But what of the players' understanding of the rules?
As representatives from Netball New Zealand and Netball Australia meet this week to discuss how the transtasman league can move towards more standardised rule interpretations, the Herald surveyed transtasman league players to test their knowledge around the laws of the game.
Central to discussion around criticism that netball is getting too rough is how the contact rule is policed by umpires, with some claiming what is seen on court is very different to what is in the rulebook.
So we decided to ask the players what their understanding of the contact rule is.
As part of the survey, the New Zealand Herald spoke to 14 players across seven franchises* and asked two standard questions:
What is the contact rule?
Are you clear in your mind about what you can and can't do in terms of contact?
Just three players - Melbourne Vixens shooter Sharelle McMahon, veteran defender Rachel Rasmussen of the Steel and Northern Mystics defender Jessica Moulds - got close to properly articulating what the contact rule is.
"For me the contact rule is contact with another player that interferes with their play. No, that's not right is it? I definitely know there's a component that says interferes with play, because that's where the interpretation comes into it," said McMahon.
Most players were initially stumped when asked about the contact rule and had difficulty explaining how it worked in practice.
"Oh I haven't read a rulebook in years - actually I don't think I've even read the rulebook," Swifts midcourter Kim Green said with a laugh.
Interestingly, both Magic captain Laura Langman and Thunderbirds defender Rebecca Bulley believed that according to the letter of the law, players weren't allowed to come into contact whatsoever, although acknowledged what happens out on court is very different.
"You can't touch anyone," Langman said with a laugh, "well, that's basically what the rules say."
While the players found it difficult to explain the rule, the general consensus was that contesting of the ball is allowed, but as soon as a player negatively impacts their opponent, it becomes an unfair contest and should result in a penalty.
Thunderbirds shooter Erin Bell said players will know themselves when they have contacted another player. "You know what the rules are, you've been brought up playing them, even though they're kind of hard to describe."
For the record, nowhere in the INF rulebook does it state that netball is a non-contact sport.
However, a player can be penalised if they are deemed to have come into contact with an opponent in such a way that it impedes the play of that opponent. This includes pushing, tripping, holding or leaning on an opponent, and moving into a path of an opponent that is committed to a particular landing.
The responses of the players indicate there is a lack of clarity around the interpretation of the rules.
Only four players said they were absolutely clear in their mind as to what is and isn't allowable under the contact rules, with others pointing to the inconsistent umpiring interpretations between the two countries as causing some confusion.
"I would say generally yes, I know what I can and can't get away with, but sometimes it changes once you're actually out on the court and have got a proper feel for how the umpires will call things. I'm conscious to adjust how I play depending on which country I'm playing in," said Vixens captain Bianca Chatfield.
* The West Coast Fever and Central Pulse refused to take part in the survey, while Queensland Firebirds players were not available this week as they are on leave during their bye round.
- Dana Johannsen of the NZ Herald
