Netball Australia puts two-point shot on hold for now

Netball Australia has ruled out introducing a two-point shot in next year’s revamped national league, but says it remains on the table for future seasons.

A two-point scoring zone was touted for the new Australian competition but a

Netball Australia survey of players, coaches, umpires and fans found there wasn’t enough support to implement the change in 2017. However, the rule will be trialled. ‘‘There was sufficient support to warrant further exploration of the two-point concept for possible introduction in future years,’’ Netball Australia said. It will conduct trials of the two-point shot for potential introduction in the second or third year of the new league.

Queensland Firebirds coach Roselee Jencke was one vocal critic of the mooted change, saying her team’s thrilling extra-time grand final against NSW was proof the sport was best left untouched.

‘‘We should be really confident that our game has the best package and we don’t need to change anything because everybody loves it as it is,’’ she said last month.

Next year’s eight-team national league will feature the five current Australian teams plus franchises backed by Collingwood and Greater Western Sydney and Melbourne Storm on the Sunshine Coast.

Netball Australia says the only likely rule change for 2017 will be the introduction of a tactical time-out, allowing coaches the chance to provide strategic input twice during a match.