Kidzplay Netball and Netball North Harbour both offer umpire training courses throughout the year. We encourage all umpires to attend a course each season as there is always something new to learn!

Our courses are designed for beginner umpires, those wanting to refresh their knowledge, coaches wishing to better understand the rules, and anyone interested in learning more about umpiring netball.

Once you have completed one of these courses, you are able to umpire junior games to gain experience. After gaining experience across both the Winter and Spring Leagues, you may become eligible to trial for the Kidzplay Umpire Pool. To find out more, please click here.

N.B. Spaces are limited in all courses, so registration is essential.

First Steps to Umpiring Course – 2026

Course Information

What is covered?

An intensive 1-day umpiring course covering:

• Basic netball rules
• Court positioning
• Hand signals
• Court etiquette
• Practical on-court work

This course is suitable for beginner umpires or those wishing to refresh their knowledge.

Who can attend?

Everyone aged 11 years and older (Year 6+).

Winter League Course: 
Participants must turn 11 before 1st October 2026.

Spring League Course: 
Participants must turn 11 during 2026.

Venue

Pinehurst School Staffroom, 75 Bush Road, Albany (view map here)

Time

9.30am – 3.00pm (Check in from 9.15am)

Cost

$60.00 per person (Includes workbook) — payable on the day

What to bring

• Whistle
• Pen
• Highlighter
• Snacks & lunch
• Drink bottle
• Spare hair tie (for hand signals)

Handheld whistles can also be purchased on the day for $15.00 each (cash only please — no eftpos available).

What to wear

Suitable clothing for being outdoors on the courts, including appropriate sports footwear.

Registrations

• Classes are limited to 40 participants (minimum of 18 required)
• Registrations close at 5.00pm on the Thursday prior to the course unless filled earlier
• Registration is essential, so unfortunately walk-ins on the day cannot be accommodated
• Spaces are limited, so early registration is recommended

For any course queries, please email: umpires@kidzplaynetball.co.nz 

2026 Course Dates

Winter League Course

Date: 2nd May 2026

REGISTER HERE FOR THE WINTER LEAGUE

Registrations open towards the end of February (Term 1).

Spring League Course

Date: 19th September 2026

REGISTER HERE FOR THE SPRING LEAGUE

Registrations will open at the start of Term 3.

Other Umpiring Courses

Netball North Harbour also offers umpiring courses throughout the year. You are welcome to attend one of their courses if the dates suit better. Please refer to the Netball North Harbour website for further information.

We have a pool of umpires who can be arranged to officiate your games if required. This can be either a long-standing arrangement or a one-off request. If you require an umpire each week, please indicate this on the registration form.

One-off requests need to be booked by the Tuesday prior to the game so we can arrange someone to be available. If you cancel your umpire request, please notify us before Wednesday at 10am prior to the game, or the umpire fee will still be payable (please hand into the control table).

The Umpire fee of $15,00 per game is to be paid directly to the pool umpire, preferably before the game.

Year 5 and 6 games are faster-paced and more competitive, so they require umpires with a Junior Badge or higher qualification, who are experienced at managing games at this level and maintaining a high standard of umpiring.

Want to become a pool umpire? To find out more, please click here​​​​​​​.

Kidzplay Netball provides umpire mentors who are at the courts to support ALL umpires. These ladies are experienced umpires who will be available to offer advice and encouragement and to answer those queries that arise from time to time. They are easily identified by their white, blue or orange jackets.

Please do not hesitate to ask them for assistance if you have any issues at all during your games.  Always remember it is best for them to come and observe whilst the problem is happening as we cannot fix problems after the event.

If advice is given to an umpire we ask this be accepted and acted upon in the intent it was expressed – to improve the netball experience for our players.

We ask all umpires to wear the umpire jackets suppled to make them easily identifiable to players and supporters alike. Umpires can pick these up and return to the control tables. All Team Umpires are to wear the yellow jackets and the Kidzplay Netball Pool Umpires are to wear the white jackets.

THE RULES OF NETBALL

In December 2023 World Netball (WN) launched the Rules of Netball 2024 Edition, along with free educational rules resources. The new rules came into play on 1 January 2024.

The rules changes focus specifically on player safety and game management along with clarification and streamlining of existing rules such as contact and advantage. The layout of the Rules has also been updated to simplify and encourage use by all of the Netball Family, not just umpires.

You can download the Rules of Netball App for free via Apple or Google Play Stores. 

The Rules remain at all times the property of World Netball and copies of the Rules downloaded here are strictly not for sale or re-print. 

