See a breakdown of rules for each of our sports.
All rules are as per the FIBA 2024 Official Basketball Rules, with minor amendments intended to enhance the playing experience at Cockburn ARC. Please consult the Sports Management Team for specific rule clarification.
All participants play at their own risk.
Games consist of two eighteen-minute halves, with a one-minute half-time break and a two-minute changeover period.
Game start times are: 6:00pm, 6:40pm, 7:20pm, 8:00pm, 8:40pm, 9:20pm.
All registered teams are expected to be available to play at these times.
Rule Clarification
- One time-out per half, no timeouts in the last 3 minutes of the game. The clock continues running during a timeout.
- Participants may not wear jewellery, watches, pins, or other dangerous/sharp items. Fingernails may be short taped, cut or gloved at the discretion of the umpires/referees. Tape is not provided by The Cockburn ARC, and it is the responsibility of the player to ensure that they comply with the above.
- To qualify for finals, individual players must have played at least 4 games within a regular season.
- All players are required to present conforming uniforms with the same colour & shade.
- All players must display a unique number on the back of their jerseys i.e., all players must always display different numbers. Numbered bibs are acceptable.
- Technical fouls and ejections can be applied by officials for both breaches in FIBA rules and Cockburn ARC By-Laws. Technical fouls and ejections from the game is at the judgement of the officials. Ejections from the centre is at the judgement of management.
- A minimum of 4 players are required to start the game.
- All players must be 16 years or older to play in the competitions.
Mixed Basketball Rule Clarification:
- No more than three players from either gender on court at any one time.
- A male cannot block a female inside the keyway, only outside the keyway. If a female is blocked inside the keyway, it will result in goal tending.
- A male cannot steal the ball directly from a female, only through an interception.
Fouls and Violations
- Personal fouls – these include any type of illegal physical contact such as hitting, pushing, slapping, holding, or an illegal pick/screen – when an offensive player sticks out a limb and makes physical contact with a defender in an attempt to block the path of the defender.
- Inbounds – if fouled while not shooting, the ball is given to the team the foul was committed upon. They take the ball at the nearest side or baseline, out of bounds, and have five seconds to pass the ball onto the court.
- Charging – an offensive foul that is committed when a player pushes or runs over a defensive player. The ball is given to the team that the foul was committed upon.
- Blocking – illegal personal contact resulting from a defender not establishing position in time to prevent an opponent's drive to the basket.
- Disqualifying foul – A Disqualifying foul is any flagrant, unsportsmanlike action by players, substitutes, head coaches, assistant coaches, excluded players and accompanying delegation members.
- Unsportsmanlike foul – Contact with an opponent not legitimately attempting to directly play on the ball within the spirit of and intent of the rules.
- Technical foul – can go to a player or a coach and is about the 'manners' of the game. Foul language, obscenity, obscene gestures, and even arguing can be considered a technical foul, as can technical details regarding filling in the scoresheet improperly.
- Walking/travelling – taking more than 'a step and a half' without dribbling the ball is travelling. Moving your pivot foot once you've stopped dribbling is travelling.
- Double dribble – dribbling the ball with both hands on the ball at the same time or picking up the dribble and then dribbling again is a double dribble.
- Jump ball – two or more opposing players will gain possession of the ball at the same time. In order to avoid a prolonged and/or violent tussle, the referee stops the action and a jump ball will take place.
- Goaltending – if a defensive player interferes with a shot while it's on the way down toward the basket, while it's on the way up toward the basket after having touched the backboard, or while it's in the cylinder above the rim it is considered goaltending and the shot will count. If the above is committed by an offensive player, it is also a violation and the ball is awarded to the opposing team for a throw-in.
- Backcourt violation – once the offense has brought the ball across the mid-court line, they cannot go back across the line during possession. If they do, the ball is awarded to the other team to pass inbounds. A player must be established in the front court before catching the ball from across the mid court line.
- Key violation – offensive or attacking players are allowed to remain for a maximum of three seconds in the key, after which they must move out of the key or an attempted shot at the basket is taken.
All rules are as per the FIFA – Futsal Laws of the Game 2021/22, with minor amendments intended to enhance the playing experience at Cockburn ARC. Please consult the Sports Management Team for specific rule clarification.
All participants play at their own risk.
Games consist of two eighteen-minute halves, with a one-minute half-time break and a two-minute changeover period.
Game start times are: 6:00pm, 6:40pm, 7:20pm, 8:00pm, 8:40pm, 9:20pm.
All registered teams are expected to be available to play at these times.
Rule Clarification
- Participants may not wear jewellery, watches, pins, or other dangerous/sharp items. Fingernails may be short taped, cut or gloved at the discretion of the umpires/referees. Tape is not provided by The Cockburn ARC, and it is the responsibility of the player to ensure that they comply with the above.
- To qualify for finals, individual players must have played at least 4 games within a regular season.
- A minimum of 4 players are required to start the game.
- All players are required to present conforming uniforms with the same colour & shade.
