Netball: Move to keep controversial super shot in 2021 met with immediate anger from fans
Super Netball has decided to keep a controversial rule for next season, and there are plenty who are not happy about it.
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A player push to have the Super Shot zone either dumped or at least reduced was rejected by Super Netball officials, who have retained the controversial two-point shooting area for the 2021 season.
Australian Netball Players’ Association CEO Kathryn Harby-Williams said a player survey indicated 60 per cent were not in favour of retaining the Super Shot, and that the majority of Super Netballers wanted a smaller zone to make it harder to sink a two-point goal.
“It was the view that the value of the two-point shot wasn’t commensurate with the distance from the post where it currently is, and that it should be a more difficult shot,” Harby-Williams said.
“We put forward those views but unfortunately they didn’t land,” .
It’s understood that when the Super Shot zone was introduced this year, shooters were both shocked and happy because some parts of the two-point zone were regarded as a natural distance for them.
Harby-Williams said the Super Shot zone would again be assessed at the end of the 2021 season before a decision on whether it would be retained in 2022 would be made.
“We are of the understanding that it was an unusual year and the majority of the players do understand that you cannot gather all the data required potentially to make an educated and informed decision,” she said.
“So we have asked if it goes forward to ensure the commercial information, the fans’ views and the input from all the stakeholders is deeply considered following another season of it.”
Brought in on the eve of this season, the Super Shot rule, which awards two points for goals shot from the Super Shot zone in the final five minutes of quarters, earned severe criticism.
Players were angry they hadn’t been consulted, and there were suggestions the bonus for long-range shooters contributed to Australian captain Caitlin Bassett getting so little court time for the Giants that she quit Super Netball to play in New Zealand.
Her Giants teammate, Jo Harten, led the league in super shots made, nailing 78 from 125 attempts during the season.
But Super Netball CEO Chris Symington said he wanted to see the “evolution” of the rule next season and data showed it had helped the competition and even fans stay “engaged”.
“We saw on numerous occasions this season how the Suncorp Super Shot … added another element of excitement to our game. What also became clear is that it could be used by teams as little or as much as they liked to suit their style of play,” he said.
“With a full pre-season ahead and the opportunity to practise and prepare over a longer period of time, it will be fascinating to see how the players and teams adapt their game plans to suit these rules heading into next year.
— Damien Evans (@DamienEvans7) October 21, 2020
Why do you hate your fans?
— Laurenhannah (@Lauren_Hannah22) October 21, 2020
Also, why no extented bench?
Well say goodbye to many loyal fans. Me included
— saffyishere (@saffyishere) October 21, 2020
“Contrary to some media commentary, we attribute this season’s increase in viewership to a range of factors, including the fact we were the first elite female sport to run a full competition after the outbreak of COVID-19. While the Suncorp Super Shot is an important innovation, it was one of many reasons for the success of the 2020 season.”
Rolling substitutions, also introduced this season, will continue in 2021, but discussions regarding extended squad lists are ongoing, with a decision expected prior to the end of the current contracting window.
The Super Netball season finished last Sunday with a grand final win by the Vixens.
Originally published as Netball: Move to keep controversial super shot in 2021 met with immediate anger from fans