What is an essential characteristic of a minor infringement?

The essential characteristic of a minor infringement in netball is that it often relates to a breach of rules that does not result in a significant consequence for the flow of the game. In this context, breaking the center pass rule does indeed qualify as a minor infringement because it involves players not adhering to the specific requirements for taking a center pass, but it does not lead to severe penalties like those resulting from major infringements.

Minor infringements tend to impact play in a way that allows the game to continue, though they can lead to a turnover or free pass, rather than a stoppage or a penalty that significantly alters the pace of play. This differentiation is crucial as it helps players and officials understand the varying degrees of rule breaches in the game.

A minor infringement, like the center pass rule violation, typically prompts a relatively simple resolution (a free pass to the opposing team) and reflects the principle that the game’s flow should minimize interruption while still enforcing the rules. Other choices imply more severe consequences or restrictions that do not accurately represent the nature of minor infringements.