Australia v England Netball Test - Adelaide, October 2008. Photo courtesy of paddynapper

The Co-operative World Netball Series will debut at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester from the 9 -11th October. The new format will challenge the fitness, technical ability and tactical awareness of the best players in the world according to IFNA, netball’s governing body. IFNA has invested a great deal of time over the last 12 months developing their Fast Net format which they consider innovative, with the hope of attracting new participants and broadening netball’s international fan base.

IFNA promises a ‘fast, ferocious and vibrant competition’ that will feature some of the world’s best players from the top six netball nations – currently Australia, England, Jamaica, Malawi, New Zealand and Samoa – and are treating this as an opportunity to showcase netball to the world.

Quarters last only six minutes instead of the traditional 15 minutes, so expect the pace to be frenetic. We can also expect to hear the whistle less than in a regular netball match which will further help to maintain the fast pace. As noted by Australian Diamonds’ coach Norma Plummer in a recent interiew, there’s no time to settle gradually into a game, you have to get into your stride straight away.

Shooters can also take shots from outside the goal circle and each goal scored from this position will be worth double points. Other rule changes allow coaching from the Team Bench or coaching area, unlimited rolling substitutions and a Power Play quarter where any points scored will be doubled. Interestingly, the first Centre Pass in each quarter is taken alternately by the two Centres. After a goal is scored, the next centre pass will be taken by the team that conceded the last goal.

There’s a 5 minute YouTube video that attempts to explain the rules and regulations of the new format but sadly the quality is not great.

Only time will tell if this new style netball competition will become a regular fixture in netball’s international  calendar. If you make the trip to Manchester, please let us know what you thought of this new-look netball.

Is this going to be netball’s equivalent of the Rugby Sevens or as some have dubbed it, netball’s version of Cricket’s Twenty20 format?