For the third year in a row, there will be both a women’s and a men’s competition at the FAST5 NWS.
In the women’s competition we will see the top six ranked teams from the World Netball World Rankings including the hosts New Zealand, last year’s winners Australia as well as England, Jamaica, South Africa, and Uganda take to court.
Whilst in the men’s competition we will see the hosts and reigning champions New Zealand face, Australia and South Africa.
Clear those diaries Netball Family! Here is what we have lined up for you this weekend.
Good news, the FAST5 NWS is available live and on demand internationally.
For just £9.99 GBP the international netball family will be able to watch all the fun, fast action unfold across the two days of competition on NetballPass, in countries where no exclusive broadcast deal is in place.
Exclusive broadcast deals are in place in New Zealand (Sky New Zealand), Australia (Seven) and the Caribbean* (SportsMax).
Whilst in South Africa a deal has been signed with SuperSport, which means that viewers here can pick between NetballPass and SuperSport.
FAST5 is about much more than just the netball, and we will be bringing you all the behind-the-scenes fun on the FAST5 NWS channels over the weekend.
Make you are you are following the FAST5 NWS on Instagram and Facebook, so that you don’t miss a beat!
Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls Are Cautiously Confident
JAMAICA’S Sunshine Girls will bow into action at the Fast5 Netball World Series 2024 in New Zealand when they take on the home team at the Christchurch Wolfbrook Arena at 7:15 p.m. (Jamaica time) in what is their first of three matches on the opening day of the two-day competition.
Six nations will compete in this year’s women’s event – Australia, England, New Zealand, Jamaica, South Africa and Uganda. In Fast5 netball, teams are made up of five players, two less than the usual seven. The games are also shorter, with matches split into four six-minute quarters.
Jamaica’s second match of the day (Saturday in New Zealand) is against England at 9:30 p.m., and they will close out the day against South Africa at 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Jamaica time.
Dalton Hinds, one of two coaches with the Jamaica team, is confident they will do well at the tournament where Australia are defending champions after winning back-to-back titles a year ago.
“Our aim is to win the Fast5 Netball World Series for the first time, worst case is a podium finish,” said Hinds. The Sunshine Girls have had two second- and three third-place finishes in the past at the tournament.
The Jamaican squad is a very inexperienced one. Only Kimone Shaw and Amanda Pinkney have played at the tournament in the past, but Hinds said the girls remain confident of doing well.
“Jamaica’s Girls have the least experience in the tournament but the ladies are not daunted, and are cautiously confident that, once they execute effectively, they should be a force to be reckoned with, and the vibes in the team is very good,” Hinds said.
The Jamaica team has played two practice matches in New Zealand ahead of the start of the tournament and Hinds thinks this was very good for the team.
“We had practice matches Tuesday against the Australian and South African male teams, who are here for the men’s competition, and those matches have lifted our confidence going into the weekend,” Hinds said.
Uganda’s She Cranes Return with Optimism
She Cranes will embrace the international stage again. PHOTO/COURTESY
Uganda will start their Netball Fast Five campaign on Saturday this week when they take on world’s top ranked Australia at the Wolf brook arena in Christ Church, New Zealand.
Later the She Cranes will play against hosts New Zealand and England before facing Jamaica and South Africa on Sunday in the round robin format that will result in placement matches and finals the same day.
The team travelled to New Zealand on Sunday after three weeks of preparations.
Head coach Nelson Bogere revealed that they have had some bonding sessions with colleagues that joined them from New Zealand and are now ready for the challenge.
Shooter Mary Nuba who pries her trade with Queensland Firebirds and defence Faridah Kadondi who plays for English side Nottingham Forest only joined the She Cranes in New Zealand.
“We have been sharing notes with them while in Uganda and they are really bonding well with their colleagues on and off court,” he said.
On their first appearance, Uganda’s She Cranes did not disappoint at the 2022 Netball Fast Five World Series tournament hosted in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Uganda settled for a fifth position with three wins, one against eventual winners Australia, 32-30.
Uganda also defeated Jamaica 33-22 and recorded a 32-10 win over the same opponents in the classification match to take fifth place.
Meanwhile Australia beat South Africa in the final to lift the trophy.
