurred simultaneously. However, due to improved umpire education and training, the use of toss ups has become much less frequent and umpires are instead, correctly, penalising the infringement that occurred first.
If a simultaneous infringement occurs the umpire awards possession to the team that last had possession of the ball, where the ball was when play stopped.
Any player from that team may take the ball for the restart of play. It does not have to be the player who had the ball last. If it is in the team’s goal circle, the goal shooter or goal attack may shoot for goal.
This is different from a situation where possession is called as a clarification (when two players gain possession of the ball in quick succession).
Advantage
The wording around the advantage rule has been adapted to ensure players and teams are not disadvantaged when an opponent infringes.
The updated wording will assist players and coaches in their understanding of what an umpire takes into consideration when applying advantage.
SSN teams will play to the rule adjustments at the 2024 Team Girls Cup.Contact
The updated contact rule clarifies the difference between the two types of contact penalty – interference and causing (both as a moving player and player in the air) – to ensure greater understanding and application in the moment.
Playing the Ball
Replayed ball is another rule that has been “refreshed”, to greater clarify both how one may gain possession of the ball, and what one can do while in possession.
To gain possession, a player may:
- Catch the ball with one or both hands.
- Roll the ball to oneself.
- Catch the ball if it rebounds from the goalpost.
- Bat the ball once, then catch it.
- Bounce the ball once, then catch it.
- Touch the ball in an uncontrolled manner once or more than once, then catch it
Without possession, a player may:
- Bat or bounce the ball to another player.
- Bat the ball once, and then either bat or bounce the ball to another player.
- Bounce the ball once, and then either bat or bounce the ball to another player.
- Touch the ball in an uncontrolled manner once or more than once, and then either bat or bounce the ball to another player.
Suncorp Super Shot
The Suncorp Super Shot and Power5 will remain, with two goals allocated to the team who successfully scores from the designated area during this time.
View the World Netball Rules of Netball 2024 Edition here.
View the World Netball educational resources here.
For any umpiring queries, please contact rules@netball.com.au.
