It is vital for your defenders to delay their players for as long as possible, so they cannot get depth down court. This session is therefore perfect to get your defence working as a unit to hold up the opposition to encourage a held ball or turnover.
What?s in the Session?
The session begins with a fun game, focused around the players using their defensive skills to keep the ball from entering the target zones. This warm-up will get your players ready for the session and begin to work as a unit and communicate in order to succeed. The session progresses to allow the defenders to work on keeping their attacker high up the court, this will prevent the attack gaining distance down court towards their attacking third. The focus is also placed upon the defenders body angle and ensuring this is correct to stop the attack. However, in netball as we do not work in isolation, the drill ?running the gauntlet? allows the defence to begin to work in a partnership and team, putting the skill in a court situation. The session then encourages the defenders to not only do their own job and keep their attacker up court, but also look for the interception. This is then further incorporated into the final game.
Ensure each player does their job, whilst also working together as a unit to hold up the ball.
in more ways than one
sportplan_netball
in more ways than one
sportplan_netball
Split circle defence is the system the top three NSL teams have built their identity around in 2026. The Goal Keeper and Goal Defence divide the circle into zones, switch in synchrony, and make every passing option look risky. Here is how to coach it.
Most netball shooters know how to shoot. The difference at the top is who can shoot when it counts. A structured 10-minute pre-game mental routine is the most under-used performance tool in club netball - and it is the simplest to teach.
The best Goal Defences in the 2026 NSL season are intercepting more than ever. The reason is not raw athleticism. It is a deliberate shift from chasing the attacker to driving into the flight path of the ball. Here is how to coach it.
