17. General Rules

17.1(a) Umpires’ decisions are final. Players are not to query, debate or protest an umpire's decision. A player may approach an umpire with respect to a decision, but only during an interval or after the game for clarification of any ruling that the umpire may have given.

17.1(b) Breach of rule 17.1(a) will result in the player immediately being awarded an 'Advanced Penalty' as defined in the AANA rules. A player who breaches this rule more than once will, at the discretion of Melbourne Netball, be immediately removed from the game and/or the venue.

17.2 Upon the completion of a Netball game, completed score sheets provided by the umpire are to be signed by each team Captain to validate and confirm their agreement to the final scores of the game.

17.3 The umpire has complete discretion to suspend or terminate the game where he or she considers that it is in the interests of the safety of players or staff to do so. This includes weather conditions.

17.4 An umpire may make any decision not otherwise specifically authorised by the AANA Rules or these Conditions where he or she considers it to be reasonably necessary and in the interests of the game, including decisions for safety reasons, fairness or for the proper conduct and flow of the game.

17.5 In the interests of fairness, safety or the proper administration of Melbourne Netball or the games that it conducts, Melbourne Netball may at any time at its absolute discretion require players to comply with any other additional rules or requirements in addition to these By-laws as it sees fit and such further rules or requirements shall be binding on all players as if set out in these By-laws.