Netball Australia has conducted a review into the score error in last night’s game between GIANTS Netball and the Sunshine Coast Lightning.
A review has found two errors led to a score error and a communication failure at the conclusion of regulation time:
1. Score error
- Scores were correct across both broadcast and in-venue up until the final time-out with 1.24 remaining, when the score was incorrectly adjusted by a bench official.
- The score in-venue was adjusted to 70-71, while the broadcast score was correct at 71-71.
- Following the final whistle, a score discrepancy was identified by bench officials and a review was undertaken.
2. Communication failure
- The League failed to have a formal process in place to officially notify umpires, GIANTS Netball and Sunshine Coast Lightning a score review was being undertaken and advise of next steps.
Once the score review was complete and the final score was confirmed as 71-71, players and umpires returned to the court for extra-time.
Suncorp Super Netball’s Rules of the Game allow for a delay of up to an hour, with an agreed warm-up period determined by team medical staff and bench officials.
Netball Australia has immediately reviewed its systems and processes and is working with all match officials to ensure these errors do not happen again.
Netball Australia is working with GIANTS Netball and the Sunshine Coast Lightning as part of the review.
Netball Australia is implementing a formal process for the notification of any score review at the completion of regulation time, which will be communicated to match officials, teams and umpires ahead of Round 6.
Netball Australia CEO Stacey West apologised to fans and both teams for the errors that occurred.
“We apologise to our fans – both in stadium and at home – and to both teams for the errors that occurred,” West said.
“These errors should not have occurred and caused significant confusion in venue and also for those watching at home.
“There were failures in our systems, processes and communication that have been addressed to ensure this does not happen again.”
Under World Netball’s Rules of Netball and the SSN Rules of the Game, there is no avenue for appeal of the final score. Further there is no appeal right of any decision within a match.
