RULES
The rules governing play shall be according to current AENA rules and the following SAINL rules.
1. General
The League will consist of groups of EIGHT (8) teams in Division 1 and 2. Matches are played on Monday evenings. During the evening there will be 4 x 45 min slots for 4 matches.
2. Venue
Matches will be played at the Marlborough School, St.Albans.
3. Teams
Every player must be affiliated to AENA. Every team to provide an umpire and a scorer for the match before or after their own match (see Umpire/Scorer schedule below).
4. Rules of Play
4.1 General
All matches are 45 minutes long, and consist of two halves of 20 minutes including a 2 minute half time and must commence at the scheduled time and on the date stipulated on the fixture list. If a team fails to turn up within 5 minutes of time on court, the non-offending team will be awarded 5 points and a nominal score of 30-0. (To be reviewed on an annual basis).
5 points for a win
3 points for a draw
2 points for losing team to be within 5 of the winning score
1 point for over 50% of winning score
If, at the end of the season, more than one team have the same number of points, goal difference shall decide the positions. After every match the captain of the winning team must send a photograph of the winning scorecard to the WhatsApp group (or similar) set up by the Results Secretary, Katrina Burton.
4.2 Cancelling Matches
To cancel a match please give 24 hours notice to all teams, umpires and scorers involved. Additionally, see point 7b. The cancelling team will be deducted the full points for a win, the non offending team will be awarded the full points for a win and 30-0 goals to their score. Cancelling games should be a last resort. Please put a message on the group chats first if your team needs additional players, or help with umpires or scorers, to see if any other teams can help out.
If a team has cancelled three times within one season they will be asked to leave the league and will be expected to pay all remaining court fees. All the points scored in the teams filled ‘fixtures’ will be null and void.
It is not permitted for a cancelled match to be rescheduled by the team who are unable to fill the fixture.
The league committee resume the rights to cancel/postpone any fixtures, for example in bad weather.
5. Promotion / Relegation
At the end of the season the top two teams from Division 2 will be promoted to Division 1. Similarly, the bottom two teams from Division 1 will be relegated to Division 2.
In the event of a team dropping out of the league either during or at the end of the season, they will be deemed to be the bottom placed team in that division for the purposes of relegation and promotion. They shall similarly be placed bottom in all lower divisions until they are relegated from the lowest division.
6. Substitutions
6a
A team may use an individual player as a substitute from within the league and from their Division once only per season, providing they play out of position. Positions are divided into 3 categories: Shooters GS/GA, Mid-court Players WA/C/WD and Circle Defenders GD/GK. Players play out of position for another team by playing a position in a different category to the one they usually play in, e.g.: Shooters would move to a circle defender or mid-court position, Circle Defenders would move to shooter or mid-court. If a player plays several different positions for their own team, they should pick their strongest category at the beginning of the season and should sub for other teams in one of the other two categories.
A player can ‘guest’ once only per team but they are allowed to guest once only for several different teams. They must play out of position (see 6a). The guesting player’s name and the position they were playing must go on the scorecard. Teams that have a guest player must also give details of who they are and the position they are playing to the Captain of the other team.
6b
A team from a Higher Division may use an individual player from a lower division as a substitute from within the league and play them in their regular position once only per season.
6c
A team may bring a new player from outside the league as a substitute and may play them in their regular position after which that player is deemed part of that team for the remainder of the season, and from there onwards will obey the substitute rule 6a if is substituted for another team within their division.
6d
Clubs with two or more teams within the league may play a player up from their lower team to their higher team and can play them in their regular position no more than 3 times in any one season, after which they are deemed a 1st team player. Whereas the lower team can play a player from the higher team once only per season and also out of position (see 6a).
6e
Substitutions can be made once per team during each half of the game. Teams wishing to make a substitution should call a ‘time out’ at an appropriate break in the gameplay, e.g. after a goal is scored, and should make their substitution(s) as quickly as possible. The timer will continue to run.
Please Note: Division 1 players cannot ‘guest’ play for any Division 2 team.
Infringement of rule 6
If this rule is not met it will result in the offending team being deducted five match points and the non offending team being awarded five match points.
7. Umpires and Scorers
7a
Division 1 must have qualified umpires. Qualified umpires are preferential in Division 2 but certificated umpires may umpire Division 2 games but must be subject to a mentoring programme (working toward ‘C’ Award). Their mentor must be present whilst they are umpiring.
If this rule is not met it will result in the offending team being deducted five match points.
Two (2) scorers must be present at each match. All teams must supply a scorer as well as an umpire as in line with timings within the duty rota. If this rule is not met the the offending team will be deducted 5 points
|
Time of Match
|
Scorers/Umpire |
| 7.15pm | 8.00pm |
| 8.00pm | 7.15pm |
| 8.45pm | 9.30pm |
| 9.30pm | 8.45pm |
It is the responsibility of both teams to provide Scorers with SAINL scorecards.
If this rule is not met it will result in a penalty and the offending team having five points deducted.
External umpires should be paid £15 per match. Umpires that play for a team in the league may have their own arrangements with that team.
