WITH the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) season set to commence in the coming months, a few changes have been made regarding ladder positioning, player involvement and trade period to help with the evolution of the game.
As of 2019, the SSN will allow for more player involvement, with those on the bench able to engage more regularly with on-court players. Through relaxing the rules a bit, players on the bench can move around the off-court area, allowing them to actively provide advice to their teammates. Another change made to the competition is the ladder. Having brought in the bonus point system last year, SSN has released that if two teams finish the season on the same number of points, the final ladder position will be decided upon based on the number of games won, rather than percentage. But if teams share both the same number or points and the same number of wins, positions will be determined based upon percentage.
The league also released an alteration in player contracts and trade, allowing clubs to become more involved in searching for and signing players. Clubs can start to approach players regarding contract agreements throughout the mid-season break due to the World Cup, but cannot sign them until the designated period. The trade period starts on September 16 and finishes on October 14, allowing teams to carefully consider player recruitment. Players can only be approached if their contract is set to expire by the end of the 2019 season, ensuring that those on long term deals cannot be snared from their existing club.
Rolling substitutions will also be trialled throughout the Suncorp #TeamGirls Cup along with the Australian Netball League (ANL). This will allow for coaches to make changes throughout the match with no limitations, with one of the main alterations being that time will not be stopped to make the positional changes. Currently, if a coach or player wants to make an interchange, time must be stopped – whereas these changes will facilitate and encourage a more free-flowing game. Multiple players can be substituted at once and changes can still be made at intervals and time-outs. However, this change will not feature in the Suncorp Super Netball League this year.
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