Netball: Defensive Body Position

Develop your player's ability to dictate their opponents movement and apply pressure to the ball carrier.

Create a narrow channel for 2 attackers and 2 defenders to work in, from the centre circle to the end of court.

Have a feeder on each side of the channel; both able to move along the side.

Attackers are attempting to play the ball over the baseline.

Defenders are focusing on keeping the attackers high or forcing them to make as many passes as possible.

(The more passes the attackers are forced to make the better. This is because they are more likely to make errors under fatigue and gives the defenders more opportunities to intercept.)

Points

Attackers pass the ball over the baseline = 1 point to Attackers

Defender intercepts the ball =1 point to Defenders

Best of 5

Slowly the two attackers pass the ball back and forth down the court towards the circle. The defender must move to the ball side of the player inside the circle.

The defender must remain on their toes and keep moving as the two attacking players can put the ball into the circle at any point.

In pairs ball between two player 1 holds the ball infront. As player 2 comes round the back player 1 releases the ball ( by lobbing the ball 10cm and retracting her hands)for player 2 to intercept

The first team starts with the ball inside the attacking third, with all the other players except one stood outside the area.

The aim for the team in the area with the ball is to complete as many sets of 5 passes as possible. Every time they complete 5 passes another defender from outside the area is allowed in to try and intercept the ball.

Once all of the defending players have entered the playing area, or after an interception has been made, the teams change over and try to beat the first teams score.