Category Archives: Majors

This must be Obstruction!

CAN THE DEFENDER BE WITHIN 3FT OF A PLAYER WHO HAS THE BALL?

First watch this reel. (click on the button at the top for the sound)

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As explained in the reel:  A player can be within 3ft of a player with the ball – As long as they’re not interfering with the throwing or shooting action and they are not attempting to deflect, intercept or defend the ball. As soon as the ball is released the defender can make an attempt to intercept the pass????

A prominent Umpire Mentor for which I have the greatest respect have indicated the following.  I can totally relate with this:

“This interpretation as stated is both inaccurate and contradicts Rule 16.1 & 16.7.”

16.1

"An opposing player may attempt to deflect or intercept the ball or defend a player in possession of the ball, provided there is a distance of not less than 0.9 m (3 ft) measured on the ground from the nearest part of the landing foot of the player with the ball to the nearest part of the opposing player’s nearer foot in contact with the ground."
16.7

"A defending player may be within 0.9 m (3 ft) of an opponent with the ball provided there is no interference with the passing or shooting action of this player. The defending player may not make any effort to deflect or intercept the ball or defend the player with the ball including by lifting another player from their team for this purpose."

My explanation further:

If you take the same situation as the reel into the goal circle:

GA in possession of the ball and the GD within 3 feet and not interfering with the shooting action, the GA releases the ball and the GD jumps from within 3 feet and deflects the shot or the player is lifted by a teammate.  According to the reel – this is allowed??!!

BUT according to the Rule Book – the reel = Obstruction.

If you also look at rule

16.2

An opposing player may attempt to deflect or intercept the ball or defend a player in possession of the ball while being lifted by another opposing player, provided there is a distance of not less than 0.9 m (3 ft) measured on the ground from the nearest part of the landing foot of the player with the ball to the nearest part of either opposing player’s nearer foot in contact with the ground.

I also like to ask ChatGPT for an explanation of the rule:

A defending player must not attempt to block, catch, or interfere with the ball, nor can they try to guard or challenge the player who has possession of the ball. This includes not being allowed to lift a teammate to reach the ball or block the play. Essentially, defenders should avoid any actions that directly disrupt the player with the ball or their pass.

If you look at the definition of A PASS in the Rule book. It states:

Pass: action of a player throwing, batting or bouncing the ball to a player, dropping the ball or putting the ball on the ground and removing their hands.

I interpret it that if a player is within 3ft they can NOT defend THE PASS.

In netball, a “pass” refers to the action of one player throwing, pushing, or otherwise sending the ball to a teammate.

I consider a pass as the same as the rule clarification for Repossession:

“After having possession and releasing the ball, a player may not touch the ball again before it touches another player or it rebounds from the goalpost.”

While the ball is still in the hands of the attacking player and the defender is within 3ft.  All an umpire will do is to determine if the defender is “interfering”.  Being it on the goal circle edge or in the goal circle or anywhere on court.  If they do interfere with the passing or shooting action, an umpire will consider to play advantage or penalize for obstruction.

IN CONCLUSION:  If you are standing next to a player on the circle edge or if you stand within 3ft of a shooter in the goal circle.  Any action to defend THE PASS is obstruction.  You can ONLY “touch” the ball if it touches another player or it rebounds from the goalpost; otherwise you must be called for obstruction.  If not – Rule 16.1 and Rule 16.7 is not relevant anymore?? 

Quote On Rules Of The Game Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures

Challenging Netball Rules No 7

CONTACT AND CONTEST (Rule 12.1)

When attacking, defending or playing the ball, opposing players may come into physical contact with each other. Provided the players do not interfere with each other’s play or use their bodies to gain an unfair advantage over their opponent, it is deemed to be ‘contest’ and play continues. ‘Contact’ occurs when a player’s actions interfere with an opponent’s play whether these are accidental or deliberate.

INTERFERENCE (Rule 12.)

Interference may occur in the following ways:

  • Physical contact using any part of the body to limit an opponent’s ability to move freely (this includes, but is not limited to, pushing, tripping, holding or leaning on an opponent).
Inevitable Contact (Rule 12.2.2)

Player/s, whether moving or stationary, may not position so closely to an opponent that this player is unable to move without contacting.

4 SCENARIOS:  What would your call be?       I made my decision using the rules above.

CONTACT GD – Shooter positions in front of the defender which she may, and the defender then put her hands forward into the shooters face.  Defender was about 6ft from the ball, so no need to put her hands in the air “to defend” from that distance.

NO SANCTION:  Both the GD and the GS went into their positions simultaneously.  Impossible for the GD not to touch the GS with her defending action.  Both have a right in this instance.

CONTACT of the GA.  The GD was there first and then the GA moved back into the defender.

CONTACT OF THE GS.  The defender was 3ft away arms up and the GS moved closer towards the defender (unnatural body stance).  Causing the contact.

Andy Rooney Quote: “Most of us believe everyone has a right to his own ...

Defending from out of Court.

DEFENDING A PLAYER FROM OUT OF COURT (Rule 8.3.3)

“A player who is standing outside the court may not attempt to defend a player on court whether that player has the ball or not.”

Sanction:  Penalty pass taken on court close to where the infringer was standing.

Umpire calls:  Defending from out of Court – Penalty Pass (The player standing off court will be penalized.)

The player standing with one foot out of court is holding onto the dress of her teammate to assist with balance in order to give her more of a lean towards the shooter from a 3 feet distance.  She is thus part of this defending action.  (Extension) She must also be wholly on the court.

It will be the same when you lift your teammate to gain more height, then both players must be on court.

See the source image