Weighing up the pros

NETBALL Australia is questioning whether its long-held goal of full-time professionalism is the best outcome for players’ wellbeing.

After the announcement of its landmark pay deal three years ago ahead of the launch of the new Super Netball domestic league, NA declared its aim of having professional athletes within five years.

But NA chief executive Marne Fechner said the sport’s governing body now questions whether this was the best path to take to ensure that its players were balanced and also prepared for life after sport.

“I think there is a natural assumption in sport that fulltime professional sport is the ultimate outcome,’’ Fechner said. “I suppose we are questioning that at the moment in terms of, ‘well is it?’. What do the athletes really value about potentially maximising their return?”

The new Super Netball season launched yesterday and starts this weekend.