- All players must display a unique number on the back of their jerseys i.e., all players must always display different numbers. Numbered bibs are acceptable. The goalkeeper may wear a differing colour to their team, although this is only accepted for the primary goalkeeper.
- Players strictly cannot slide at any time, apart from the nominated goalkeeper in their penalty area. However, goalkeepers will be penalised if they slide in an unsafe or reckless manner or use excessive force (irrespective of whether they reach the ball first).
- Players must stand 3m away from the sideline for sideline kick in.
- A player on the ground cannot play the ball, whether deliberately or not, except for the goalkeeper who can only do so within the goal ‘D’.
- A player cannot charge an opponent with their shoulder.
- If a player receives a yellow card, they must leave the court for two minutes, a replacement by substitution may take the court immediately.
- Open League: There are no caps on gender, an open league is a league for all!
- All players must be 16 years or older to play in the competitions.
Substitutions
- Unlimited ‘rolling’ substitutes are permitted for players, besides the goalkeeper.
- Referees should be informed when goalkeeper swaps occur – no rolling goalkeeper swaps are allowed. If a team fails to inform a referee of a goalkeeper change, they risk being penalised.
- Players can re-enter the game as many times without notifying the referee, as long as this doesn't interfere with play. If the substitution does interfere with play the team risks being penalised, at the discretion of the referee.
- Substitutions should be at the same area of the court and in the team’s defensive half.
- The player being replaced must be completely off the court before the replacement enters the court.
- All rules are as per the official World Netball (WN) – Rules of Netball 2024 Edition, with minor amendments intended to enhance the playing experience at Cockburn ARC. Please consult the Sports Management Team for specific rule clarification.
- All participants play at their own risk.
- Teams are responsible for organising their own bibs with positions front and back.
- Games consist of two eighteen-minute halves, with a one-minute half-time break and a two-minute changeover period.
- Game start times are: 6:00pm, 6:40pm, 7:20pm, 8:00pm, 8:40pm, 9:20pm. Morning netball includes 9.20am and 11:20am games.
- All registered teams are expected to be available to play at these times.
Rule Clarification:
World Netball (WN) – Rules of Netball 2024 Edition applies unless stated otherwise or conflicted in the Cockburn ARC By-Laws.
Participants may not wear jewellery, watches, pins, or other dangerous/sharp items. Fingernails may be short taped, cut or gloved at the discretion of the umpires/referees. Tape is not provided by The Cockburn ARC, and it is the responsibility of the player to ensure that they comply with the above.
- To qualify for finals, individual players must have played at least 4 games within a regular season.
- All players must be in same colour uniform shirts (under bibs) and bibs are to be the same colour.
- Teams are required to provide their own bibs; umpires will only provide this in the event of a clash.
- All players must be 16 years or older to play in the competitions.
- A minimum of 5 players are required to start the game.
- Out of court – the ball or player must be in contact with the area outside/over the line to be considered ‘out of court’. On the line is NOT out.
- Tactical Change – Players can request a ‘tactical change’ immediately after a goal has been scored and at a stoppage for injury, illness, or blood ONLY.
- Can only be made immediately after a goal has been scored.
- Must be requested to the umpire/s and made without delay.
- Unlimited number of tactical changes and substitutions permitted.
- Players may switch with another player on the court, or from their bench.
- Both the requesting and opposing teams may make simultaneous changes.
- Umpires reserve the right to refuse any tactical changes should the number of changes become overly disruptive to play.
- Teams will be penalised should the umpire decide play is being delayed.
**No tactical changes/substitutions to occur in the final 3 minutes until full-time**
Mixed Netball Rule Clarification:
- A minimum of one male to always be on court.
- There must be no more than three males on the court at any one time.
- One male per transverse line at a centre pass.
- No more than one male in each playing block at a centre pass - Shooting (GS, GA), Mid-Court (WA, C, WD) and Defence (GD, GK). If 3 males are playing, there should be only one in each playing block.
| No # Males | Acceptable Together | NOT Acceptable Together |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Any position | Any position |
| 2 | One male per transverse line at a centre pass. |
|
| 3 | GS, WA, GD GS, WA, GK GS, C, GD, GA, C, GD GS, C, GK, GA, C,GK | More than one male in a playing block or per transverse line at a centre pass. |
Morning Netball Specific
Morning netball will run under the same set up as our standard evening netball games. Games are played 7 aside, with grading and finals.
All rules are as per the Official Volleyball Rules 2021-24, with minor amendments intended to enhance the playing experience at Cockburn ARC. Please consult the Sports Management Team for specific rule clarification.
All participants play at their own risk.
Games consist of two eighteen-minute halves, with a one-minute half-time break and a two-minute changeover period.
Game start times are: 6:00pm, 6:40pm, 7:20pm, 8:00pm, 8:40pm, 9:20pm. All registered teams are expected to be available to play at these times.
Rule Clarification
- Participants may not wear jewellery, watches, pins, or other dangerous/sharp items. Fingernails may be short taped, cut or gloved at the discretion of the umpires/referees. Tape is not provided by The Cockburn ARC, and it is the responsibility of the player to ensure that they comply with the above.
