Fast5 off to a flying start

A demonstration event was held on Monday, January 22 at Lou Weston Oval netball courts.

The introduction of the modified game in Busselton was so popular that all 12 teams in the competition were filled prior to the demonstration night.

The short, sharp competition will be held over four weeks in February before a finals series.

In Fast5, five players take the court compared to the usual seven.

Quarters are six minutes rather than 15 and teams can use rolling substitutions. 

Teams can use power plays and players can score one, two, or three point goals depending on where they shoot from.

The new netball format has been compared to cricket’s Twenty20 and rugby sevens.

Fast5 committee member Renae Guthridge said the competition gave the community a new way to enjoy netball.

“We wanted to take out the seriousness of club and association level netball and give people a competition that is more about having fun and a laugh,” she said.

The mixed competition will act as a pre-season to the official netball season, and if interest continued organisers would consider a post-season competition.

Fast5 committee member Rennie Sansom, who represents Busselton in the South West Netball-Football League, said the competition filled a gap in the Busselton sport scene.

“We don’t currently have a mixed competition so I really want to see some boys get involved,” she said.

“I challenge them to see if they make the cut, netball is not as easy as it looks.

“It is really exciting as Fast5 is something Busselton has never had before and for me, it is nice to be able to play and just focus on fun and fitness.”