World Netball Series: Did it deliver the “wow” factor?
Samoa sub with WD paddle. Photo courtesy of Steve from www.playnetball.com
The inaugural World Netball Series featured a modified version of netball, or Fast Net as IFNA calls it. There are hopes that this version of netball will help the bid for netball to be included in the Olympics, although it won’t make the cut for 2012.
IFNA promised a ‘fast, ferocious and vibrant competition’ and it probably delivered on that score, but isn’t netball already fast and dynamic? For all its innovations, can the Fast Net style of netball compete with the thrilling encounters provided by international tests, the ANZ Championships or the Co-operative Superleague? There were many drastic rule changes, but will any of them be adopted into the traditional form of netball? Some of the main differences between both forms of the game were:
- shorter quarters – instead of the usual 15 minutes, quarters were only 6 minutes long so each team had to play their best netball from the outset, conditions similar to playing in a regular 0ne-day tournament. This can lead to rather frantic, error-strewn play as teams try to quickly find their rhythm. However, a regular netball match is only one hour long so is there any real need to shorten the game?
- double points for shots scored from outside the circle – this change certainly got the crowd excited as every time anyone got the ball on the circle edge, whether they were a shooter or not, the crowd was shouting “shoot, shoot!” A fun concept but would it be taking netball back too close to its basketball roots?
- Power Play quarter – the idea of doubling any points scored in this quarter also livened up the game but if both team use this option at the same time, the potential bonuses for either team could be negated.
- rolling subs – this rule change will probably find its way into the regular form of netball, at least at the top levels. Some elite coaches already feel the current rules on substitutions are too restrictive.
There are already plans afoot to make this an annual competition and Manchester will again host the series late next year. However, will there be space for a regular competition based on this new format in an increasingly crowded netball calendar? Also, it’s debatable whether, after a gruelling playing season, the top nations will send their best players to compete at Fast Net. Perhaps, the competition should be opened up to other nations, giving lower-ranked countries greater opportunity to play against tougher opposition. There could be some surprise upsets which could help to raise the profile of the game at home for some of the smaller netballing nations.
Does radically changing the format of any game attract new fans and participants or just serve to confuse those unfamiliar with the game? Which of the Fast Net rules, if any, should be incorporated in the regular game? What’s your verdict on the recent World Netball Series?
Themocracy
firstly shorter quarters yes a fast net game but many mistakes are usualy made in the game and teams some times score only 3 goals in one quartr which is 15 minutes so what will happen in 6mins and this will only be for professional players not for the b players secondly double points, why change the game to basketball settings? why try to move away from the triditional game of netball so then basketball and netball will be of the same so best thing is to just look at and play basketball and leave out netball. double points for shots outside the circle “boring” then the defender will have nothing to do in the circle no plays will be taking place in the circle and every body will shoot from ou the circle “great”! (boring) olling subs that will be an advantage according to the rules because if a player is put off for misconduct ar a bad play then you can bring back the said player if the subs are rolling. “bad idea” improvement coould be added to the rules but not the change of the game, at lease let netball be independant amd dont follow other sport we are unique let others follow
Why does netball need the “wow” factor? Surely it has it in spades already? This just smacked of being a cynical marketing exercise for the Co-op: what benefit is there to shorten a game that’s already lightning fast? Those watching on the day when I went couldn’t see any pro’s for them, as ordinary club players, and it was just like being at a basketball international.
Let’s face it, the team that won the series did so playing to existing netball rules, albeit in a shorter timeframe. Nothing more complex than that.
Leave the game alone and market it better – don’t try to fix what ain’t broken!
Thanks for your comment. I agree that netball is already a great game and it’s hard to see how some of the more extreme rules changes during the WNS would benefit the regular game. However, I can see some of the changes making their way into the elite game, e.g. rolling substitutions. I am pleased to tell you that your comment has won you the December T-shirt competition. I will email you to arrange delivery.