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WEATHER PROCEDURES

WET WEATHER

Netball is an outdoor winter sport that is played in the rain and snow. It is not permitted to be played in any ‘close proximity’ to lightning or ‘close proximity’ to hail. This is a rule in the AANA rulebook. All outdoor netball courts are designed with a one-inch water run off.

  • We keep it simple. We have a weather procedure to follow each night at all our venues. Melbourne weather can be unpredictable so we assess each venue and timeslot game by game.
  • All teams are expected to show up UNLESS Melbourne Social Netball has posted an URGENT Facebook post pinned to the top of the page.
  • Alternatively the MSN team may ring your captain or vice captain if it is decided once the night of netball has begin that a game will be cancelled.
  • Please don’t call during the day to see if games are cancelled.
  • If a team fails to arrive at their venue assuming there is no game a FORFEIT fine of $180.00 is incurred by the team.
  • We encourage players to consider wearing long pants and sleeves in colder weather or a light raincoat in the rain when they play netball.

DRY WEATHER

Melbourne Social Netball (MSN) follows the Sports Medicine Australia Guidelines. No games are played in 36 degrees or over. Unlike wet weather in Melbourne heatwaves do on occasion hit. In these instances a whole night can be cancelled. We endeavour to make this call at the earliest possible time.

  • We keep it simple. We have a dry procedure to follow each night at all our venues. Melbourne weather can be unpredictable so we assess each venue and timeslot game by game.
  • All teams are expected to show up UNLESS MSN has posted an URGENT Facebook post pinned to the top of the page.
  • Please don’t call during the day to see if games are cancelled
  • If a team fails to arrive at their venue assuming there is no game a FORFEIT fine of $180.00 is incurred by the team
  • In extremely hot weather we apply special conditions to the game structure. ALL players are offered to re-hydrate at the end of every quarter with fluids that they must bring to their game. 
  • Headbands and sunglasses ARE permitted to be worn

So how do you play in the rain?

The strategy when playing in the rain is:

Players are expected to adjust their playing speed when taking the court.

Don’t play for speed – slow down

Don’t release the ball so quickly as your team mates can’t run too fast to get the ball

Avoid bouncing the ball

Use short sharp passing style of play (no lobes)