Netball: Correct Defending Body Position

Develop your player's ability to have a strong, dominant and decisive body position to deny and close down space for their opponent up and down the court.

Develop your players existing defensive skills and reinforce the key defending principles of denying space and limiting attacking options to force an error to gain possession of the ball.

This session focuses on defending in particular, denying and limiting space for the opposition through applying maximum pressure on the ball.

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• When moving to the legal distance defenders use a strong stride to jump back or a few quick steps to get 3ft away from the ball carrier
• Ensure you get your distance before putting your arms over the ball - if you do not you will get called for obstruction, arms before distance
• Keep your weight balanced over your legs, with your hips, knees and ankles bent
• You can follow the ball with your arms to put pressure on the pass

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Firstly, try to not let your shooter set up a holding position, however if she does... 

• Keep moving your feet around the shooter to put pressure on her and ensure she has not free space to hold into 
• Try to stay as close as possible but without contacting the shooter
• Ensure you move around the shooter both in front and behind for the best chance of success 

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• When you go for an interception you do not want to try to intercept the ball AT the player as this is likely to result in contact (as shown)
• Instead you want to intercept the ball away from the attacker and cut the line of the ball - this will ensure you avoid contact
• When you are going for the intercept make sure you have a small foot base and fully commit to the interception

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• Set up in pairs
• 1 partner (A) has the ball.
• Partner A faces away from partner B.
• A Passes the ball in the air to themself and turns.
• Partner B jumps back to 3 feet distance and immediately puts arms up to defend the ball. 
• Player A moves ball around and player B is to track the ball. 
• Switch over players.