Netball is an outdoor winter sport that is played in the rain and snow. It is not permitted to be played in any lightning or hail.

Weather changes in Melbourne have changed so dramatically over the last five years, that we are able to play outdoors without much wet weather at all during a match..

Melbourne Netball has a set procedure that each venue co-ordinator follows, once at the venue. Even when it may rain all day long, we DO NOT cancel a night of netball.

The venue co-ordinator will call the captain of a time slot, in the event that they believe the game needs to be cancelled. This refers to a particular time slot only and NEVER the remaining night.

Please make note of the following information :

Even when it can rain all day long (which is rare but can happen), you would be surprised at how the rain does most times, stop around 7pm at night. It may appear visually bleak during the day, but don't let that hinder your netball enthusiasm.

In the last playing year, across 48 weeks, with netball games being played across 3 venues and 4 nights, we have not cancelled an entire night. We have cancelled two games slots in two separate venues on the same night. This will give you some indication of why our wet weather procedure sits in the structure designed. You will play a game.

If a team fails to arrive at their venue, assuming due to rain that there is no game, a FORFEIT fine is incurred.

We encourage players to consider wearing long pants and sleeves in colder weather.

 Dry Weather

Netball is superb to play in the summer seasons. It can however,be a challenge due to rising heat temperatures that have changed in Melbourne.

Currently we apply special conditions to the game structure. Each game quarter is cut to 8 minutes each. The additional one minute is immediately used at the end of each quater, by ALL players to re-hydrate with fluids that they must bring with them to their game. Game Umpires need to witness this from all players in all teams each game.

Games ARE NOT cancelled.

We are currently consulting varies netball bodies about this issue to ensure that health issues are considered effectively.

If alteration are required, an announcement to a new procedure will be announced by the end of September 2008 before the heat may increase.

NO hats or sunvisors are permitted or covered by insurance. This is due to the rim of a hat being able to protrude into a player's eyes and cause extensive damage.

No singlets are ever permitted to be worn in a netball game and is not covered by insurance. This is due to the possibility of a hand sliding through a shoulder opening of the singlet, and pull a player to the ground and cause a player extensive injuries.

Sunglasses ARE permitted to be worn