SISTERS n SPORT National Netball Cup & Shield for Schools – Rules, Regulations & FAQ’s

Rules and Regulations

Registration and Payment of Entry
All registrations must be made online via the Sisters n Sport Website – payment can be online or via invoice by 31st August 2024.

Age Eligibility of Players
Any girl in full time education at a participating school, who falls into the correct age range:
U12 | U13 | U14 | U15 | U16 | Seniors

• All Players must play within their Age Group as at 11:59 pm on 31st August in the year of competition
• To play in the U14 age group players must be at least 11 years old.
• Players over 14 can play in any age category from U15 upwards.
• Pupils may only represent their school in one age category. 
• Should a pupil move school during the academic year she may still be eligible for her new school, even having previously represented her previous school.
• During Final Four teachers/coaches should carry proof of age for all players.

Players may only play in one age group and one competition.  
Schools which enter the Cup competition may also enter a B team into the Shield competition and a C team into the Trophy competition.
Schools which enter the Shield competition may also enter a B team into the Trophy competition.

Format & Competition Organisation
The competition shall be played on a knock-out basis with all matches to be decided on the day, with no replays.
The team highlighted PINK will have the home advantage.

Bowl Schedule will be released with the first set of fixtures post R1 of the Shield competition.

Vase Schedule will be released with the first set of fixtures post R1 of the Trophy competition.

Arrangement of Matches

It is important for schools to play the matches by the round deadlines.  Delays to the R1 and R2 matches have a big impact on the Plate, Bowl and Vase draws and future rounds.

Please follow the following procedures when arranging matches:

• Home team must provide three dates to the Away team within 72 hours of fixture being released.  When providing times please be aware of travel time etc for the away school.
• If the Home team does not receive a response within 48hrs - please resend the email and cc in Sisters n Sport (snsnationalcup@sistersnsport.com)
• If as the Away team you have not received an email from the home team within 72 hours of the fixtures being released- please email the Home team with some possible dates and cc in Sisters n Sport (snsnationalcup@sistersnsport.com)
• Teams unable to agree a date by the deadline must both inform the organiser during this 7 day period. 
• Sisters n Sport will then decide the date and start time of the match. Any decision Sisters n Sport make will be final and binding.

Teams must agree on a date and start time for the first round matches by July 22st 2024

For following rounds the match should be arranged within 7 days of the previous round being completed – see dates above. 

Deadline Extensions

Our aim through the competitions is for as many girls to take the court as possible and we understand that school calendars can be full – especially around the holidays and exams.  It is important that if an extension is needed it is AGREED by Sisters n Sport early.

Please email snsnationalcup@sistersnsport.com for permission.  Extensions must be agreed by Sisters n Sport 

Matches 
Please adhere to the EN rules and be played indoor matches. .  

TEAMS NOT COMPLETING MATCHES BY THE STIPULATED DATE MAY BE LIABLE TO DISQUALIFICATION FROM THE COMPETITION

Rules
All matches are to played in accordance with the England Netball Rules.

Timings
U12/U13 – 4 x 10 minutes, 7 a side with 3|5|3 intervals
U14/U15/U16 and U19 – 4 x 12 minutes, 7 a side with 3|5|3 intervals

In case of a draw at full time
Play will continue after the final whistle until the next goal is scored.  
The game WILL NOT restart from a CP – it will carry on from where the play is on the final whistle.
The team which scores the next goal will be the winner. 

Umpiring
Matches must be umpired by 2 neutral umpires, with a minimum C award qualification.  

Each team is responsible for supplying their own umpire, or arranging with the home team to supply both umpires if deemed more appropriate. The final responsibility however lies with both teams to provide at least one appropriate umpire.

If you need to use a qualified umpire from school then this must be agreed by both competing schools, prior to the match day. If there is a situation where one team provides a qualified umpire and the other school are using a qualified staff member, the competing school have the option of sharing the umpiring at that end, each doing half a game each.

In the quarter final stages, a B award umpires should be used.   Please note no staff members are to be used during these stages.

Sisters n Sport are in the process of compiling a list of umpires in each area and so if there is a problem with sourcing an umpire please get in touch.

