RULE 13: PLAYING THE BALL

13.1    A player may:-

• catch the ball with one or both hands

• gain or regain control of the ball if it rebounds from the Goalpost (ie this includes post, ring & net)

• bat or bounce the ball to another player without first having possession of it

• tip the ball in an uncontrolled manner once or more than once and then i) catch the ball, or ii) direct the ball to another player

• having batted the ball once, either catch the ball or direct the ball to another player

• having bounced the ball once, either catch the ball or direct the ball to another player

• roll the ball to oneself to gain possession

• fall while holding the ball, but must regain footing and throw within 3 seconds of receiving the ball

• lean on the ball to prevent going offside

• lean on the ball on Court to gain balance

• jump from a position in contact with the Court and play the ball, provided that neither the player nor the ball make contact with the ground, or any object or person outside the Court while the ball is being played

13.2    A play may not:-

• strike the ball with a fist

• fall on the ball to gain possession

• attempt to gain possession of the ball while lying, sitting or kneeling on the ground

• throw the ball while lying, sitting, or kneeling on the ground

• use the Goalpost i) as a means of regaining balance, or ii) as a support in recovering the ball going out of Court, or
  iii) in any way for any other purpose, which does not include the ball rebounding from the Goalpost.

• deliberately kick the ball

Penalty for Rule 13.2

            Free pass to the opposing team where the infringement occurred.

13.3    A player who has caught or held the ball shall play it or shoot for goal within 3 seconds.  To play the ball a player may:-

• throw it in any manner and in any direction to another player

• bounce it with one or both hands in any direction to another player

13.4    A player who has caught or held the ball may not:-

• roll the ball to another player

• throw the ball and play it before it has been touched by another player

• toss the ball into the air and replay it

• drop the ball and replay it

• bounce the ball and replay it

• replay the ball after an unsuccessful shot at goal unless it has touched some part of the Goalpost (which includes post, ring & net)

Penalty for Rule 13.4

            Free pass to the opposing team where  the infringement occurred.

13.5    Passing Distances

13.5.1    Short Pass

• On the Court: at the moment the ball is passed there must be room for a third player to move between the hands of the thrower and those of the reciever.

• At the Throw In: at the moment the ball is passed there must be room on the Court for a third player to move between the hands of the thrower and those of the reciever.

Penalty for Rule 15.5.1

            Free pass to the opposing team where the ball was caught.

Summarized Version

Reference: "Netball: The Rules Explained"

Replayed Ball

Umpire calls: "Replayed ball Black, free pass White"

Pass is taken where player last catches the ball.

The term "Replayed Ball" is often confused by all groups of netballers.

Replay occurs only when a player has had possession and then plays the ball again.  Once a player has possession replay is called if the player plays the ball again.  Example: i) drops it and catches it again ii) throws it and catches it again.

Replayed ball should not be confused with tips, bats, bounces. (Note from Me - sorry I have been calling the wrong thing here!)  

Repay can occur after a shot at goal if the ball does not touch ANY part of the post, ring or net and is caught again by the same player who attempted the shot at goal.

Playing the Ball  

Umpire calls: "Tip, bat & catch (or "Bat, bounce & catch" or "Two bounces and a catch") Black, free pass White".

Pass is taken where the player plays the ball the third time (this can be some distance from where the move began).

Players may:

• Tip the ball in an uncontrolled manner any number of times (ie: playing the ball with tips of fingers - most often seen when rebounding)

• Bat the ball (ie: playing the ball with palm of hand)

• Bounce the ball once

After any one of these options a player then must either:

• Catch the ball OR

• Direct the ball to another player

So a player may:

• Tip, tip, tip (a number of times) and catch the ball or direct the ball to another player (by batting or bouncing)

• Bat and catch the ball or direct the ball to another player (by batting or bouncing)

• Bounce and catch the ball or direct the ball to another player (by batting or bouncing)