Australia to push for revamped WNC format

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



The Aussies, who will host the next Championships 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.



The teams in the lower half will compete for promotions.



Another idea 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 Australia at the just concluded

International Federation of Netball Associations’ three-day congress in Singapore.



However, Jamaica’s Molly Rhone, president of the International Federation of

Netball Associations, said her association will have to take a careful look at the proposal before a decision can be made.



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