Understanding the Borrowed Player Policy: A Guide for Mayfield Netball Team Members

As members of the Newcastle Netball Association, it’s crucial that we all understand the rules about borrowing players. Borrowed players help teams fill in gaps during games when there aren't enough registered players available. The goal is to ensure fair gameplay while respecting the policy. Here’s what you need to know:

How Borrowing Works

The policy allows teams to borrow players from lower graded teams within their club.

Example 1:

If the Bluejays from Senior Division 7 start with five registered players, they can borrow up to three players, perhaps calling on teammates from the Phoenix in Senior Division 8 or the Firestorm in Senior Division 9.

Example 2:

The Lasers in Senior Division 6 can borrow up to two players when starting with six registered players, again choosing from the lower divisions like Phoenix Bluejays or Firestorm.

Example 3:

With seven registered players, the Bluejays could grab one player from a lower division like Firestorm, Phoenix, or the Under 21s team, Topgun.

Borrowed players also have age restrictions.

For example:

In the Under-11s division, players must not turn more than 11 years of age during the year of play. This rule ensures players are competing at the right level for their age.

Responsibilities and Reporting

Each team is responsible for ensuring the safety and welfare of borrowed players. Since a borrowed player becomes part of your team for the day, their name must be recorded on the scoresheet at the game's start. If some of your original team members arrive later, you can't exceed the borrowing limit outlined in the examples above.

Scoresheets should accurately reflect borrowed players' names, teams, and grades, alongside their playing positions each quarter. This information is vital to ensure compliance and is reviewed by Association staff.

Ineligible Moves:

Players can't play in a grade lower than their registered one.

For example:

A player from the Lasers in Senior Division 6 can't move down to play for the Bluejays in Senior Division 7.

Limited Use:

A borrowed player may play up to three matches with the but must become a permanent team member after participating in a fourth match. Once moved, they can't be borrowed again that season.

For example:

Imagine the Phoenix in Senior Division 8 needs to borrow players to field a full team. A player from the Firestorm in Senior Division 9 can help fill the gap. According to the Limited Use rule, this player from Firestorm can participate in up to three matches in a higher grade team, such as Phoenix. However, if the same player participates in a fourth match with the Phoenix, they must then permanently become a part of the Phoenix team roster. This means they cannot return to play for Firestorm as a borrowed player for the rest of the season.

Consequences for Violations

If a team breaks these policies by fielding an ineligible player or failing to correctly document borrowed players:

The opposing team, will be awarded the win if the rules are violated by a team.

Misdocumentation risks warnings and potential penalties reaching from the Firestorm to the Lasers, and continued violations could lead to zero points for the infringing team, exclusion of their goals, and monetary fines if the policy is broken more than once.

Teams are expected to familiarise themselves with these rules, as warnings are not given for breaking them.

By adhering to this policy, we ensure fairness across all games. If there are concerns about teams not following these rules, promptly alert an official at the clubhouse.

Let's work together to ensure a terrific, fair playing experience for everyone involved. For any questions or clarifications, feel free to reach out to your team leaders or the Newcastle Netball Association officials.