After a storming debut, Red Bull Switch Up – the slick, quick-moving netball event – made it’s return to Manchester on Saturday 25th November 2017.  Twenty four of the best university and club teams competed in the hotly anticipated return of this unique competition format.

With matches played on just half of a standard netball court, 4 players per team faced off to see who would be crowned champions. In the early matches, impressive victories from University of Leeds and University of Birmingham set the competition underway. In this new fast paced playing format, teams used the opportunity to score from anywhere on the court for either 1,2 or 3 points. Free-scoring Bury netball club impressed with attacking accuracy and consecutive 3 pointers in the early rounds.

Meanwhile defending champions University of Manchester sailed through the group matches, to set up a hotly anticipated semi final clash with Bury to overcome their opponents 16-14. In the other semi-final, Durham progressed with a 10-8 victory over Manchester netball in this fast-paced and action packed knockout tournament.

Speaking of the competition, the University of Manchester team captain told us “it’s a real challenge adapting to the demands of Red Bull Switch Up. Quickly swapping from attack to defence, and the opportunity to shoot for 2 and 3 points really suited our team and pushed the girls to really play at our best”

With both Durham and University of Manchester facing off in the final, the defending champions proved too strong for their opponents, establishing an unassailable lead and overcoming Durham University 22 – 11, after an impressive display from both teams.

Head on over to redbull.co.uk/switchup for a full report on the matches.

Join the conversation @RedBullUK #RedBullSwitchUp

Report courtesy of Red Bull

Winning team University of Manchester (Photo: Red Bull)

Both University of Manchester and Manchester Met impressed in the group stages with back-to-back victories in their opening matches. As possession changed hands quickly, teams relished adapting to the demands of Red Bull Switch Up, with some sharp shooting on show and impressive 2 pointers throughout.

Speaking of the new format University of Birmingham team captain Georgina Lewis said “It’s quicker, requires some fast reactions, and quickly switching from attack to defence. It’s definitely a shooters game with so many opportunities on the court to score either 1 or 2 points”

The hotly contested semi-final matches featured Sheffield Hallam, the Dome, Manchester Met, and University of Manchester, as players’ speed, versatility, and all round playing abilities were put to the test. Both Manchester outfits emerged victorious to contest the showpiece finale in this, the inaugural Red Bull Switch Up event. In the final showdown, University of Manchester went on to win 6-4 in a closely contested match against their local varsity rivals, to be crowned Red Bull Switch Up 2016 champions.

Photo: Red Bull

Stepping off the court to tell us of their teams’ victory, Sarah Payne, University of Manchester team captain told us  “It was great, a fantastic day, and great to try out a new way of playing the game – we absolutely loved it!”

Akuma are the official kit supplier of Red Bull Switch Up:

“We are incredibly excited to be official teamwear partners with Red Bull netball switch up, as it is such an innovative and unique event. It is great to be merging the traditional elements of netball to create such a contemporary and fast-paced game”

Red Bull Switch Up is supported by England Netball: Over 155,000 over 16s are taking to the netball court at least once a week as netball continues to be one of the fastest growing team sports in the country.

You can get more information here.

Join the conversation @RedBullUK #RedBullSwitchUp

Report courtesy of Red Bull

In the inaugural Red Bull Switch Up, speed and versatility will be put to the test. Attacking accuracy and defensive mastery will be critical in this ruthless playing format, where mistakes will be punished, and the all round player given their chance to shine.

In this fast-paced half court game, Red Bull Switch Up sees the defending team capitalize and take a new centre pass every time possession is lost. The game is played on a half netball court with one goal post, and 4 players on court at any one-time facing-off in 2x 4 minute halves as part of a round-robin tournament, where only one team will be crowned champions of the first ever Red Bull Switch Up.

Ahead of this unique event, England Netball told us: “ It’s very exciting to see Red Bull get involved with our increasingly popular sport and this format of the game should provide a thrilling competition. We can’t wait to see who comes out on top when Red Bull Switch Up is hosted in Manchester.”

The one-day tournament will take place at EventCity Manchester, as the exhibition centre space is transformed, setting the stage for the inaugural Red Bull Switch Up.

Some of the UK’s finest varsity and club netball talent will face off on Sunday Nov 20^th in Manchester with a mixture of club and university teams travelling from across the UK as they prepare to take on this completely unique, condensed, fast-paced, and challenging competition.

With a twist to conventional fixture formatting, university sides such as Birmingham, Northumbria and Sheffield University will line-up against club sides, which they never normally compete against, pitting the best teams in the country against one another in the ultimate netball tournament.

You can find out more here. 

Join the conversation @RedBullUK #RedBullSwitchUp

Report courtesy of Red Bull