Competition complaints procedure
All queries and complaints (a Complaint) should be directed to the Sisters n Sport and these will be dealt with as follows:

Where the Complaint relates to the playing of a match, the scoring, and/or its result, the relevant squad member or team official, must do the following:

• Inform their opponents coach and the umpires of their complaint
• If possible, with permissions from both teams - film the remainder of match and send in the footage to be reviewed after the match.
• Mark the Score sent into SnS as “Under Protest”
• Send a letter with the Score Sheet, electronically, to explain the issue in full to the Competition Referees
• Send the marked results and information to SnS within forty-eight (48) hours of the match
• The SnS Competition Referees will review and decide what action should be taken
• If the match cannot continue and has to be abandoned, a written report should be submitted by the umpires as soon as possible, and within 48 hours of the match, stating at what stage the match was abandoned and giving all relevant details. 
• Sisters n Sport will acknowledge receipt of the query or complaint and make a decision on the matter within seven (7) days of receipt of the query or complaint. 
• For abandoned matches, Sisters n Sport will then decide whether or not the game should be rearranged or whether the result should stand. The decision is final. We encourage matches to be completed to the final whistle under protest and only abandoned under dangerous circumstances. 

Bench Management
During play team officials and bench players must remain at the team bench, except that bench players may leave the team bench for a valid reason (such as to warm up).

(i)  During a match team officials and bench players may not:

     (a)  Criticise the umpires or their decisions

     (b)  Use offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures

     (c)  Use excessive noise or interruption

     (d)  Encourage foul play by on-court players.

(ii)  Either umpire may hold time and notify the person/s concerned regarding such behaviour. The following progression of actions will normally be used:

     (a)  Caution

     (b)  Warning

     (c)  Order the person’s removal from the playing enclosure.

(iii)  A warning may, if appropriate, be advised as applying to all team officials and bench players of the team concerned.

(iv) If there is a need for match team officials/coaches/captains to have a discussion with the umpires during the match this needs to be in an official capacity during intervals and not during play.  Any clarifications regarding rules should be with both officials and if a concern about continuing the game then the opposition coach should also be involved in the conversation.

(v) Any complaints regarding a breach of the above must be notified, in writing to Sisters n Sport within 7 days of the fixture.

(vi) All schools will be held responsible for the overall conduct (behaviour, demeanour and actions) of all members associated with the club (players, officials and spectators)

Sharing of Data for Fixtures
By entering the Sisters n Sport National Cup Competitions, we will need to share your contact details (Name, Email and Contact Number) with the other schools within the competitions for you to be able to organise fixtures.
Please let us know if there is a problem – snsnationalcup@sistersnsport.com

Publicity
Competing schools shall use the proper name of the competition ‘inspiresport Sisters n Sport National Cup’ or #inspiresportsnscup when using social media.
Please feel free to tweet us scores/photographs etc to @sistersnsport

Control
Decisions regarding any point of contention will be made by Sisters n Sport.  Sisters n Sport reserve any right to deal with any matters not specifically provided for in the Rules of Competition and to take whatever action they deem to be appropriate.

Sisters n Sport are not responsible for any injury or loss experienced during the competition.

inspiresport Sisters n Sport Netball National Cup – FAQS

Q – I can’t get in touch with another school, despite contacting them on the information given.

A – Please email snsnationalcup@sistersnsport.com to advise.

Q – How to we send in the result?

A – Email snsnationalcup@sistersnsport.com and we will update online

Q – What if we can’t get an umpire?

A – Every attempt must be made to find a qualified umpire, however, as a last resort, schools must come to an agreement whether they can use Staff or not. This is between yourselves, and Sisters n Sport will not accept any complaints or discrepancies over the result or reports of bias.
Please contact your local England Netball Development Officer to assist in finding umpires.

Q – When are the deadlines for matches?

A-  All deadlines are on the fixtures, we will send regular emails and the website will have all the information. If Teams unable to agree a date by the deadline must both inform the organiser during this 7 day period.  The SnS committee will then decide the date and start time of the match. Any decision of the SnS committee will be final and binding.