Heading: Referees: Duties and powers

"When deciding on an infraction, the referees shall, in each instance, have regard for and consider the following fundamental principles:

• The spirit and intent of the rules and the need to uphold the integrity of the game.

• Consistency in application of the concept of 'advantage/disadvantage'. The referees should not seek to interrupt the flow of the game unnecessarily in order to penalise incidental personal contact which neither gives the player responsible an advantage nor places the opponent at a disadvantage.

• Consistency in the application of common sense to each game, bearing in mind the abilities of the players concerned and their attitude and conduct during the game.

• Consistency in the maintenance of a balance between game control and game flow, having a 'feeling' for what the participants are trying to do and calling what is right for the game."