The Australian netball community is divided over new rules that will be brought into this year's Super Netball season, with traditionalists arguing the Diamonds could go backwards over time as a result.
Super Netball will introduce rolling substitutions and extra time this season. Both rules are unique to Super Netball and are not used in international competition.
The rolling substitutions can be used at any stage of play, and five minutes of extra time will be played after a 90-second break in the event of a draw.
The new rules were seen on court for the first time at the bushfire charity match between the Super Netball All-Stars and the Diamonds on Sunday, with many fans taking to social media to voice their distaste over the new rules.
It was a case of out with the old and in with the new rules at the bushfire charity match.Credit:AAP
In particular, many complained about the "Super Shot", where two points are scored for a successful shot from the outer portion of the goal circle in the final five minutes of each quarter.
Despite Netball Australia saying before the game that the "Super Shot" would only be used during the charity match, the board will now review how successful the rule was and whether it could be implemented in the future.
"Netball is a traditional sport and a lot of coaches I know don't like [the new rules]," NSW Swifts coach Briony Akle said after the game, in which she co-coached the All-Stars. "I'm willing to give it a go. You can always go back if it doesn't work."
Despite concerns from fans and the coaches, many of the Diamonds players enjoyed the new rules, with the rolling substitutions making the game more fast-paced.
"Rather than trying to settle into the pace of the game . . . you get out there, you run your arse off, go for everything, and then you earn your rest on the side to be able to catch your breath," former Diamonds star Caitlin Thwaites said after her final game with the national side on Sunday.
One of the game's most controversial players, Gretel Tippett, who is known for her unconventional style of play, unsurprisingly also supported the new rules.
"The sport is ever-evolving, so putting in different rules here and there, we will see how we will adapt and hopefully it's a good thing," Tippett said.
Tippett also shut down concerns around whether it would affect the skills of Diamonds players, who will now be forced to play under two sets of netball rules.
"We just have to be adaptable and adjust accordingly . . . you play a certain style with your Suncorp Super Netball team and then you've got to adjust when you come back into the Diamonds environment," Tippett said.
When the new rules were introduced last month, Super Netball chief executive Chris Symington said the new rules were implemented to add "another element of excitement" to games.
“With a significant rise in drawn matches and questionable injury substitutions, it was something we had to look at, and we think the introduction of these two changes will create further interest and enjoyment of our great game," he said in February.
The Super Netball season starts on May 2.
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