Netball Super League to Adopt Two-Point Super Shot for 2025 Season

The Netball Super League (NSL) is set to incorporate a two-point “super shot” into its competition for the 2025 season, as part of its restructuring. This feature is already utilized in Fast5, a condensed format of netball. Under this new regulation, players can earn two points by successfully shooting from a designated zone located at the perimeter of the shooting circle during the final five minutes of each of the four quarters in every game. The league, recognized as the premier domestic netball competition in the UK, is undergoing reforms starting in 2025, aligning with efforts to professionalize the division. The upcoming NSL season is scheduled to commence on 14 March, with one weekly match broadcast live on the BBC. Eight teams, a reduction from the 10 participating in prior seasons, will compete in the league. It is anticipated that the introduction of this new rule will foster more closely contested and competitive matches by incentivizing teams to accumulate points rapidly towards the conclusion of each quarter. The super shot was previously implemented in Australia’s Super Netball league, widely regarded as the world’s leading league, in 2020, where it generated debate. Numerous supporters posited that it would alter the natural progression of play, and others voiced apprehension regarding its potential effects on international matches, where the super shot is not currently applied. Caitlin Thwaites, a former Australian Diamond player, commented that the rule modification was an effort to “grab headlines or new fans.” Similarly, former England mid-courter Serena Kersten stated on social media that “we have to find ways to help players to take the game to the next level with skill and athleticism, not mess with the foundations of the game.”