Fast 5 netball frenzy sees squads go head-to-head
Hoërskool Monument's U15 side came out victorious at the Fast 5 & Hoops Gauteng Championships recently.
Gauteng School’s Netball (GSS) hosted their prestigious Fast 5 & Hoops Gauteng Championship on September 14 at Hoërskool Florida, inviting both primary and secondary schools across Gauteng to compete.
The annual tournament consists of five players on the court, where they play four quarters. However, in the shooting circle, points are counted from the distance of the player’s shooting range. If the goal attack or goal shooter takes a long-range shot, it counts for either two or three points depending on the section where they are standing in the shooting circle, and if the shot is closer to the pole, it counts for one point.
The biggest highlight during the tournament was the Powerplay, initiated in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter where each scored goal counts for two points, as teams geared up for a thrilling day of action-packed netball, testing both their agility and quick thinking when reading the game.
“We have a large number of teams participating today who are battling to secure a spot in the Nationals which will also be taking place later in the year. It was quite easy for both the primary and high school teams to adapt to only playing with five players on the court with the help of their coaches who guided them through hours of practice leading up to today.
“Seeing different schools participating that we don’t usually encounter during the year allows us to scout for new talent. Fast 5 is usually more faster than the normal seven players on the court so it teaches the players to read the game and play smart.
“What stands out the most from the players is the shooters and their accuracy with long-range shots. It is so impressive to see such skills at their age,” said GSS public relations officer Liandri le Roux.
After a nail-biting tournament, the top teams were announced as the winners in their age groups with Laerskool Orion taking first place for U13, Hoërskool Monument for U15 and Die Hoërskool Menlopark winning the U18 category.
The top teams selected will represent Gauteng at the Fast 5 & Hoops National Championships will take place on September 22 and September 23.
