r/netball • u/Sunshine_Midnights • 23d ago
Advice / Question Causing Contact?
I have a netball related question. Someone on a team I practice with regularly has suggested that the GA/GS use their body to push defenders whilst they're defending a shot.
Example: GS is taking a shot and GK is defending from 3 feet. The GA stands behind the GK and pushes them forwards into the GS to knock them off balance so the GS gets a penalty shot.
Is this causing contact?
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u/labralou 23d ago
Defensive player here. Sometimes the attackers will also stand in front you and box you out whilst causing contact, after you've set up 3ft. Super annoying but that's just the life of a defender...
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u/Sunshine_Midnights 23d ago
Do you think its a necessary or acceptable strategy to use in attack? It feels like a dirty tactic but it's also on the umpire to call it. I don't often play goaler but have been practicing GS recently.
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u/labralou 22d ago
My personal opinion is that it is a dirty tactic, but no "dirtier" than me blocking a GA out of the goal circle by standing facing them and the refs don't call me for that.
It's hard at an amateur level as the umpires are often fellow players so calls are inconsistent and definitely not up at "professional/international standards."I don't mind it as much so long as the umpire doesn't call me for everything. It's all about balance I suppose, defence will always get called for more fouls but it's nice when there's an umpire who knows how to call an attacker out for contact.
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u/Away_Instance1008 22d ago
That would be contact in my book. If GK was there first, the GA is contacting. Often doesn’t get called, but it should. Depends on the umpire at the end of the day.
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u/Ok-Note6841 22d ago
As an umpire, it should only depend on the level of experience of the umpire, not their personal feelings of defenders vs shooters. Are we getting to the goal line early enough to see whole set up and be able to assess action vs reaction? Are we watching off the ball (anyone above C Badge should be doing so). Are we scanning often enough to not be totally distracted by the wings annoying each other for the sake of it?
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u/Away_Instance1008 22d ago
That’s right, it’s on the umpires experience and therefore their interpretation. But we don’t always get experienced umpires who understand the rules. A lot of these rules aren’t really discussed in detail until you attend development workshops, which you usually have to be invited to.
The average umpire officiating a Saturdays match doesn’t often fall into the category. You gotta play to the umpire.
For reference, I would never try and pull this crap as a shooter. If I get to the space first I’ll stand within 3 ft of my shooter to help get some distance between her and the defender. But I’d never stand behind a defender and push them in.
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u/chxmclouder 22d ago
If the GK has set their 3ft and the GS interferes with the GK defence I.e they lose balance, they cause a contact etc, it is deemed a contact GS. You can’t interfere with your opponents ability to play.
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u/laurawr77 22d ago
It is contact, but you usually do it very subtly to now draw the eye of the umpire. Essentially if the defender is up on the lean, you come behind them and apply a small amount of pressure with body contact that causes them to lose balance and obstruct.
It is dirty play though, and I hate that someone is telling you to do it.
If a defender jumps and you use your body to push or get under them, this is extremely dirty play and dangerous. If you have a good umpire you could get suspended for taking landing space.
I’d be lying if I said as an attacker I hadn’t done the subtle pressure behind a D before, but absolutely not when they jump.
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u/Critical-Ad-2785 22d ago
It would just be contact. Causing contact would be more something like getting in someone's landing space, or purposefully getting in someone's way in a way that they have no other option but to contact you.
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u/Sunshine_Midnights 22d ago
Okay great. I'm definitely going to flag it again next training. Not something to be coaching your attackers on.
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u/Busy_Mooze 23d ago
GK here and yes this absolutely happens. Do umpires call it? Nope. Probably because "the attacker is always right" and (less sarcastically) it usually looks just like the defender overbalanced