| Highest governing body | World Netball |
|---|---|
| First played | As Fastnet at the 2009 World Netball Series As Fast5 at the 2012 Fast5 Netball World Series |
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | No |
| Team members | 5 per side |
| Mixed-sex | No, separate competitions |
| Type | Team sport, ball game |
| Equipment | Netball |
| Venue | Netball court |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | Worldwide |
| Olympic | No |
| Paralympic | No |
Fast5 netball is a five-a-side version of netball. It evolved from the Fastnet rules first introduced by the International Federation of Netball Associations for the 2009 World Netball Series. Fastnet featured four six-minute quarters, two-point shots from outside the goal circle and a power play during which all goals counted double. However, like traditional netball, Fastnet was a seven-a-side game. Ahead of the 2012 Fast5 Netball World Series, the rules were revised and Fastnet became known as Fast5. As part of this transition, the game changed from seven-a-side to five-a-side. In 2017, Netball Superleague teams began playing in the British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship. In 2023, Fast5 netball made its debut at the Commonwealth Youth Games.
In December 2008, the International Federation of Netball Associations announced the details of a new international netball tournament, the World Netball Series. The new series would feature a new set of rules, which eventually became known as fastnet rules. The new rules had been trialled by the England national netball team over the previous year. The new rules were designed to make matches faster and more television-friendly. It was hoped that this shortened version of the game would help Netball become an Olympic sport. Between 2009 and 2011, the World Netball Series used Fastnet rules.
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Ahead of the 2012 Fast5 Netball World Series, the rules were revised and Fastnet became known as Fast5. As part of this transition, the game changed from seven-a-side to five-a-side.
Each successful goal will score a number of goal points as specified below:
When scores are tied at the end of the fourth quarter:
All other signals remain the same as for Netball.
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The Fast5 Netball World Series is an international Fast5 tournament organised by World Netball. The series features the top six national netball teams, according to the World Netball Rankings. Between 2009 and 2011 it was known as the World Netball Series. New Zealand won the inaugural series and were initially the competition's dominant team. Between 2009 and 2018, they won seven of the nine tournaments played. During the 2020s, Australia won three successive titles. Since 2022, the series has also featured a men's netball tournament.
Trinidad and Tobago's All Sectors Netball League embraced the new fastnet, and then the revised Fast5 rules early on. Since 2010, each division has played a fastnet or Fast5 knockout competition. The winners receive a Justin Bowen trophy.
In 2017, Netball Superleague teams began playing in the British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship. Loughborough Lightning won the inaugural championship after defeating Team Bath 35–33 in the final.
In 2023, Fast5 netball made its debut at the Commonwealth Youth Games. Australia won the inaugural tournament after defeating South Africa 35–23 in the gold medal match.