Take the world's six best netballing nations, line up 20 matches in three days, slash the playing time, rewrite the rule book and get ready for the new way to play netball. Fast Net is to netball what Twenty20 is to cricket, five-a-side to football or 7s to rugby union; a shortened form of the game, taking the best bits and condensing down into a snack-size portion.
The inaugural Co-operative World Netball Series in Manchester dishes up the first taste of this concoction of the sport designed to the challenge the best players in the world to prove their fitness, technical ability and tactical awareness. It will also test the stamina of the umpires.

How will it 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 and even while play carries on although positional changes can only be made at the break, as the game is not stopped.
Winning the toss will give the captain a choice of end or first centre pass at the start of the first and third quarters because in this new mix of the game, the centre-passes will not alternate but instead the game will be restarted by the team who concede the last goal. This is where tactical awareness could really play its part as there will be no umpire whistle after a goal is scored so all players will have to be alert to a breakway. Coaches are allowed to coach and can bark their orders from the Team bench or coaching area which will be marked out in front.

To add a bit more spice to the scorelines there will be the chance for teams to score four points by netting just one goal. Shooters can double-up by landing a shot from outside the circle and if they can manage that when a Power Play is in force they will reap four-times the spoils. The team gets to choose the quarter they want use for a power-play and during that six minute period any score will be worth twice as much. The crowd will be able to tell if the shooter has nailed a goal from inside the circle when the umpire raises a hand, if the umpire looks overexcited and is waving both in the air then the shooter was on target while outside so the goal is "double-bubble" worth two points in normal play but FOUR in a power play.
 
With Fast Net on the menu in Manchester netball fans will be able to overindulge on matches involving the world's best. For the first time all six of the top teams on the planet will be going head to head in a weekend of gourmet action. A taste of things to come, will it leave fans hungry for more? Let's tuck in and see.
The Co-operative World Netball Series takes place in Manchester's MEN Arena from Friday 9th until Sunday 11th October, some tickets are still on sale. The first match sees England take on Samoa at 1430 on Friday 9th October 2009.