- To qualify for finals, individual players must have played at least 4 games within a regular season.
- All players are required to present conforming uniforms with the same colour & shade.
- Open League: There are no caps on gender, an open league is a league for all!
- A minimum of 4 players are required to start the game.
- All players must be 16 years or older to play in the competitions.
Gameplay Regulations
All FIVB rules apply unless stated otherwise in the Cockburn ARC By-Laws.
1. Gameplay Length
- All games comprise of three sets played in 40-minute period; when time expires and the rally is continuing, play will continue until the point is considered “dead”.
- The first 2 sets are played to 25 points, with the third set played to 15 points in the event the first 2 sets are drawn.
A third set will be played under the following conditions:
- More than 5mins game time remaining
Less then 5mins game time remaining & the scores are tied
- In the event that a third set commences but is unable to be finished; the winner of the set shall be deemed as the team with the highest score at the end of the 38th minute, regardless of set score differential between teams.
2. Team Management
- All players must be sixteen years or older to participate.
- The maximum number of players on court per team at any given time is six (6)
- The minimum number of players on court without forfeiting is four (4), as per Cockburn ARC By-Laws.
- Players may make a substitution at the end of a point only, and the referee must be made aware of it.
- The nominated team captain may ask for rule clarification when the point is considered over.
3. General Rules
- Points will be scored using the rally system, in that if a team wins the rally, regardless of the serving team, they win the point and will continue to serve until they have lost the point.
- A team must be two (2) points ahead to win the set. Unless time has elapsed, an additional point will be played to determine the winner.
- If neither team has reached a minimum of eight (8) points in any given set when time runs out, the set shall be deemed incomplete.
- If a team has reached a minimum of eight (8) points and is ahead in points by at least two (2) points by the end of the game, then they will have won the game.
4. Game Management Procedure - Misconduct and Sanctions
This is classified into three categories as per the Cockburn ARC by-laws (modified from FIVB Official Rules of the Game):
- Unsporting conduct.
- Abusive language.
- Undue rough play/resisting/striking/attempted striking.
- Sanction Scale: warning, “sending off”, or ejection (as per Cockburn ARC by-laws wording)
- Warning: the first instance of unsporting conduct will result in a yellow card, a loss of the point and the service awarded to the opposing team.
- Expulsion or “sending off”: the second instance of unsporting conduct will result in a red card, and the player shall not play for the remainder of the set.
- Ejection: the third instance of unsporting conduct or abusive language and/or undue rough play or physical aggression will result in a red and yellow card held together, and the player must be substituted off the court, and leave the centre immediately for the rest of the match, as per Cockburn ARC by-laws.
- In the event a team has less than the maximum number of players required to continue gameplay after a player has been ejected, they will be required to complete the game with a minimum of five (5) players to avoid a forfeit.
- In extenuating circumstances, the referee or sports management may call off the game according to the Cockburn ARC by-laws.
The moment you set foot in Cockburn ARC Sports Stadium, you have become a custodian of our sporting community. Players and spectators must understand that they are just as responsible for creating a positive and inclusive environment as administrators and referees.
Anti-social and aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated by your teammates, opposition players, spectators, officials and competition organisers alike. Individuals who fail to acknowledge their responsibility in maintaining a social environment will be making participation less enjoyable for all and risk their and/or their teams ongoing involvement with all Cockburn ARC facilities and programs.
Any on or off-court incidents deemed to be anti-social will be dealt with accordingly and at the discretion of the Sports Management Team and/or an authorised representative of the Cockburn ARC. This may include ejection from the playing arena, short- and long-term suspensions, and if necessary, permanent banning from the Cockburn ARC for the offending individuals and/or teams.
At Cockburn ARC, the focus will be seeing games go ahead so that all teams can enjoy the consistency of knowing they have an opposition to play each week. This will occasionally result in cross-division fixtures, scheduled byes being substituted for fixtured games or teams being asked to play twice in an evening. The allocating of competition points in such cases will be managed by the Team Sports Coordinator.
Fostering a social environment where everyone can feel welcome to participate is an integral aspect of our competition. Players from any team during the regular season (regardless of division) are welcome to fill-in for any other side. However, this is only permissible when a team is short of regular players.
Please respect the spirit of the game – attempting to headhunt players to achieve results won’t get your team anywhere in the long run. All players and substitutes must be at least registered within the Spawtz online portal to participate. If teams are utilising regular substitutes throughout the course of the season, we would suggest they be registered as a player of the team, allowing us to easily ascertain their eligibility for finals.
Players are welcome to feature in multiple sides during the regular season (including within the same division). However, if a player qualifies for finals for two sides in the same division, he or she may only represent one team during the entire finals' series (semi-finals and grand finals).
Officials and the Sports Management Team reserve the right to deny a player from playing within, or ‘filling in’, for another team. In other cases, a non-regular player may also be told that they can only play on a wing for that game. Such decisions will be based on a perception of fairness for the opposition team and will be a judgement call made the Sports Management Team.