HOME Netball Answers Netball COACHING Q&A

WA on the semi circle

Hi. Whilst playing Wing Defence, I had one WA pretty much doing the splits on the semi circle, preventing me getting near to her. No matter which side of her I go on, she simply just turns. Quite genius really. Any ideas other than standing behind her and hoping I don't make contact should the ball be passed to her? Thank you.

Cerianne SelioCoach, Wales

1 answer

ANSWERS

Cam HughesCoach, United Kingdom

Hi Cerianne,

This is a tricky issue to overcome, however, these are our tips for defending without making contact:

Interception: Encourage players to anticipate the opponent's passes and movements to intercept the ball without making physical contact. This requires good positioning, timing, and reading of the game .

Shadowing: Teach players to shadow their opponents closely without touching them. This involves staying close to the attacker, mirroring their movements, and putting pressure on them to force errors .

Zone Defence: Implement a zone defence strategy where players defend specific areas of the court rather than marking individual players. This can help in limiting the opponent's options without the need for physical contact .

Footwork: Emphasise the importance of quick footwork to stay in front of the attacker and block passing lanes effectively. Players can use lateral movements and quick changes in direction to defend without resorting to physical contact .

By focusing on these techniques, players can effectively defend in Netball without the need for physical contact, maintaining a fair approach to the game.

I hope this helps.

Cam