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 5: Technical and event officials

While umpires are not responsible for scoring or timing, it's important to understand the roles of technical and event officials—particularly as you move into higher-level matches where collaboration becomes more structured and critical.

Higher-Level Games - Technical Officials

Scorers

Scorers are primarily responsible for maintaining an accurate match score. At higher-level games, their responsibilities expand to include:

Administrative Duties
  • Recording player and team official names, as well as tracking playing positions
  • Logging shots attempted by each team
Centre Pass Management
  • Tracking centre passes and calling the correct centre pass if appealed to by an umpire
  • Signalling the centre pass direction after a stoppage
  • Notifying umpires if an incorrect centre pass is indicated (they should also do this at local level games)
Umpire Tip: Always confirm the centre pass direction with the scorers at the end of each quarter—even when neutral scorers are not appointed.
Score Discrepancies

Disputes between scorers (especially at local levels) do occasionally occur. As umpires, your ability to resolve these is limited. Aside from confirming centre pass direction (which can help with score discrepancies of one goal using odds/evens), leave the discussion to the teams and advise them to escalate the issue to the league/competition organiser if necessary.

Encourage scorers to sit together and confirm each goal as it is scored to reduce the risk of errors.

Important: Only the official scorers' records are relevant—ignore input from other team officials or spectators who may tell you what they had as 'the score'.

Timekeepers

Timekeepers are responsible for accurately timing each quarter and any stoppages.

Quarter Start Alerts

At higher levels, they will alert you at 30 and 10 seconds before the start of play.

At local levels, you may need to time this yourself.

Suspension Timing

Responsible for timing the 2-minute or 4-minute periods for suspensions and ordering offs.

At local level, you may need to explain the process to them during the match if needed.

Quarter End Communication

Before the match, it's important to agree on how the timekeepers will inform you of the end of each quarter. Some umpires prefer a countdown; others prefer to just be told as the quarter ends. Clarify this in advance to avoid confusion.

When Holding Time
  • Turn to face the timekeepers
  • Give a clear hand signal and a long whistle to ensure this is seen

Event Organiser

This role is typically only present at higher-level games. If an event organiser is present, make sure you know who they are prior to the match.

You may need to consult them:
Competition Rules

For guidance on competition-specific rules

Emergency Situations

In the case of long stoppages due to serious injury or emergency situations, to determine how the game should proceed