LEIGHTON LEVY, STAR Writer

Netball coaches being allowed to coach during game stoppages is set to become official during the ongoing International Netball Federation (INF) congress in Sydney, Australia.

The congress precedes the Netball World Cup, which tips off on Friday.

According to Yvette Smith, a member of the Rules Board, the board is a considering a number of changes to existing rules.

Changes will, however, not be implemented at the 2015 NWC, but will come into effect in January.

"We made some changes coming out of the queries throughout the years. We have gone through the rules and have made some more easily understood," Smith said.

Allowing coaching during game breaks was already being allowed, but now it will become official, Smith said.

There are also plans to reduce stoppages to one per quarter.

"We will allow the shorter time-out, not the two-minute, but the 30-second, because people usually get 'sick' when a team is on a run and they want to stop it and slow you down. We are now saying if you are sick, you come off; so we allow you the 30 seconds to come off."

Other rule changes being considered involve the centre pass, which, when implemented, would speed up the pace of the game.

According to Smith, sometimes it takes the person making the centre pass a long time to go in (the circle) and settle.

"Now, if one foot is in, you go," she said.

There are also plans to reduce the frequency at which umpires use their whistles.

There is some contention about whistling to signal a goal being scored. Some members want it to remain while others are leaning towards the umpire not blowing when a goal is scored.

However, for throw-ins, a whistle is now no longer required.