Bonus points shake-up

Radical change to Super Netball ladder system

EVERY point will count in Super Netball this season with the competition implementing a radical new bonus points system as part of a rules shake-up.

The changes, which will be announced today, provide incentives for teams to win each quarter, with sides awarded one premiership point for each quarter they win.

The overhaul means a team could lodge as many as eight ladder points from a single game, as opposed to just four points being awarded to winning sides last season.

While modelling of the new system over the 2017 season brought about no positional changes to the ladder, league bosses are confident the bonus points will add excitement and reshape the eight-team competition this year.

“We raise the stakes in that every single quarter it’s all on the line and it’s going to impact the ladder at the end of the season,” Netball Australia executive general manager of events Chris Symington said.

“There wasn’t a significant impact on the ladder (last season) … but until it’s actually implemented that’s all a hypothetical.

“It just gives that whole concept of a game within a game as well.

“The fact that each quarter is going to be of interest and the game’s going to be played out until the end of each quarter, the end of each game because players and coaches know every single point is going to count at the end of the season.”

Other rule tweaks include teams being able to take two time outs per half (up from one), one member of each team’s bench being able to communicate with players oncourt during the game and slightly longer break times, with halftime now lasting 15 minutes instead of 12.

Melbourne Vixens and Collingwood open the Super Netball season at Hisense Arena on April 28.

“Every single quarter it’s all on the line and it’s going to impact the ladder at the end of the season.” CHRIS SYMINGTON