All umpires in NZ are asked to:

1. check nails etc off court without intruding into team talks
2. check court, posts and equipment
3. toss off court after the teams have notified the scorers of their toss
4. know who the captains are
5. prior to the game stand together
6. the umpire who is walking will take the ball even if the teams provide the ball. this umpire gets to the centre circle and then turns and walks backwards to the side-line
7. the other umpire blows the whistle and if the teams are not on court a 10 second whistle is blown
8. repeat this process at the start of play after every interval
9. at the end of a quarter or half the 2 umpires must meet in the middle of the court, this means the umpire who doesn’t have to walk far meets the co-umpire
10. at this stage they check the centre pass to start the next quarter
11. if you have a reserve umpire the reserve must keep the centre pass
12. if an umpire needs to be replaced the reserve must do so without delay
13. at a stoppage the umpire doesn’t have to cuddle the ball so long as you know where it is you don’t have to hold it
14. remember at a stoppage that uses the 2 minutes there needs to be a 30 second whistle to tell the teams to get back into position to restart
15. if the stoppage is less than 2 minutes blow the whistle the moment the player concerned is no longer injured or ill or you can see that they are to be substituted
16. an on court player must call for time
17. the umpire decides if time will be give
18. if the reason is not obvious ask “why” before blowing the whistle
19. water and blood must be kept off court
20. the injured player may go off the court to get treatment
21. after checking on what the stoppage is for move away to the nearest intersection of lines in your area so you are not crowding the stoppage
22. the co-umpire takes the lead from the umpire dealing with the injury and moves to the opposite end of the court to an intersection of lines to keep an eye on the teams and traffic
23. if the timekeeper cannot move to the injury then either the umpire who is dealing with the injury or the co-umpire will stand at the line intersection near the time keeper (who ever is the closest to the timekeeper)
24. captains may approach the umpires for a rules clarification at an interval or after the game
25. never blow the whistle in your co-umpires half unless instructed to take a toss
26. do not give instructions to players who are in your co-umpires half
27. do not hand signal for infringements in you co-umpires half unless appealed to
28. subtle eye contact between umpires is encouraged.