Super Netball introduces Super Shot zone for 2020 season

The Super Netball competition will break new ground this season, with the introduction of a two-goal "Super Shot" in the final stages of each quarter.

Goals scored from within a designated zone will be worth double, with the competition aiming to encourage players to take shots from longer range.

The two-goal rule will be in force for all attempts taken from more than three metres away from the net during the final five minutes of each quarter.

The rule was trialled in the charity bushfire match earlier this year and Super Netball boss Chris Symington believes it will spice up the action.

"We felt like it's a good way to balance the traditional style of netball that we all know, but also provide some incentive at the end of the quarter to see our athletes shooting long as well," he said.

"(It's) blending both the traditional style, but also a bit of innovation and creativity."

Symington said it's important for the sport to keep innovating to bring in new fans.

"The sports entertainment marketplace is highly competitive. It was before COVID-19, (and) even more so now," he said.

"We felt like this was as good a time as any to bring it in, and make sure we were pushing ourselves and pushing our boundaries to create excitement."

According to Symington, the sport needed to reverse a growing trend of more and more goals being scored from within close range.

He said the move, which covers the final 1.9 metres of the goal-scoring circle, will encourage more daring shots.

"We've actually been doing a lot of analysis on this particular rule change for a number of years. It's been discussed and been a standing agenda item for the competition committee since the start of Super Netball," he said.

"We had a lot of data around the fact that the majority of our goals are scored within short range and that has been a trend over a number of years, in terms of the number of long shots decreasing."

The Super Shot brings to three the number of new rules to be introduced in 2020. Along with five minutes of extra time in the event of a tie, and the ability to make substitutions during play rather than only during  stoppages, the sport hopes to attract a new generation of fans.

Should extra time be required, the Super Shot will be in force for the entire period of overtime.

"The three rule changes we've got this year is really exciting for the game and the fact that they can really play off each other," Symington said.

"The introduction of rolling subs coupled with the Super Shot is going to be fascinating to watch, with the tactical developments that will occur in the game with that, how the coaches will need to adapt within real time.

"Having a Super Shot which could potentially lead to extra time or win the game is going to be exciting to see."

The Super Netball season begins on August 1st.