Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) is in a race against time to start using new rules which came into effect on January 1 this year.
According to World Netball (WN), the rules will be used at all international tournaments, beginning with this year, but member associations have been given up to September to implement the changes.
“We have kicked off the new year with an eye-catching social media campaign to celebrate the launch of the Rules of Netball 2024 Edition! Amongst the most talked about changes, toss-ups are no longer, the short pass rule has been updated and there is now an easy way to make substitutions during quarters.
“The rules will be in play for all international matches from January 1 2024. Our member countries may plan their domestic competition implementation date up to September 1 2024,” the statement from netball. sport reads.
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The announcement means the Malawi National Netball Team should be ready to sample the changes when the team takes part in Test Series against South Africa later this month.
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Nam General Secretary Isaac Chimwala said the rules would be implemented later this month.
“We have up to September but we will begin to use them [rules] this coming season. We will begin to use them this season in all the regional, district and national leagues and competitions,” Chimwala said without specifying the actual time frame.
However, National Umpires Committee (Nuc) Vice Chairperson Whyte Mulilima said the committee has asked for a stakeholders’ workshop to understand the changes before implementing them.
“We know about the changes but we, as stakeholders, have to meet to sensitise each other to issues related to the new rules. The successful implementation of the updated rules will depend on the outcome of the stakeholders’ meeting.
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“However, it is important that we should start using the updated rules as soon as possible so that our players should not struggle at international level,” Mulilima said.
“Among the changes, the toss up has been removed. A toss up was previously used if an infringement occurred simultaneously.
However, due to improved umpire education and training, the use of toss ups has become much less frequent and umpires are, instead, correctly penalising the infringement that occurred first,” netball.com. au reports.
The publication also indicated that World Netball has made changes and clarifications to rules regarding player safety to ensure injury incidents – particularly head and neck injuries and suspected concussions – are taken seriously by players, coaches and umpires.
“The new rule clarifies that as well as umpires holding time for injury or illness following a verifiable request by an on-court player, they may also hold time without a request being made if there is an obvious or serious injury which would include an injury to the head or neck and/or suspected concussion.
“The player safety adjustments also include an amendment to the blood rule, stating that players with dried blood on them are no longer required to be substituted, and are now permitted to clean up quickly and continue playing,” the site reports.
