New rules impact instantly

WELLINGTON: New rules led to more suspensions dished out in one round of the ANZ Premiership at the weekend than across an entire typical season.

But netball officials believe it will not be long before umpires and players adjust to the new interpretations around dangerous play.

World Netball’s revised rules put a greater emphasis on player safety and effectively lower the threshold for suspending players.

The first two suspensions came in the opening game of the season between the Mystics and Magic.

Oceane Maihi was suspended for two minutes after a contact with Mystics shooter Grace Nweke, which resulted in her falling to the ground, and Mystics captain Michaela SokolichBeatson was sent to the sideline for two minutes after a heavy hit on Ali Wilshier that left her opponent on the ground.

In the next game, Stars defender Khanye’Lii MunroNonoa was suspended for dangerous play after a late challenge on Pulse centre Maddy Gordon, and Steel defender Taneisha Fifita was suspended after moving slightly into the landing space of Tactix shooter Ellie Bird.

Former top New Zealand netball umpire turned Super Rugby referee Jono Bredin is a member of World Netball’s Rules Advisory Panel, which developed the revised rules.

‘‘I guess the key thing from us here is that this is all new for the umpires as well as it is for the teams,’’ Bredin said.

Under the new rules, any play resulting in the head and/or neck area being contacted must be considered dangerous play, regardless of intent or malice.

‘‘Umpires may consider intent if they’re considering whether it will be a suspension or an ordering off, depending on the severity of the incident.’’

An umpire must suspend a player in instances of dangerous play and a player must always be ordered off for intentional or highly reckless acts of dangerous play that endanger player safety.

Bredin said the onus was on the players to not put their opponent’s safety at risk when they contest the ball. Under the new rules, coaches don’t have to return the suspended player to court at the end of the twominute stand down.

‘‘It encourages coaches to think long and hard about putting that player back on court, especially if they don’t think that their behaviour wouldn’t be able to be adjusted.

‘‘If a player had already incurred a suspension for a dangerous play, for example, and then there was another action that was deemed dangerous play, the umpire would have no choice — that would be an order off.’’

An orderedoff player has to sit out the rest of the game but the new rules now allow a team to replace that player at the end of four minutes.