New Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander has selected a mix of experienced and younger athletes to represent Australia at the 2011 World Netball Series in Liverpool in November.

Alexander said her team represented a good balance of young players who represent the future of Australian netball, and some more experienced athletes to guide them along the way.

“It’s a great mix of youth and experienced players, including previous Diamonds Bianca Chatfield and Susan Pratley who will provide a great level of experience to assist and support our younger players.

The team, known as the Australian FastNet Diamonds, will attend a camp in Melbourne from November 17 before departing for England on 20 November.  Team leaders will be appointed at the camp.

The World Netball Series will be held at the Echo Arena Liverpool from 25th - 27th November 2011.

Australia finished fourth at the 2010 World Netball Series, just missing a podium position after falling short by only one goal in both their final matches.

FastNet first entered netball’s international calendar in 2009 and brings together the top six nations in the world to compete in a quicker, modified version of netball that includes innovative rule changes such as rolling substitutions, shooting from outside the goal circle and power plays.

FastNet games are not considered Test caps.

2011 Australian FastNet Team

Emily Beaton                Adelaide Thunderbirds

Kate Beveridge             Melbourne Vixens

Ashleigh Brazill             West Coast Fever

Bianca Chatfield           Melbourne Vixens

Carla Dziwoki               NSW Swifts

Chanel Gomes             West Coast Fever

April Letton                  NSW Swifts

Susan Pratley               NSW Swifts                       

Verity Simmons            West Coast Fever

Amy Steel                    Queensland Firebirds                   

Vanessa Ware               NSW Swifts                       

Amorette Wild               NSW Swifts

World Netball Series Rules

• Matches will be 4 x 6 minutes with 3 x 2 minutes breaks.
• 7 players on court, 5 on the bench
• Rolling Substitutions i.e. no stoppages; unlimited number of substitutions per team per quarter. There will be a designated box at each transverse line, opposite the Official Bench where players shall wait holding up the position of the player to be substituted. Players from either team may wait in either box.
• After a goal is scored, the game restarts from the centre in favour of the team conceding.  
• There will be alternative centre passes at the beginning of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarter.
• There is no whistle after a goal is scored.
• Coaches will be allowed to coach from the sideline, only in front of their bench.  The area will be marked out.  The third umpire will monitor.
• Each team will elect one quarter as a Power Play when any goals they score will be doubled.
• Shooters may shoot from outside of the circle, all successful goals will be worth double i.e. 2 goals. In a power play this could escalate to 4 goals.
• The umpire will signal by raising one hand for one goal and two hands for two goals.