The New Zealand Age Group Netball Championships - Under 19 & Under 21 (“Age Group Championships (U19 & U21)”- “NZAGC”) are owned and held by Netball New Zealand and shall be conducted in accordance with these Rules and reference to other relevant policies and procedures, which include but are not limited to; NNZ Competition Regulations, The NZAGC Event Guidelines, the International Rules of Netball and IFNA Regulations

RULES

1. The Age Group Championships will be conducted in accordance with the NNZ Competition Regulations with reference to the Policies and Procedures as contained in the NZAGC Event Guidelines and other NNZ Event Policies and Procedures.
2. Entries for the Age Group Championships shall be accepted for both the U19 and U21 grades.  Players must be under the age of 19 or 21 on the first day of January in the year of the event as this applies to the team of which the player is a member.
3. Players participating in the Age Group Championships must be members of Netball New Zealand and eligible for the Region / Centre they are representing at the Championships in accordance with NNZ Membership & Registration Regulations.
4. The Regional Entity shall be responsible to ensure that all players selected for the Region / Centre are eligible. Proof of date of birth (Birth Certificate, Passport) and/or eligibility may be requested by NNZ.
5. Netball New Zealand shall circulate all Team Registration forms to each region no less than two weeks prior to the commencement of the championships.
6. Any team found to be in breach of the NNZ Membership & Registration Regulations will forfeit the game(s), in which that player(s) participated and will lose any corresponding championship points.
7. Where Championship teams are entered from one Region the teams must be ranked with team 1 being the strongest, team 2 the second and team 3 the least etc.
8. Each team shall be under the control of a Coach and Manager or combination thereof.
9. Each team shall identify a Primary Care person on the team list – only this person will be permitted onto the court in the event of a stoppage to attend to on court player/s. Where a team does not have an identified Primary Care person the Coach or Manager may take this role. Each team shall be issued with an armband which the Primary Care person must wear in order to be permitted access to the court.
10. No team shall register more than twelve players on the Team Registration form.
11. All games shall be played in accordance with IFNA rules, unless otherwise stated in these rules and/or the Age Group Championships Policies and Procedures Manual.
12. Games will consist of -
    1. For Under 19 games; four (4) periods of ten (10) minutes with intervals of three (3) minutes between the 1st & 2nd, 2nd & 3rd, and 3rd & 4th periods.
    2. For Under 21 games; four (4) periods of fifteen (15) minutes with intervals of three (3) minutes between the 1st & 2nd and 3rd & 4th periods. The interval between the 2nd & 3rd periods will be five (5) minutes.
13. All games shall be played with netballs supplied by NNZ.
14. The umpires for all games shall be appointed by Netball New Zealand.
15. A Team Registration form and player pen portrait forms shall be submitted to Netball New Zealand no later than the date as determined by Netball New Zealand, by each team entered.
16. The Team Registration from and pen portrait forms shall detail the full name, date of birth and playing position(s) of each player, and any other information requested by Netball New Zealand.
17. Each player listed shall endorse her consent to team registration by signing the pen portrait form.
18. For the duration of the NZAGC, teams shall use only those players named on the Team Registration form.  If a player not named on this form plays in a game, the team concerned shall forfeit the game unless the replacement of a player on the registered team sheet has been approved by Netball New Zealand prior to the game concerned.
19. Once NZAGC play has commenced the list of registered players of any team may be altered only if, in the opinion of a medical practitioner, a player(s) is (are) deemed to be incapable of further participation in the Age Group Championships.  In such a case, additional eligible player(s) may be registered provided that at no time the total number exceeds twelve (12).
20. Evidence of a player’s eligibility as a replacement registration may be requested by NNZ as detailed in rules 3 and 4.
21. Where injuries or illness occur to a player in a Region/Centre team that team may register a player from a team from the same Region/Centre ranked below them if in the opinion of a medical practitioner the injured or ill player is unable to take part in the following game(s). Once a player has been registered twice with the higher ranked team she is deemed to be part of that team for the remainder of the Age Group Championships.
22. Each team shall play in the registered uniform of the Region/Centre,
23. All players shall be identified through names on their playing uniform or numbers on their uniform or body. Identification may also be required for age group sections.
24. If alternative bibs are required for identification purposes the teams shall toss to decide who shall wear them.
25. No less than 30 minutes before a match commences, a team official must submit as directed by tournament officials a Team List. This will list all players taking the court, to commence the game, all substitute players and team officials. Only those players named on the Team List may participate in that game. For games, that are televised, the team lists as above must be handed in at the time specified by Netball New Zealand prior to the scheduled start of the game.
26. No alterations or additions may be made to the Team List within 30 minutes of the scheduled commencement time, except in the event of any injury / illness in the 30 minutes prior to the start of the game; a change in playing position(s) may be permitted if in the opinion of a medical practitioner the player is deemed to be incapable of commencing and/or participating in that game.  In such a case, NNZ officials are to be notified immediately and subsequently the bench officials will be notified. For televised games the time period is in accordance with that specified by Netball New Zealand.
27. Teams are required to complete all games as specified in the draw format – failure to do so may result in the forfeiture of points or rankings.
28. Teams shall not be required to play more than two games on any day, except in the event:
    1. That a fair draw cannot be completed within the Age Group Championship; or
    2. That a protest is upheld.  The Age Group Championship Committee may then require an additional game to be played.
       Consideration shall be given to scheduling this game at a time, which allows appropriate recovery time for the teams concerned.
29. To avoid confusion team placement for each game will be allocated on the following basis:
    1. Team 1 on the draw will take the area to the RIGHT of the score bench as it faces out on to the playing court.
    2. Team 2 on the draw will take the area to the LEFT of the score bench as it faces out on to the playing court.
30. During section or pool play points will be awarded as follows:

