With the 2011 World Netball Championship to be held in Singapore in July, the 2011 ANZ Championship season has been condensed to 12 rounds and the traditional winter sport will commence in Summer to avoid a clash.

The NSW Swifts will open their 2011 campaign with a blockbuster against reigning premiers the Adelaide Thunderbirds at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre on February 13 in a rematch of the 2010 Semi Final.

 

The timing of the shortened season has the NSW Swifts playing five games at home in the opening six rounds, before the regular netball winter season commences. The Swifts will return to their home court only once in the back half of the season, in Round 10 against the Northern Mystics.

Netball NSW General Manager Carolyn Campbell said hosting five games at home in the first six rounds outside the regular netball season would be a challenge but also a welcome change.

“Traditionally netball starts in April so it will be a challenge to fill the stadium for six games in five weeks however I am positive the NSW Swifts fans will embrace this Summer season,” Campbell said.

“Summer is a great time to be out enjoying the entertainment of the NSW Swifts home games with friends and family.”

 

The on-court test for the Swifts will come in April when they play four games in 10 days. The Swifts will play three games on the road and one at home which will see them travel nearly 12,000km in 10 days.

“We understand it is an exhaustive schedule, however, we will be giving the team the best support possible to get through the most testing times,” Campbell said.

 

As in previous years, all Australian and New Zealand teams will play the four other teams from their respective countries twice (once home and once away), and each team from the other side of the Tasman once (either home or away).

 

 

NSW Swifts 2011 ANZ Championship Schedule

 

Rd 1:   Sunday February 13 NSW Swifts v Adelaide Thunderbirds, SOPSC
Rd 2:   Monday February 21 Queensland Firebirds v NSW Swifts, Brisbane

Rd 3:   Sunday February 27 NSW Swifts v Melbourne Vixens, SOPSC
Rd 4:   Monday March 7       NSW Swifts v West Coast Fever, SOPSC
Rd 5:   Monday March 14     NSW Swifts v Canterbury Tactix, SOPSC
Rd 6:   Thursday March 17    West Coast Fever v NSW Swifts, Perth
            Sunday March 20      NSW Swifts v Queensland Firebirds, SOPSC
Rd 7:   Sunday March 27       Central Pulse v NSW Swifts, Wellington

Rd 8:                                       Bye
Rd 9:   Monday April 11          Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic v NSW Swifts, Tauranga
Rd 10: Saturday April 16        Adelaide Thunderbirds v NSW Swifts, Adelaide
            Monday April 18          NSW Swifts v Northern Mystics, SOPSC
Rd 11: Thursday April 21        Southern Steel v NSW Swifts, Dunedin
Rd 12: Sunday May 1              Melbourne Vixens v NSW Swifts, Melbourne