Netball: Franchises unsure about expanded playoffs next year

Netball New Zealand's decision to expand the National Bank Cup to two rounds in 2007 and extend the playoff series between the top four teams next year has received mixed reactions from the franchises.

Instead of going all the way and introducing a double round next year, Netball New Zealand has made a "halfway" decision and expanded next year's top-four playoffs which will provide spectators and sponsors with more top-level netball but have delayed the introduction of the double round until 2007 to give franchises more time to prepare.

The extended playoffs will mean another round between the top four teams. It is understood points will be scrapped and teams will start again. Semifinals and a final will then take place.

The teams that finished first and second in the round robin competition will be rewarded with two out of three home games in the playoffs, which means the top two teams could get as many as eight home games a season.

The draw for next year's competition will be revealed this month. However, franchises say the difficulty is the uncertainty - franchises will have to book stadiums and organise hordes of volunteers just in case they advance to the top four playoffs.

Southern Sting spokesman Lee Piper said in his personal opinion Netball New Zealand should have either introduced the double round next year or left the status quo.

He said the Sting had had to pay to keep Stadium Southland on standby this year just in case they went through to the final and the Magic could not find a suitable venue.

"I think what they are trying to do is say, 'This is an exciting competition let's expand it'. I think every franchise agrees with that but it is not as easy as you think.

"It is a semi-professional game and is more amateur off the court than on it.

"Off the court you are still dealing with a large volunteer base, unpaid board members and an increase in workload is going to impact them significantly.

"We are not trying to be negative. We are just trying to be cautious and make sure we do it right and maximise opportunities for the game."

While the expanded playoffs will clearly benefit some franchises, particularly the wealthier ones like the Sting and the Force in terms of revenue and exposure, it will be of no benefit to the competition's lesser fancied teams like the struggling Flyers (representing Wanganui, Palmerston North, Napier) and the Capital Shakers.

But Shakers chief executive Tracy Johnson said she backed the changes, hinting it would give her side time to prepare for the double round robin competition in 2007.

The 2006 revamp

* One round-robin series

* Then: Top four go to second round robin, previous points scrapped

* Then: Semifinal and final playoffs