Comments on: World Netball Series may fizz without crowd support

By: Choppy

Choppy — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:01:59 +0000

Personally I think the product is very good how it is, I think Netball just needs someone to stumble across the perfect marketing strategy to become a big player in Australian Sport.

However the outside the circle shooting would be interesting as would the rolling subs. I’d be interested to see how that plays out. I would like to see it allowed in full length games, it would bring out more tactics from the coaches potentially swapping to get particular matchups regularly through the game.

By: Ian

Ian — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 21:06:07 +0000

Spiro,

That’s exactly what’s going to happen in this shorter version of the game. There will be two point shots for goals scored from outside the circle. I like that part and I’ve thought for a long time that it should be introduced into the regular game. The bit I don’t like in this shorter version is the “power play” idea where you can nominate one quarter where your score is doubled. I think it’s an unnecessary ploy to try to add interest to the game when it’s simply not needed. And it could lead to a team getting an undeserved victory, because they just happen to get lucky with the quarter they take their power play in.

By: Forgetmenot

Forgetmenot — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:29:42 +0000

Those 4 point shots would be pretty exciting to watch. It would be pretty hard doing those over and over.

Netball in a lot of Australia is a social hub for the girls to get together and have fun. At the games it is a chance for the blokes to have a chat while watching their partners beat the opposition.
Perhaps with these shorter versions, there could be a lot of travelling around different places in Australia, and hooking on to this support.

By: Lazza

Lazza — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:12:53 +0000

I agree with Keith that Netball is a fast, tactical and skillful sport. I think the problem it has in expanding is similar to all our traditional sports. They left it too late!

In future it may struggle to keep the ladies away from Woman’s Football. Football gives the ladies far more opportunities. They can represent the country at the Olympics, World Cup and they can pursue a professional career overseas and make some decent money.

By: Keith

Keith — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:33:01 +0000

Can’t say I’ve ever been a keen netball supporter, but do take in some of the big games. From what I’ve seen there’s nothing wrong with the sport itself – it’s fast, tactical and really skillful. Netball’s problem is with it’s perceived lack of credibility as a spectator sport, not with the sport itself. The battle to get more supporters is one for the marketers not the rule makers.

By: Spiro Zavos

Spiro Zavos — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:32:07 +0000

Shorter versions of classic games invariably get rubbished before they establish the genre and their identity. Think of the ruckus over one-day cricket, and more recently Twenty/20 cricket. Both shorter versions of the game are here to stay, along with first class cricket and the Tests. I think that netball is on to a good thing with its shorter version, sooner or later. I have one suggestion, though.
It’s always seemed to me that a major design fault on netball is the restricted scoring system. In my view, the game would become even more interesting if there was scope for a 2-point shot, and even a 3-point shot.
Teams well behind on the scoreboard could go for broke to get back into the game, as in basketball.

By: Albert Ross

Albert Ross — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:59:27 +0000

Shorter version? I don’t think so, Shorter skirts perhaps.