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

Rules and Regulations

These rules apply to all participating schools, players, coaches, officials, spectators and other representatives involved in the Sisters n Sport National Cup competitions. They are intended to support fair competition, player welfare, safeguarding, data protection compliance and the effective administration of fixtures.

Registration and Payment of Entry
All registrations must be completed online via the Sisters n Sport website. Payment must be made online or by invoice no later than 31 August 2026. 


Any outstanding payments from previous years must be settled before the competition starts in September 2026.

Sisters n Sport reserves the right to refuse, suspend or withdraw entry where payment is overdue, registration information is incomplete or inaccurate, or a school has failed to comply with these Rules and Regulations.

Age Eligibility of Players
Players must be girls 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.provided they meet the school and competition eligibility requirements.
• 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. The new school must notify Sisters n Sport before the player takes part.
• Where a pupil is placed a year below her chronological age group at school, she may play with her school peers only where Sisters n Sport has approved an exemption in advance.
• During Final Four teachers/coaches should carry proof of age for all players.

Players may only play in one age group and one competition. during the competition season, unless Sisters n Sport has confirmed otherwise in writing. 
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. Schools must ensure that players are not moved between teams in a way that creates an unfair sporting advantage.

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, unless Sisters n Sport determines otherwise in exceptional circumstances.

To qualify for the Plate, Bowl and Vase competitions - you must play the R1 match.  If you forfeit the game you are not able to move into the Plate, Bowl and Vase competitions 

The team highlighted in bold will have the home advantage.

Final Four
The national semi-finals, final and third/fourth place play-off will be played at a central venue in March, with the date and venue to be confirmed. Sisters n Sport will provide officials for the day. Matches may be streamed or recorded by Sisters n Sport and may stream matches via its official social media channels.

Schools qualifying for the finals will be required to pay an additional £75 registration fee after qualification. By participating, schools must ensure they have appropriate permissions for players to be photographed, filmed or streamed where applicable.

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:

• The home team must provide the away team with at least three reasonable match dates within 72 hours of the fixture being released. Proposed times should take account of the away school’s travel requirements.
• 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)
• If teams cannot agree a date within seven days of the fixture being released, both teams must notify Sisters n Sport during that seven-day period and provide evidence of the dates offered.
• 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 31st 2026

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

Teams that do not complete matches by the stipulated deadline may be disqualified from the competition, unless an extension has been agreed in writing by Sisters n Sport.

Deadline Extensions

The aim of the competitions is for as many girls as possible to take the court. Sisters n Sport recognises that school calendars can be busy, particularly around holidays and exams. Any request for an extension must be made as early as possible, before the relevant deadline, and must explain the reason for the request. Extensions are not automatic and will only apply where Sisters n Sport confirms approval in writing.

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

Matches 
Matches must be played indoors and in accordance with the current England Netball rules, unless both teams agree to play outside or Sisters n Sport has confirmed a specific competition variation in writing.

Rules
All matches must be played in accordance with the current England Netball rules and any additional Sisters n Sport competition rules published for the season. Where there is any inconsistency, the Sisters n Sport competition rules will apply to the administration of this competition.

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, unless the competition rules expressly permit otherwise.

For the Trophy/Vase competition - we will allow 'Working towards' umpires - they must be agreed by both teams.

Sisters n Sport will be sending more information regarding how to find umpires in September.

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 must be directed to Sisters n Sport. Complaints will be handled fairly, consistently and as quickly as reasonably practicable. Sisters n Sport may request evidence, statements or additional information before reaching a decision.

Where a complaint relates to the playing of a match, scoring or the result, the relevant squad member, coach or team official must take the following steps:

• Inform their opponents coach and the umpires of their complaint
• Where appropriate and only with agreement from both teams, film the remainder of the match so that footage can be reviewed after the match. Any filming must comply with safeguarding, consent and data protection requirements.
• Mark the Score sent into SnS as “Under Protest”
• Submit a written explanation of the issue, together with the score sheet and any supporting evidence, electronically 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 aim to make a decision within seven days of receiving the required information.
• 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. 

Details - Steps to Play under Protest

1. Inform the Opposition and Umpires: At the time of the issue, clearly inform the opposing team's coach and the match umpires about your intent to play under protest.
2. Mark the Score: Indicate on the score sheet that the match was played "Under Protest".
3. Film the Match (If Possible): If both teams agree, film the remainder of the match to provide evidence for the review.
4. Submit a Written Report: Send a detailed written explanation of the grievance to the Competition Referees within 48 hours of the match. This report should include:
   • Fixture details.
   • The specific details of the complaint.
   • The name and signature of the team captain who raised the protest.
   • Any response from the opposing team to the grievance.
5. Await the decision: the Competition Referees will review the information and determine the outcome, which may include confirming the result, replaying the match or taking any other action considered appropriate.

Bench Management
During play, team officials and bench players must remain at the team bench, except where bench players leave for a valid reason such as warming up, receiving treatment or preparing to enter the court.

(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 are responsible for the conduct, behaviour and actions of their players, coaches, officials, staff, volunteers and spectators. Schools must take reasonable steps to promote a safe, respectful and inclusive environment.

Sharing of Data for Fixtures
By entering the Sisters n Sport National Cup competitions, participating schools acknowledge that relevant contact details may need to be shared with other participating schools for the purpose of organising and administering fixtures. This may include the name, email address and contact number of the school’s nominated contact.

Contact details must only be used for competition-related purposes and must not be shared more widely. Schools must ensure that their nominated contacts are aware that their details may be shared for this purpose.

Any concerns should be raised with Sisters n Sport at snsnationalcup@sistersnsport.com.

Publicity, Photography, Filming and Streaming
Competing schools must use the proper competition name, “Sisters n Sport National Cup”, or #sistersnsportcup when posting about the competition on social media. Scores and photographs may be shared with @sistersnsport, but schools must ensure that any images, videos or livestreams involving pupils are taken, used and shared in accordance with safeguarding requirements, school policies, consent arrangements and applicable data protection legislation.

Schools must not publish personal information about pupils alongside images unless appropriate consent and safeguarding checks are in place.

Safeguarding and Welfare

All participating schools are responsible for the safeguarding and welfare of their pupils and must comply with applicable safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, school policies and relevant sport-specific guidance. Schools must ensure that staff, coaches, volunteers and any accompanying adults are appropriately authorised, supervised and suitable for their role. Any safeguarding concern arising before, during or after a fixture must be dealt with immediately in accordance with the school’s safeguarding procedures and, where relevant to the competition, reported to Sisters n Sport as soon as practicable.

Control and Organiser Discretion
Decisions regarding any point of contention will be made by Sisters n Sport. Sisters n Sport reserves the right to interpret these rules, deal with any matters not specifically provided for, and take any action it considers appropriate to protect the integrity, safety and effective administration of the competition. Sisters n Sport may amend or supplement these rules where reasonably required, including to reflect changes in legislation, governing body guidance or competition administration.

Participating schools remain responsible for the safety, supervision and welfare of their pupils and representatives. Sisters n Sport is not responsible for injury, loss or damage experienced during the competition.