Team captain Irene Eyaru admits they are still underdogs in the competition but will try their best to perform well.
“We shall be drawing lots of lessons from our opponents but we are also eager to put up an outstanding performance, even better than how we performed in 2022,” Eyaru said.
The Rules of Fast5 Netball
Different game
In 2008 World Netball developed a new format of the sport which was named Fast Net. This was a 6-a-side game launched in 2009 at the World Netball Series in Manchester, England.
Following a review of Fast Net this was further developed into a 5-a-side game called FAST5 – which is the format used at the FAST5 Netball World Series.
Matches last only 24 minutes and are divided into six-minute quarters. There are three scoring zones, with goals shot from outside the goal circle worth three points, and inside shots worth two or one point, depending on the zone.
Each team has only five players on the court at a time, omitting the wing attack and wing defence positions. Substitutions are unlimited and can be made at any time from the substitution box.
After each goal, unlike traditional netball, the team that did not score takes the next centre pass, regardless of prior possession.
One of the unique features of Fast5 is the Power Play. This year’s tournament will extend the Power Play from 90 seconds to the final two minutes of each quarter.
A new rule, 'using possession' will also be under trial this year. Once the ball progresses out of one-third towards the attacking goal, it cannot be passed back into that third by the attacking team, thus preventing time-wasting through repeated back-passing.
Fast5 Netball World Series – New Zealand's Perspective
Six teams, 22 games, two days. Fast5 is an abbreviated, quick-paced version of traditional netball, just without a wing attack and a wing defence.
Games consist of four six-minute quarters in which teams shoot from three different areas for one, two or three points, and rolling subs are in play.
There are two rules changes this year. Power play periods for the final two minutes of each quarter remain, but only two-point and three-point areas will be doubled in value. All points from the one-point range remain as one point. Another change is once the ball has left one third — heading towards the attacking team’s shooting end — it cannot be passed backwards into that third again in a bid to speed up possession. Australia won back-to-back titles last season when they beat New Zealand 35-23 in the final.
Michaela Sokolich-Beatson will again captain the New Zealand team and will be determined to go one better than the silver they won last season.
Experienced shooter Maia Wilson adds stability and is joined by Saviour Tui and Martina Salmon, who make their debuts after breakout ANZ Premiership seasons. Tayla Earle will guide the midcourt with debutant Georgie Edgecombe the only other ‘‘official’’ midcourter for the scaled-back game. Defender Paris Lokotui can also move into the middle if needed.
Kate Burley and Sokolich-Beatson will be joined by rangy Mystics defender Catherine Hall and fan favourite Erena Mikaere in the defensive end.
The Fast5 Ferns, coached by Yvette McCausland-Durie, play Jamaica, Uganda and Australia tomorrow.
Who to Watch in the Women's Competition
Australia: Reilley Batcheldor. Proved just how deadly her long-range shots are for the Sunshine Coast Lightning this year.
New Zealand: Tayla Earle. The Mystics midcourter has an engine to outlast anyone.
England: Paige Reed. The long-bomb specialist returns for her third tournament after being named player of the series last year.
Jamaica: Roxanna McLean. The young defender is one of the Sunshine Girls’ latest exciting defensive prospects.
South Africa: Rolene Streutker. The Melbourne Maverick training partner can pull the trigger from anywhere in the circle.
Uganda: Mary Cholhok. The 2.01m shooter, heading to the Queensland Firebirds next season, is unstoppable, no matter the format.
Fast5 World Series - New Zealand's Perspective: Risk-Taking Rewarded
Teams from Australia, Jamaica, England, South Africa, and Uganda are in Christchurch for this weekend's annual tournament of the shorter, fast-paced version of the game.
Teams are made up of five players, rather than the traditional seven and four six-minute quarters means the games are quick.
At this year's event some Fast5 rule trials are taking place, with an emphasis on letting the ball go and shooting from long distance.
The power play period has been extended from the final 90 seconds of each quarter to the final two minutes of each quarter to increase chances for double points.
And during the power play, only goals scored from the two and three-point zones will be worth double, while any goals scored from the one point range will remain just one point, instead of two as they have in previous years.
The idea is to incentivise teams to shoot from a longer range during the power play period.
