Storm's England players ready for action!
Thursday 8 October 2009
Surrey Storm and England defensive duo of Sonia Mkoloma and Geva Mentor are ready and raring to take on the world’s top six sides at The Co-operative World Netball Series this weekend (09-11 October). The new look series, netball’s answer to Twenty20 cricket will take place at the MEN Arena in Manchester on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. England, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Malawi and Samoa will all battle it out under the new rules and playing format called 'Fast Net', a shortened form of the game. Here’s how it will work:
•Each game will be played over four six minute quarters with two minute breaks between the playing time
• There will be unlimited rolling substitutions for each team that can be made at any time in the quarter even while play carries on although positional changes can only be made at the break
• Winning the toss will give the captain a choice of end of first centre pass at the start of the first and third quarters because in this new mix of the game, the centre pass will not alternate but instead the game will be restarted by the team who concede the last goal
• There will be no umpire’s whistle after a goal is scored so all players will have to be alert to a breakaway
• Coaches are allowed to coach from their team bench or coaching area
To add a bit more spice to the scorelines there will be a chance for teams to score four points by netting just one goal.
Shooters can double-up by landing a shot from outside the shooting circle and if they manage that when a Power Play is in force they will score four points. The team gets to choose which quarter they want to use for a power-play and during that six minute period any score inside the circle will be worth two points.
With twenty matches in three days it certainly will be fast and furious! We wish the England team and Storm’s Sonia Mkoloma and Geva Mentor the very best of luck!
If you want to head up to the MEN to watch our defenders and England in action then visit: www.worldnetballseries.com
Storm’s Geva Mentor who is an ambassador for the Surrey Sports Park also recently helped launch WE ARE ENGLAND; a new brand identity for the National Commonwealth Games team as the countdown begins to Delhi 2010. Geva joined Commonwealth Games England President Dame Kelly Holmes and another Surrey Sports Park ambassador; Swimmer Mark Foster last week to help launch the new brand.
For more information visit: www.weareengland.org
Media Enquiries
Peter La, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 689191, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk
