Exciting changes set for 2012 FIAT Superleague
The 2012 FIAT Netball Superleague season will be the most exciting yet, as several new proposals have been approved by the England Netball Board of Directors. In order to promote the strength of the competition and improve the standard of play there will be a reduction in the number of teams competing in the league, from nine to eight. There will also be a re-structure of the competition format that will see an increase in the number of matches played between the strongest sides.
“These changes are a giant leap forward for the competition,” says England Netball Chair, Cheryl Danson.
“The new format will increase the importance of the competition to our goal of becoming World number 1 and increase the commerciality of the league. The excitement that these changes will generate amongst the franchises, players and the netballing public will be unsurpassed for netball in the UK.”
The new competition format which will include a mid-season competition split, and a revised Play-Off structure that will more closely match the high pressure environment of major World events, will see the strongest four teams in any given season play each other three times prior to the revised Play-Off format.
Included in the sweeping alterations is a change to the commercial element of the competition, with players’ dresses able to hold a greater number of sponsor logos and court logo restrictions are to be lifted to increase sponsorship revenue from the competition.
Commenting on the reduction of nine to eight teams, Cheryl Danson said, “This will be an open and transparent process undertaken by England Netball. We will be inviting expressions of interest from new and current franchises and expect healthy competition for the awarding of franchise agreements.”
“Each prospective franchise will have the opportunity to apply to be a part of the competition through an application process. A set of criteria will be issued and will form the basis of an application to FIAT Superleague Management.”
Cheryl added, “This process is to ensure England Netball have the very best franchises available to partner with us as we embark on our mission of becoming World number 1, Commonwealth Gold Medallists and World Champions.”