Rules & Interpretations
Home 1: Technical specifications 2: Time 3: Team 4: Match officials 5: Technical and event officials 6: Sanctions and actions 7: Advantage 8: Centre pass 9: Scoring a goal 10: Stoppages 11: Playing the ball 12: Passing distances 13: Footwork 14: Offside 15: Out of court 16: Obstruction 17: Contact 18: Game management 19: Foul play 20: Simultaneous and mutual infringements 21: Variations for other levels of play

Rule 10: Stoppages

Many of the rules and protocols for stoppages are covered on the Match Protocols page. This section covers additional detail and interpretation not already covered on that page.

Related Match Protocol Topics

For core stoppage procedures, see these sections on the Match Protocols page:

When Should Umpires Hold Time? Injury Stoppages Concussion

Stoppage Procedures

During a stoppage:
  • All players not affected by the injury or being substituted must remain on court.
  • Team officials may only enter the court with the umpire's permission to assist an injured player.
  • Umpires stay on their respective side lines.
  • Players may receive hydration/nutrition at the sideline, but must remain on court, and team officials must remain off it.
Extended Stoppages: If the stoppage becomes extended, umpires may permit players to return to the bench area (see Extended Injury Time Process on the Match Protocols page).
Restarting Play:

Play restarts from the position the ball was in when time was held—or from where play would have resumed had time not been stopped.

  • If a player had possession of the ball at the time of stoppage, any player from their team who is allowed in the area may restart play.
  • If possession is unclear, award it to the last team clearly in control.

Infringement of Stoppage Procedures

If a team breaches these procedures, they are penalised for incorrect stoppage procedures by the controlling umpire as follows:

1

Restart time with a whistle.

2

Immediately blow the whistle again to penalise the infringement.

3

Award a free pass to the opposing team where play would have restarted.

Substitutions During Stoppages

During any stoppage, both teams may make substitutions or team changes, provided they are completed within the allowed time.

Vacant Positions
General Rule: If no substitution is made for an injured player, play may resume with their position left vacant—except if the position is Centre. In this case, another player must move into the Centre position before play resumes.

The vacant position can be filled:

  • At a later stoppage or tactical change, or
  • Under the Late Player rule.
Centre Position Special Case

If the injured player was originally playing Centre, there is a slight variation to the usual Late Player rule:

Replacement Entry

The replacement player may enter directly into the Centre position

Position Return

The temporary Centre will then return to their original position (which was left vacant)

Tactical Changes

In addition to stoppages and intervals, teams may request tactical changes after a goal has been scored.

Requirements for a Valid Tactical Change
  • The request must be made immediately after the goal is scored.
  • The request must come from an on-court player (not the bench).
  • The umpire must be clear that the request is tactical, not for injury. If uncertain, the umpire may ask "What for?"
Tactical Change Hand Signal
Tactical Change Hand Signal
Processing the Request: Tactical change requests can be made to either umpire. If the request is unclear or delayed, it may be denied (e.g. "That's come too late" or "Request not clear").
If accepted:
1

The umpire holds time.

2

Gives the tactical change signal.

3

Clearly states the team requesting the change (e.g. "Tactical change, Red.").

Communication: This communication ensures the other umpire knows which team requested the change for tracking purposes.

Excessive Requests

Umpires may deny tactical changes if they become excessive (e.g. "Too many changes this quarter"). While there's no set limit, more than three in one quarter is generally considered excessive.

Umpires may also consider denying requests made very late in a quarter if there is reason to believe the intent is to disrupt the opposing team's momentum.

If a team continues to request tactical changes after being denied, they may be penalised for delaying play.

Substitutions During Tactical Changes

Both teams may make substitutions during a tactical change, regardless of which team made the request. These changes must occur without delay.

Reasonable Time: Teams may need to swap bibs or adjust player positions, and reasonable time should be allowed for this.
Managing Delays:

If changes are taking too long, the umpire should first instruct the team to "hurry up".

If delays continue—or are repeated—the team may be penalised for delaying play. This is managed as follows by the umpire controlling the centre pass:

  1. Blow the whistle to restart time.
  2. Blow the whistle again to penalise.
  3. Award a penalty pass which is advanced to the opposing team.
  4. This is a team infringement; no player stands out of play.
Decision Making: The controlling umpire for the centre pass makes the final decision on whether to penalise delaying play, but umpires may confer non-verbally to support each other in this judgment.
Penalising may be appropriate when:
  • Players are indecisive or discussing options after requesting a change.
  • Multiple swaps occur unnecessarily.
  • The team is clearly not ready when making the request.
Best Practice: Teams should be prepared to make their changes quickly and efficiently once a tactical change is requested.

Related Resources

Match Protocols Rule 3: Late Players