‘It’s awkward’: Super Netball ditches traditional post-game huddles

Super Netball has ditched a tradition seen across all levels of netball, with players deciding it was too “awkward” and not ideal for “optics”.

Super Netball teams have ditched the traditional post-game huddle between opposing teams as the league evolves to be more competitive than ever.

The sight of opposing teams linking arms in a circle after a game for three cheers has been a common one at all levels of netball for years, from local juniors all the way through to international matches between Australia and New Zealand.

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But when the Super Netball season kicked off last weekend, viewers noticed the post-match ritual had been ditched.

Tony Squires said on Fox Sports show The Back Page this week: “I couldn’t help but notice on the coverage that the group huddle between the two teams, the hip hip hooray, didn’t happen.”

Diamonds legend and Fox Netball commentator Cath Cox said: “Controversial … netball’s been doing it for forever and a day.

“I think off the back of the internationals last year — they play each other every two or three days and discussions start then around, ‘Is it too much to be coming into a huddle when you’re still in the heat of the battle and after every single game?’

Watch the discussion about netball huddles in the video above

Super Netball players have decided to move on from the huddle. Photo: Fox Sports.

“Since that international, the seed had been planted, it’s a discussion amongst the players and from an optics point of view, now as professional athletes, they don’t want to be seen to be doing what the juniors are doing on a Saturday morning, which is fair enough.”

Australian cricket captain Alyssa Healy added: “I like that they’re not doing it anymore.

“You go and watch a game of live netball, there is a lot of contact. After the game, the last thing I would want to do is huddle with the person I’ve been elbowing for the last 90 minutes and go ‘congrats’.

Cox said: “That’s the other point the players made, it’s just awkward.”

NSW Swifts captain Paige Hadley said this week: “The Players Association and the players decided that we’ll try things differently this year. I think the game’s evolving.

“We’re always up for changing the game. It was obviously a little bit different but it is what it is.”

Super Netball Round 2 (all times AEST)

Queensland Firebirds vs West Coast Fever — Saturday 5pm at Nissan Arena

NSW Swifts vs Melbourne Mavericks — Saturday 7pm at Ken Rosewall Arena

Sunshine Coast Lightning vs Adelaide Thunderbirds — Sunday 2pm at UniSC Arena

Melbourne Vixens vs Giants — Sunday 4pm at John Cain Arena

Originally published as ‘It’s awkward’: Super Netball ditches traditional post-game huddles