7b Cancelling games
If you have to cancel a game it is your responsibility to contact all relevant people to let them know, ie: the team you are playing against and the teams you are due to score for. Any team that cancels their match, and the team that would have been their opponent, must still provide an umpire & scorer for their duty rota. However, the teams from the game that is still going ahead will pay the umpires their fee of £15. If a team would not normally pay an umpire because of in-club agreements, then the team that cancelled should be prepared to make a contribution towards the umpiring fees if requested to do so.
8. Scorecard Process
Scorecards will be provided for each team at the beginning of the season. At the start of each match, each team must provide a scorer with a scorecard. After each match the winning team must send a photograph of the scorecard to the results secretary by 5pm the following day (Tuesday) as per rule 9, or penalties will occur. If the result is a draw then both teams WhatsApp a copy of the scorecard. The Results Secretary has set up a WhatsApp group so that results can easily be recorded and sent through. A paper copy of the scorecards will be retained by each team.
Please note: If teams have used a substitute from within the league they must write the name of this player on the scorecard, ask her to sign the scorecard and state the position(s) she played during the match before sending a photograph of the scorecard to the Results Secretary.
9. Results
The winning team (or both teams if the result is a draw) must send a photograph of the scorecard to the results secretary by 5pm the following day (Tuesday) as per rule 9 or penalties will occur. The Results Secretary has set up a WhatsApp group so that results can easily be recorded and sent through. A paper copy of the scorecards will be retained by each team.
If this rule is not met it will result in the offending team receiving a penalty of having 2 points deducted.
Cancelled games – score cards still need to be sent to the Results Secretary. This is the responsibility of the cancelling team.
10. Fees
Deposits to be raised to £40 per team non refundable and 50% of league fees to be paid by 1st September. If payment is not received then the offending team will be deducted 5 points. Any team that drops out of the league after the 1st September will forfeit their first 50% fees payment.
Fees are £270 per team to be paid in two halves, 1st September and 1st January, teams are encouraged send both payment and to postdate for 1st January to ensure payment arrives on time.
Payments by electronic transfer to:
Lloyds
Sort code: 30-99-50
Account number: 60142868
Please quote your team’s name as the reference.
Cheques (not preferable) made out to Herts Indoor Netball League (St.Albans). Please contact the Treasurer for further details: saindoornetball@gmail.com
In the event of the league being disbanded any funds will go to Herts AENA. A copy of the accounts will be forwarded to each team at the AGM.
All matters not covered by the constitution may be decided by the committee, providing this does not contravene No. 6 Change in the Constitution.
The committee have decided to set a minimum umpire payment of £10 per match, however if a teams wishes to pay more then that would be their choice.
11 Non-receipt of Fees
Teams will receive an email 14 days after the due date to remind them of payment. If funds have not been received within 14 days this email will be followed up by a phone call. 7 days after this if no funds have been received 1 point will be deducted per working day for one month (20 points). If further time elapses with no payment the team will not be permitted to be part of the league for the subsequent year.
Disciplinary Procedure (Code of Conduct)
The League Committee shall have the power to discipline any League members who have been guilty of breaking the code of conduct and considered by the Committee to be disgraceful or prejudicial to the interest of the County, League or the game of Netball.
The power to discipline shall include the power to suspend or remove a member from membership of the League. Discipline shall only be administered after the following procedures have been taken
- Notification in writing will be requested from all parties involved in an incident describing their actions and events.
- All paperwork must be circulated to members of the Disciplinary Committee before a meeting takes place.
- All persons involved in the incident must be invited to the Disciplinary Meeting to give evidence.
- The League Committee shall appoint a Disciplinary Committee consisting of two League Officers and one Honorary Officer of the county Committee.
- A date and venue convenient to all concerned will be arranged for the hearing.
- A member who has been the subject of disciplinary action by the committee has the right to appeal to an Appeal Committee.
- An Appeal Committee shall be appointed by the County Committee.
- The Appeal Committee shall consist of three Honorary Officers who have not served on the Disciplinary Committee concerned with the subject of the Appeal.
- The Appeal Committee may affirm, vary or rescind any action decided by the Disciplinary Committee or substitute any other decision as it considers appropriate.
- All paperwork must be circulated to members of the Appeal Committee before a meeting takes place.
- All persons involved in the incident must be invited to the Appeal Meeting to give evidence.
- The Appeal Meeting will be arranged at a date and venue convenient to all concerned.
- The Appeal Committee decision will be final.
GUIDELINES IN THE EVENT OF INJURY
Notwithstanding the AENA rule (7.2 allows 2 minutes) regarding injury time, the safety and welfare of the injured player must take priority.
Do not move the injured player unless they feel able to do so.
If, due to a player being seriously injured, the game is significantly delayed or other players have to accompany the injured player for treatment, then the two captains should decide whether if would be more appropriate for the game to be replayed. As a generality a delay of less than 15 minutes should not result in a replay.
Do not forget to warm up before restarting. Up to five minutes should be allowed for this.