Silver Fern defender Kate Burley will be playing in her third straight Fast5 World Netball series and said the rule trials suited the way New Zealand played.
“Last year we actually lost in the final because Aussie played quite a safe kind of game of netball so they were taking those ones but it was worth two then, whereas we were willing to take those risks and go for the longer shots so I think it will make it a lot more exciting. I'm really looking forward to watching our shooters sinking those long ones,” Burley said.
The last time Silver Fern shooter Maia Wilson played at a Fast5 Netball World Series was back in 2017 and there has been a number of rule adjustments since then.
The Fast5 Ferns came into camp on Wednesday and have spent a bit of time talking about different strategies.
“Are we going to just tick the scoreboard over by shooting ones or are we going to go big in those power play moments? I feel like we've got the strategy behind the scenes that we're going to hold in our back pockets for now but you'll definitely be seeing some big shots getting sunk I reckon,” Wilson said.
The more radical rule being trialled this year is 'using possession'.
Previously umpires would say 'use it' to warn teams that they needed to play the ball forward but that has been taken to another level.
Once the ball has progressed out of one third of the court towards the attacking team's scoring end, it cannot be passed backwards into that third again. Teams will not be able to run the clock down by passing the ball back and forth between thirds.
Players will have to let the ball rip down the court, even if there is no one obvious to pass to.
Wilson said it would be an interesting change to navigate.
“I'm nervous that it potentially might see a lot more balls being thrown away so hopefully we can make sure that we're tidy. It may mean that we're shooting some big bombs especially in those last five or 10 seconds. But from a defensive perspective when I'm at goal attack for example, as soon as it goes into their shooting third, I'm walking off and getting ready for the next moment because I'm not needed anymore,” Wilson said.
Burley said it was a challenging rule because it was something they did all the time in traditional netball.
“Luckily we have had three practice games now against our men's team, so we've really had a chance to play that in real time because our habits from playing in the ANZ are we can reset and go again so that's been quite a different adjustment.
“You can't afford to turn back and as a goal defence when I'm in the centre third, I won't be able to call to my centre and shooters because they might pass it back so there's definitely some adjusting there.”
Burley felt there would be more opportunities for clean intercepts under the 'using possession' trial.
“Sometimes there might only be one person available to actually receive the pass so as a goal keeper if the ball is coming through, and they can't send it back anymore the ball might only be able to go to the goal shoot so it definitely gives us a better opportunity to back ourselves and go for intercepts because there's nothing else to think about,” Burley said.
In the lead up to the 2025 ANZ Premiership, Netball New Zealand will reveal rule changes to the domestic competition, which starts in May.
One of the changes considered was the introduction of a two-point shot, which Burley would like to see.
“It's just another addition to our game and I think all of our goal attacks and even some of the goal shoots, shoot from a far range anyway so it will just make that scoreboard a little bit more exciting. I think it would be a really exciting addition to the game.”
Wilson is open to a two point shot in next year's competition.
“I definitely know you will see some changes when the 2025 ANZ Premiership rules come out. I'm open to a two point shot, I don't mind it, I'm happy to shoot out from there,” Wilson said.
“In some ways I wonder what it does to the traditional side of things once we play international netball but in terms of fan engagement and showing a more broad skill set, I think it will be great for the game.”
“I feel stoked to be now a part of two winning Constellation Cup teams and I think what was a bit different to this time around was you definitely physically saw the collective buy-in from no matter who was on the court - we were all one.”
Wilson got 15 minutes at goal attack in the final test.
For a few seasons now there has been talk of Wilson playing more in the goal attack position for the Stars in the ANZ Premiership but she has been relied on heavily in the goal shoot bib.
But with Australian shooter Charlie Bell joining the franchise next year and standing at a whopping 196cm tall, Wilson might finally get the opportunity to spend big chunks of time at goal attack for the Stars.
“You've seen in international netball I'm starting to move out a lot more into goal attack so it would be lovely to get some match fitness week in week out for in the Stars so having someone like Charlie gives me the ability to do that so that's quite exciting for my own personal development.”
The Fast5 Ferns start their tournament on Saturday against Jamaica at 1.15pm. Australia are the defending champions.