    4 points	Win
    2 points	Draw
    1 point	Loss of 3 goals or less (under19) Loss of 5 goals or less (under21)
    0 points	Loss by more than 3 goals (under19) Loss by more than 5 goals (under21)

31. In the event of a tie on points at the end of pool rounds, the result of the game between the two teams decides the winner.  However;
    1. If the two teams drew their match, or if more than two teams have the same number of points at the end of the pool rounds, goal average of the pool games will decide the placing (i.e. goals for divided by goals against).
    2. If goal average is identical, then goal difference will be applied (i.e. the difference between goals for and goals against).
    3. In the event of a further tie, the team scoring the most goals will be declared the winner.
32. In the playoff and/or final rounds of the Championships, no draws are permitted.  Such games shall be identified on the draw. In the event that the score is level at full-time, there will be;
    1. A two-minute interval at the end of full-time. Substitutions can only be made during this interval, except in the case of injury or illness during play when the IFNA rules of the game apply.
    2. Extra time of two (2) x five (5) minute halves each way will be played.
    3. Teams change ends and the game is restarted by the team entitled to the next centre pass.
    4. Teams change ends at half time between the two periods of extra time without an interval. No substitutions are allowed at this time.
    5. The centre pass is taken by the team entitled to the next centre pass.
    6. In the event of a tie remaining at the end of extra time, play will continue until one team has a two (2) goal advantage.
    7. To indicate that the game has entered extended extra time as in (vi) an orange flag will be visibly raised on the score bench.
33. In the event of a dispute or incident report, any protests shall be made in writing to the Age Group Championship Committee within 4 hours of the incident occurring or the completion of the game, and accompanied by a fee of $20.00.  The fee shall be forfeited if the protest is considered to have been made without reasonable cause.
34. Upon receipt of a protest, or incident report the NZ Age Group Championship Committee shall obtain the views of the other team and/or participants to the incident giving rise to the protest, or incident report and make such other enquiries, as it considers necessary.  Before making a determination of the protest or incident report, it shall then inform the team protesting of the views of the other team/participants and any information it has obtained regarding the incident and give it an opportunity to respond to such views.  Following this exchange of views, the Age Group Championship Committee shall consider the protest or incident report as soon as possible and make a determination.  It shall advise the relevant teams and other parties of its decision regarding the protest or incident report as soon as possible.
35. Netball New Zealand may provide each team with a supply of strips or files depicting the event sponsor, which each team must affix or print on their bibs as directed by Netball New Zealand.
36. The Championships are a Smokefree Netball Event.  All participants and officials must refrain from smoking while at the Championship venue or at any Championship function.
37. No participant, team or official of the Championships shall be permitted to be sponsored by a tobacco product nor be permitted to advertise or sell a tobacco product while at the Championships consistent with the Smokefree Environments Act 1990.
38. Sponsorship:
    1. The permitted size and positioning on apparel is detailed in the following documents; 2011 NZAGC – U19/U21 Apparel Branding Rules and 2011 NZAGC – U19/U21 Apparel Branding Guidelines. Regions must abide by the rules in these documents and refer to Netball New Zealand for approval as required.
39. Individual player sponsorship is not permitted, unless otherwise agreed with Netball New Zealand in advance in writing.
40. At all matches, those teams playing in the match may display their team sponsor’s sign.  The signs are to measure 2.4 metres by 600cm landscape orientation and be freestanding.  Signs not meeting these specifications will not be permitted to be displayed.  Each team will be permitted to display one sign, the placement of which will be determined by NNZ.  Such signs shall depict only the team sponsor’s name and/or logo.  No apparel manufacturer or other signage shall be permitted unless otherwise agreed in advance in writing with Netball New Zealand.
41. If any dispute arises from the interpretation of these rules or the need arises to deal with any matter not provided for in the rules, reference in writing shall be made to or by Netball New Zealand whose decision shall be binding on all parties.
42. Netball New Zealand has the right to amend or make additions to these rules as required and from time to time.  Any rule updates will be circulated to all parties as required.