LEAGUE RULES
1. All players and umpires must be affiliated to the All England Netball Association (England
Netball). Players of school age must also affiliate to the AENA via their respective club. School
affiliations will not be accepted. Each team is responsible for payment of the Affiliation Fee.
Details for each player, including affiliation must be registered with the League prior to playing
their first match. Non-compliance will render the player ineligible to play.
2. Fees Payable
League Entry Fee: £30.00 (payable by all teams)
[To include up to 12 registered players]
Additional Registrations £1.00 per player
Holding Fee: £25.00 (payable by all Clubs)
(Returnable upon satisfactory completion of membership to the League)
Each team shall pay Match Fees, which will be decided annually by the League Committee and
advised for the coming season to members at the AGM.
3. a) The League Entry Fee should be paid by all teams upon making application to enter a
forthcoming season. Entry to the League will only be accepted if the entry form is
accompanied by the due fees.
b) The Registration Form for each team must be submitted before the first match is played
and must include full name, address details and current affiliation number of at least seven
players.
4. All monies to be paid to the Hon. Treasurer. Cheques and Postal Orders to be made payable to:
WALSALL & DISTRICT NETBALL LEAGUE
5. Clubs / Teams must be represented at League Meetings. A fine of £10.00 will be imposed for
non-attendance.
6. a) A player can only play for one Midweek team/club and Saturday team/club.
b) Additional registrations will be allowed at the end of the season at the discretion of the
Committee. All new registrations must be registered BEFORE the beginning of a match and
must include the player’s full name, address details and proof of affiliation.
c) A player who plays more than one quarter of a Senior Regional League game is not eligible
to play in a Walsall League game on the same day. Failure to comply will result in
disciplinary action and the offending team will forfeit the match.
The playing of an ineligible player will result in disciplinary action and the offending team will
forfeit the match.
7. Transfer of Players
a) TEMPORARY TRANSFERS: A lower team player may temporarily transfer up within a club
to a higher team twice; and still be eligible to play for the lower team. On the third
occasion she transfers, she will become a higher team player in the team that she plays
for on the third occasion. This then becomes a permanent transfer. (See Rule 7c).
b) No higher team player can be transferred to a lower team, unless prior written approval
from the League Committee has been obtained.
c) PERMANENT TRANSFERS: No player is allowed to transfer permanently more than once
during the season. All permanent transfers to be notified to the Match and Registration
Secretary PRIOR to any game being played.
No Permanent Transfers will be allowed at the end of the season where a team has two
or less matches to play, with the exception of teams involved in divisions consisting of
less than seven teams, in which case they will not be allowed to permanently transfer a
player if they have one match to play.
All permanent transfers will be confirmed by the Match & Registration Secretary.
8. a) All fixtures to be played on the date arranged, subject to postponement through
inclement weather conditions or as directed by the Committee.
b) Matches cannot be conceded. Teams should not contact their opposition to cancel
matches. The Committee will make all communications.
When a club joins the League it assumes a responsibility to provide teams for all its
scheduled matches in order to ensure that all members enjoy their netball.
If a team fails to turn up or turns up too late on the day, they will be liable for their own
match costs as well as those of their opponents. In addition they will pay a further £20
which will be passed onto the non-offending team as recompense for their travelling
costs. Match points will be awarded to the non-offending team.
Disciplinary action will be taken at the discretion of the League Committee.
c) MIDWEEK SECTION and SATURDAY SECTION: All matches shall be played at a central
venue or in exceptional circumstances at a venue approved by the Fixtures Secretary.
Any team not on court and ready to play at the stated time shall forfeit the points and
incur costs of the match.
9. a) All games to be played to All England Netball Association (England Netball) Rules.
b) Central Timing will be used whenever possible.
c) INJURY TIME (in accordance with AENA Rules) WILL BE ALLOWED in all Section matches.
When this occurs, umpires should (in liaison with central timekeeper, if possible) take
control of timing for the rest of the match.
10. UMPIRES
a) It is the responsibility of ALL teams to nominate an AENA qualified Umpire for the day
they are playing. These should be notified to the relevant Umpiring Secretary at least
seven (7) days prior to the scheduled match. Failure to comply will result in a £10.00 fine
plus £2.00 for each subsequent ‘phone call being made.
Should the Umpire become unavailable to officiate at their nominated time, it is the
TEAM’S RESPONSIBILITY to ensure a replacement is obtained. It is therefore essential
that the nominated Umpire is aware of how you can be contacted in an emergency.
The qualification of an Umpire is only valid if they are affiliated.
Umpires will officiate as directed by the Umpiring Secretary.
b) Umpires will be offered expenses at a rate decided by the League Committee.
11. All League match cards shall be provided and shall be filled in BEFORE the match commences
by the team’s designated representative.
12. a) Each season the League shall hold a Midweek Handicap Knockout Competition at the
central venue during the season.
b) The Handicap Knockout Competition is covered by the Midweek Section League Entry
Fee.
c) In the Competition, a player having played for a team is then cup-tied to that team for
the remainder of the competition. A player must play in at least 3 matches for that
club/team to qualify to play in the semi-finals and final of the competition.
13. The following individual trophies shall be awarded each year:
Player of the Year: Saturday Section / Midweek Section
Umpire of the Year: Saturday Section / Midweek Section
Novice Umpire of the Year: Saturday / Midweek Section
The Jean Edmonds Special Award: (Overall)
The method of selection shall be decided by the Committee.
All trophies must be returned in good condition to Vince Morris or a Committee Member by
the end of February. Any necessary repairs are to be paid for by the team concerned.
14. A basic first aid kit will be kept by the League, but teams are responsible for their own first aid
needs.
15. All fines must be paid to the Treasurer within 14 days of notification. Failure to do so will
result in the amount being doubled, unless an appeal has been lodged. (Not applicable to
Rule 6).
16. Pregnant players may not take part in this League beyond the 12th week of pregnancy.
Umpires are expected to conform to a standard of physical fitness, which allows them to
keep pace with the speed and variability of the game(s). If age, injury, illness or pregnancy is
likely to affect the umpire’s movements and positioning to the detriment of the game,
she/he is required to withdraw from officiating.
It is a moral issue between clubs and umpires that the umpires should be fit to umpire at
this level and the responsibility of the team to provide a replacement (unless the injury
occurred during the game).
17. The Committee shall decide on all matters not covered by League Rules.
Effective: 14th July 2011
