There could be a Captain’s challenge introduced in elite netball in Australia as soon as next season.
Sunshine Coast Lightning coach, Belinda Reynolds, is on Super Netball’s Rules of the Game Committee and said a video review system is currently being discussed and was on the agenda at their last meeting.
The NRL has a Captain’s challenge, soccer VAR, cricket DRS and tennis Hawk-Eye, so it would seem logical for the world’s best netball competition to adopt its version to help umpires in the fast-paced sport.
Reynolds believes there’s a place for a video review system in Super Netball.
And she probably wishes it was already available after a call late in the Lightning’s one goal loss to the Mavericks last weekend.
Lightning wing defence, Mahalia Cassidy, was called for stepping with 37 seconds left in the game and the Lightning leading 64-62.
The Mavericks got the turnover, Gabby Sinclair sunk a super shot and Shimona Jok slotted the winning goal with just seconds remaining.
Reynolds questioned the umpire’s decision in the post-match media conference, believing her team should have received a penalty which would have let them close out a win.
It would have been a perfect time to test a Captain’s challenge and possibly change the outcome of the game.
Belinda Reynolds believes allowing decisions to be disputed could add something extra to games for fans, players and coaches.
One thing is for certain, it would add even more drama to the game.
She is unsure what a review system would look like in elite netball, whether a player or coach would be able to challenge and how many each team would get during a game.
“We haven’t gone that deep into conversation yet, but certainly I don’t want it to slow our game down too much because that is the beauty of netball,” Reynolds said.
“I certainly think there’s a time and a place and maybe like one or two challenges per game or something like that but I think it’s something that the committee will look to this year, ready for next year.
“We have to weigh up the pros and cons, so there probably would be more drama but more attention on social media after the games as well but we’ll see if the investment in that technology is worthwhile and I hope to see it included in our game next year,” she said.
It’s a proposal that will likely spark debate among fans, players, coaches and the game’s administrators.
It could even be used to adjudicate foul play and perhaps hand players two minute suspensions which haven’t been used this year, despite several incidents in games being worthy contenders to see players sidelined.
But that’s a can of worms best left for another day.
