Australia to push for revamped WNC format

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

NEWTON, Singapore:

The Australia Netball Association (ANA) is pushing for a revamp of the current World Netball Championships format.

The Aussies, who will host the next WNC in Sydney in four years' time, are proposing a two-zone preliminary system of eight teams apiece, with the highest-rated teams fighting it out for the world title in the top tier and the teams in lower half competing for promotion.

Another idea that was proposed is for a three-tiered format similar to other professional sports, with divisional titles being awarded to the champions.

The format changes were put forward by the Australians at the International Federation of Netball Association (IFNA) three-day congress, which ended last Saturday.

'better for the sport'

Kate Palmer, chief executive officer of the ANA, said the new format would be much better for the sport, because if all the teams are closely ranked they would have an opportunity to play each other.

"The idea of allowing countries the opportunity to win, if there were divisions, having two or three winners of the events are fantastic," said Palmer. "Our sport rugby does it successfully and we should look at that."

Continuing, Palmer said: "Although it's nice for the little countries to play the big countries, the reality is not good for the product. I understand that, but I hate to see those small countries who train so equally hard being beaten so badly."

However, Jamaica's Molly Rhone, president of IFNA, says her association will have to take a careful look at the proposal before a decision can be made.

"The IFNA board will consider all that has been discussed and see if we can come up with a format for 2015," said Rhone, who was elected unopposed to serve another four-year term as head of netball's governing body.

She added: "It (format) must be best for netball and we hope we will have a decision by 2013."

consultation

Rhone stated that further consultation would have to be made with the Australians before any decisions can be arrived at, and it must also be approved by the other nations.

The current format of the championships is that the top four teams are seeded in four different groups, with the top side advancing to the quarter-finals.

Marva Bernard, president of the Jamaica Netball Association, agrees with the new suggestions that have been put forward by the Australians.

"It would give the emerging nations an opportunity to compete on a playing field that is a little more level than playing the top four countries and getting blown away," said Bernard.

"Yes, we would support it, and Australia certainly seems to have favoured it, and they would have the number of courts necessary to ensure that the tournament does not run over the number of days that we would need to have the athletes out of home for," Bernard added.