A 2025 study published in the International Journal of Performance Analysis examined how the Super Shot rule affects team performance in Suncorp Super Netball. The findings should change how every coach approaches the final five minutes of each quarter.
The headline numbers: scoring rates increase during Power 5 periods despite conversion rates dropping by 7%. Six technical and two tactical performance indicators differed significantly between regular play and Power 5. Most critically, missed goal turnovers were the key metric separating winning teams from losing teams.
What the Research Tells Us
The study analysed match data from the 2023 Super Netball season, comparing performance indicators during regular play versus Power 5 periods. Key findings:
More goals per minute. Teams score at a higher rate during Power 5, partly due to the two-goal Super Shot and partly due to increased urgency and risk-taking.
Lower accuracy. Conversion rates drop by approximately 7%. Teams attempt more difficult shots from range, and the pressure of Power 5 affects execution.
Turnovers matter most. The single biggest predictor of Power 5 success isn't Super Shot conversion - it's avoiding missed goal turnovers. Teams that give up possession after misses lose the Power 5 battle.
Tactical Implications
Shot Selection Discipline
The temptation during Power 5 is to force Super Shots. The data suggests this is often wrong. A lower-percentage Super Shot attempt that misses often leads to a turnover and an opposition counter-attack. A higher-percentage standard shot that converts keeps the ball in your possession.
Train your shooters to recognise the difference between a good Super Shot opportunity and a forced one. The calculation isn't just "am I in the zone?" It's "is this a higher expected value than working closer?"
Rebounding Priority
If missed goal turnovers are the critical metric, rebounding becomes paramount. During Power 5, both GS and GA should be positioned to contest rebounds on every shot. Defenders must prioritise boxing out over contesting shots.
Consider your most physical players for Power 5 periods. Height and strength around the post may be more valuable than shooting range during these crucial minutes.
Defensive Approach
The data suggests that allowing a Super Shot attempt isn't necessarily disaster - particularly against shooters with lower range percentages. The real danger is giving up clean looks from close range after failed Super Shot attempts.
Some teams defend Power 5 by sagging off shooters at the edge, effectively conceding the Super Shot attempt while positioning for the rebound. The maths can support this against certain opponents.
Power 5 Preparation
Pre-Power 5 time out. Consider using your tactical time out just before Power 5 begins. This allows you to set specific tactics, ensure your best Power 5 personnel are on court, and mentally prepare players for the shift in intensity.
Substitution strategy. Who are your best Power 5 players? This might not be your starting lineup. A shooter with exceptional range. A defender with dominant rebounding. A centre with composure under pressure. Manage substitutions to have these players fresh for Power 5.
Game state awareness. Power 5 tactics should differ based on the score. Down by 6 with one Power 5 remaining? Aggressive Super Shot hunting makes sense. Up by 4? Conservative play and avoiding turnovers is the priority. Train your players to recognise and adapt to game state.
Training for Power 5
Simulate Power 5 conditions in training. Set up scrimmages with the Super Shot rule active and track outcomes. Create pressure through consequences - losing team runs, winning team chooses the next drill.
Specifically train:
- Shooter decision-making under range (when to attempt vs when to pass)
- Rebounding contests on missed Super Shots
- Defensive positioning against Super Shot attempts
- Transition play after turnovers in the Power 5 zone
The Marginal Gains
With four Power 5 periods per game, each lasting 5 minutes, you have 20 minutes of elevated-stakes netball. A team that wins Power 5 by just two goals per quarter gains an 8-goal advantage over the full game. In close matches, this is enormous.
The teams investing in Power 5 preparation now will reap the benefits as the rule beds in. The teams treating it as an afterthought will wonder why they keep losing close games.
Looking Forward
As more data accumulates, our understanding of Power 5 tactics will evolve. Player tracking technology will reveal movement patterns, shot heat maps will identify optimal Super Shot positions, and game models will refine expected value calculations.
For now, the research is clear: shot selection discipline and rebounding dominance determine Power 5 outcomes. Build your tactics accordingly.
Where to Go Next
Prepare your team for Power 5 pressure with these resources:
- Shooting Drills - Shot selection and execution under pressure
- Defending Drills - Rebounding and defensive positioning
- Fitness Drills - Endurance for the crucial minutes
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