Netball Rule Changes (as of 1 January 2024)

To ensure that all members of the Netball Family are educated on the new rules of netball, World Netball has created educational resources detailing these changes.

Click the below rules changes to view the PDF explainers. 

• Goal After Whistle 
• Centre Pass Checks 
• Toss Up Removal 
• Short Pass
• Contact 
• Playing the Ball
• Throw-in
• Advantage 
• Player Safety 
• Foul Play
• Tactical Changes 
• Game Management 

International Netball Rules App

With this application you can review the rules, match guidelines and umpire hand signals along with the latest rules’ updates and clarifications. The application features a mixture of text and images to develop your knowledge and skills which will be extended to include examples and animations to build understanding of how the Rules should be applied during a game.

Download for iOS (App Store)
Downlowad for Android (Google Play)

SOME BASIC RULES OF THE GAME 
Umpires

Two umpires have control of the game and make the on-court decisions about the run of play.

Starting play

Play is started with a pass from the centre circle – this is called the centre pass. There is a centre pass at the beginning of each quarter and half, and after each goal is scored. The teams take turns making the centre pass. The person making the centre pass must stand in the centre circle. The opposing centre can stand anywhere in the centre third but all other players must stay in the goal thirds until the umpire blows the whistle to start play. The centre pass has to be received in the centre third.

Footwork 

Once a player has landed with the ball, the first landed foot is called the grounded foot and must either stay on the ground or in the air until the ball is passed on. Re-grounding that same foot a second time while still in possession of the ball is a step which will result in a free pass to the opposition. Similarly, a hop, slide or drag of the grounded foot is not permitted.

Over A Third

The ball must be caught or touched in each third of the court by any player who is standing in the correct third and/or any player who lands in the correct third after catching the ball in the air.

Held Ball

Once the ball has been caught, the player must pass it or shoot for goal within three seconds.

Throw in

When the ball goes out of court, the umpire takes note of which team touched it last. The throw in is then taken by a player from the opposing team close to where the ball went out of court. Standing close to the line from the outside of court, the player has three seconds to get the ball back in play.

Offside

Each player is allowed in only a certain area of the court. If a player steps into an area or any part of their body touches the ground in an area their playing position is not allowed to go, will be ruled offside.

Short Pass

There must be room on the court for an opposing player to be able to intercept the ball as it moves from the hands of the thrower to the hands of the receiver (this distance is not measured on the ground).

Obstruction

When a player is defending another player or trying to intercept the ball they must be at least 0.9 metres away from the grounded foot of the player who has the ball.

Contact

A player is not allowed to physically contact an opponent if it disrupts or stops that person from playing. Pushing the ball out of an opponent’s hands is also not permitted.

Sanctions

For contact, obstruction or moving the goalpost penalties, the offending player must stand beside or away from the thrower and where the umpire has indicated. A goal shooter or goal attack taking the penalty pass or shot in the goal circle can either pass the ball or shoot for goal.

Out of Court

The ball is out of court when:

• It touches the ground outside the court.
• It touches any person or object in contact with the ground outside the court. [Note: a player may have their foot on a line and it is not out of court]. 

Resources

• Starting Out Umpiring
• A World Class Umpire 
• International Rules if Netball App:
  • Download for iOS (App Store)
  • Downlowad for Android (Google Play)

Whistles

All umpires must have a good quality whistle.  We recommend the hand held whistles and these can be purchased from the Control Desk at Courts A – F on Saturdays at $15.00 each.

International Rule Book

The Rule Book is now availble on a free app from the App and Google Play stores: 

iOS 
Android 

Our aim is to allow players to develop from novice to skilled players in a fun and friendly environment. To assist this aim we ask umpires to apply the following variations to the normal netball rules.

A compulsory meeting will be held for all Team Umpires*, where we will outline our programme, rules, and the expectations Kidzplay Netball has for umpires.

Important Information:

• This meeting is mandatory for all Team Umpires.
• Team Umpires refers to all umpires allocated to a team by a school.
• Umpires must be over the age of 11 years (Year 6) and have completed a recognised 7-a-side umpire course.
• Coaches are also very welcome to attend, as it can be helpful in understanding the rules and expectations of umpires.

Details:

• When: Thursday, 30th April 2026
• Time: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm (Check-in at 6:45 pm)
• Venue: Pinehurst School Arena (building next to the gym, just off the entrance driveway – view map here), 75 Bush Road, Albany
• Register: Please click the button below to register. Registration is essential so we can provide handouts. (Registrations will open in Term 1, towards the end of February.)
• Cost: Free

​​​​​​​*Team Umpires = All umpires allocated to a team by a school.