Netball | Decision Making Drills

Use an area half the length/width of the court with 2 attackers, 2 defenders and 2 trailing players. The attackers are working to get the ball to travel from one end to the other using their passes and the defenders are trying to intercept. Trailers need to stay behind the ball and can receive and pass from an attacker if the other attacker isn't free. If the ball is intercepted then the defenders become the new attackers. Pairs should keep score.

Player 1 turns their back to players 2 and 3 and receives the ball from X. On receiving the ball player 1 pivots. Players 2 and 3 both make strong sideways movements, but only 1 of them calls for the ball. Player 1 passes to this player.

Ball is passed round the square with players timing their move so that they run onto the ball. In this practice 2 players run to make a lead to receive the ball. Feeder throws to one of the players. The player that did not receive the ball makes another lead run to receive the ball.

5 players, 1/3 space, 2 balls 3 players set up in a triangle, these are the feeders. 2 players set up back to back in centre of the triangle. The top feeder is 'free'. 1. Feeders deliver 5 'anywheres' to players. Players then turn and either deliver the ball to the free feeder or directly to the other passing feeder.  2. They then begin 5 anywheres with the opposing feeder. This time they do not pass the ball themselves, they either drive straight to the opposing feeder or if they are still busy pass the ball off to the free feeder.  

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON* Set up: 1 ball, one third space, 1 feeder in between 2 lines of players in partners. Feeder sends ball into open court space. Players contest for the loose ball. Player who does not receive the ball becomes the defender. Defender gets three feet and arms over the ball. Player with the ball passes back to feeder. 

3-6 players, 1-2 balls, 1/3 space. 1 feeder with a ball stands at the top of the triangle. 2 other players (workers) make the base of the triangle. Working players drive in the shape of a bow. They will cross paths and need to communicate.  The feeder will deliver random balls so workers need to be ready to recieve a pass at any point. Progression 1: Bring in a defender.  Progression 2: Two sets of workers set up opposite eachother across a whole 1/3 space. There are 2 feeders. The drill plays out as above but when the coach calls 'swap' one worker from each side swaps sides and continues the drill.  

Set up: 2-20 people, one ball, variation of space dependent on number of players. Mark out a space i.e. third space as in video. All players are to stay in the space, netball rules apply i.e. no running with the ball.  Two players are assigned as attackers, the goal is to move around the area passing to each other to then touch the ball on another player. When a player is tagged, they then become part of the attacking team to help tag others. Ball is to be touched on players, not thrown. Aim is for attacking players to accumulate as fast as they can to get everyone trying to tag. 

2+ players, 2+ balloons, 6+ cones. 1. Players stand in their marked out square with cones. 2. Players tap the balloon then drive out to 1 cone before tapping the balloon again and keeping it 'alive'. Progression 1: Player drives to two cones then taps the balloon. Progression 2: Players drive to one cone, return to the middle then swap squares with the other player.

Set up: A wall, one third space, one ball, 4+ cones, 2 players. 4 cones are set up in a zig zag formation down the length of a third space towards a wall. The ball is placed on the furthest away cone.  A defending player stands in the middle of the cones, they are to ‘pick up’ the attacker when they drive out. The attacker, drives out towards the first cone and zig zags towards all cones to move past the defender and get the ball off the cone. The attacker passes the ball to the wall and gets the rebound. 

3-5 players, 1 ball, 1/2 court space. 1 player, the feeder stands on the third line with the ball. The other two players (workers) stand about 3 metres away facing away from the feeder. The workers jog away from the feeder. When the feeder calls "turn" or "go" both workers turn and drive towards the ball in anticipation to catch the pass.  The feeder can choose either players to pass the ball to. This can be set up with two sets of workers and the feeder can alternate between each set of partners. 

Play an attacking game situation of a centre pass with free flow at the line. A centre, WA and GA are looking to move the ball for 2 passes with a GD and WD attempting to intercept WA and GA provide 2 leads; Centre uses decision making skills to select the best option. Once the Centre has passed the ball they can move forward to provide a 2nd phase passing option. Play 2-3 phases.

On receiving the ball from the feeder player 1 turns. Players 2 and 3 should both make strong sideways movements in opposite directions, the defender can go either way. Player 1 must try and pass to the unmarked player as quickly as possible.

*AUDIO DISCRIPTION ON* Set up: 1 ball, one third space, 1 feeder in between 2 lines of partners. Two players to drive out straight from baseline to top of the circle (approx.) they turn and drive out on a V to the side channels where the feeder passes ball to one of the drivers.  The driving player who did not receive the ball is to cut back to the top of the circle (middle channel) and receive pass from their partner.  The partner now without the ball cuts back into the middle channel to receive a straight pass from their partner. Ball is returned to stationary feeding player.   

5 players, 1 ball, half court space. 2 players set up near baseline as posts (one in circle and one in pocket). 1 defensive player is set up between the two posts. 2 working players start on half way with the ball. They pass the ball down the court between eachother. Either player delivers a ball to one of the posts. The defender has to attempt a flying intercpet. 

Position two lines of opposing players along the court in a straight line. The GK faces the back wall, away from the court, throws the ball up in the air, rotates and releases to the next player. The next player must drive into space to receive the pass. Place any number of static defenders dotted around the court (6/8/9 players) while performing the above drill. Once the ball has reached the end of the court you can change the roles around and the static defenders now become the passing team and vice versa.

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON* Set up: At least 6 players form equal lines in a triangle formation. One defender in the middle. One ball. Progression for MAD Players are to pass the ball to either of the other 2 lines then move to the opposite. Defender must apply pressure and attempt intercepts. The aim is to keep all 3 line balanced so there is always someone to pass to and no one is ever left in a line by themselves. 

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON* Set up: At least 6 players form equal lines in a triangle formation. One ball. Players are to pass the ball to either of the other two lines then move to the opposite line. The aim is to keep all 3 lines balanced so there is always someone to pass to. No post is to be left with just one player. Set goal for players to be able to maintain lines for 30 seconds.

Goal Keeper floats to the top of the circle and drives to either side of the area to intercept balls that are fed up to the opposition's Goal Attack/ Wing Attack. By moving to try and intercept the ball your player will inevitably leave a hole. To ensure this hole isn't exploited by the other team it is important that the Goal Defence drops back to cover the direct throw to the red team's Goal Shooter.

Left or right 4 players 1 ball 1 player is the worker 1 semi active defender and 1 feeder and 1 player catching the pass. The ball is fed into the worker who has to pass the ball left or right past the defenders to the player behind the defender. After the player has caught the ball she passes it to the original feeder to start the practice again.

Set up grids 5 m by 5m. 3 player with 1 ball in each grid Player with the ball passes to the player moving to the empty cone.