This session develops your young players' defending; teaching them how to deny space for the attacker and force errors through pressure with the zone defence.
Zone defence is a type of defence which is the alternative to man-to-man defence; instead of each player guarding a corresponding player on the other team, each defensive player is given an area known as a "zone" to cover.
What's in the Session?
To get your players effectively covering the space up and down the court and communicating with their teammates this session is split into three sections:
Warm Up: We begin with a fun game of bulldog - using movement skills and peripheral vision
Skill Development: Get your players on their toes as they react to the attacker's movement and communicate to cover space
Final Game: Test what your players have learnt in this modified passing game which rewards defenders for tips and interceptions!
Additional Session Notes:
This session has progressions for you more able players and conditions to develop your less able players.
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.
