Netball Defensive Movement

Defensive movement drills work on intercepting the ball from a defending position and include face marking, slip step and more.

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Rebound

The aim is to obtain possession of the ball from a missed shot.

Organisation: Two players and two defenders around the area of the post. Player takes a shot whilst being second stage defended. The shot is missed in order for the defender to jump and collect the rebound.

Coaching Points

  • Defender takes up a ready position, knees bent, on toes ready to jump.
  • Arms begin at the player’s side slightly flexed ready to move upwards at speed to increase jumping height and reach for the ball at highest point.
  • Eyes directed up towards the ball and ring.
  • Avoid standing directly under the ring.
  • Jump straight up and down and land in an upright and balanced position.

Progressions:

  • Incorporate a turn in the air to land facing your attacking end.
  • Make a successful pass after winning the rebound.

Peripheral Vision

 The aim is to increase player’s range of vision and awareness of the space around them.

Organisation: One worker faces three others and must maintain eye contact with the middle facing player. The two outer players move away from the middle player in a semi-circle. One of the outer players passes the ball whilst the other shows coloured cones for the worker to identify and call out. Drill stops once the worker can no longer see the ball or coloured cones.

Coaching Points

  • Maintain eye contact with middle player.
  • Make calls and colours clear
  • Use a variety of passes

Progressions:

  • 1st Stage Defence – level 1 drill.
  • Use different forms of stimuli e.g. shapes, numbers, playing positions instead of cones

1st Stage Defence – Level 1

The aim is to increase player’s range of vision and awareness of the space around them whilst defending.

Organisation: Set two cones approximately two metres apart. Attacking player sidesteps between the two cones at an even pace whilst the worker shadows the player and identifies the coloured cones being shown.

Coaching Points

  • Small foot base keeping on your toes (making small movements using side steps and slip steps).
  • Weight centrally balanced with knees flexed.
  • Defender half covers the attacking player with their body slightly angled in order to see the person with the cones.
  • Keep head still and eyes up (you should be able to see the cones and attacking player at the same time without turning the head).
  • Use arms appropriately to increase speed.

Progressions:

  • Introduction of ball (1st stage defence – level 2).

1st Stage Defence – Level 2

The aim is to increase player’s range of vision and awareness whilst defending in order to make an interception.

Organisation: Set two cones approximately two metres apart. Attacking player sidesteps between the two cones at an even pace whilst the worker shadows the player and attempts to intercept the ball from a static feeder.

Coaching Points

  • Small foot base keeping on your toes making small movements using side steps and slip steps (a slip step is a cross over where when moving to the right the left leg leads over the top of the right leg and vice versa).
  • Weight centrally balanced with knees flexed.
  • Defender half covers the attacking player with body slightly angled in order to see the feeder with the ball.
  • Keep head still and eyes up (you should be able to see the ball and attacking player at the same time without turning the head).
  • Use arms appropriately to increase speed.
  • Once the ball is released by the feeder, the defender should sprint towards the ball in order to make a clean interception.

Progressions:

  • Introduction of attacking moves (1st stage defence – level 3).

1st Stage Defence – Level 3

The aim is to increase player’s range of vision and awareness whilst defending in order to make an interception.

Organisation:  Set two cones approximately two metres apart. Attacking player varies her movement, speed and direction whilst the defender shadows the attacking player.

Coaching Points

  • Small foot base keeping on your toes (making small movements using side steps and slip steps).
  • Use arms appropriately to increase speed.
  • Weight centrally balanced with knees flexed.
  • Defender half covers the attacking player with body slightly angled in order to see the feeder with the ball.
  • Keep head still and eyes up (you should be able to see the ball and attacking player at the same time without turning the head).
  • Once the ball is released by the feeder, the defender should sprint towards the ball in order to make a clean interception.

Progressions:

  • Apply principles to a small-sided game.

Jumping (2nd Stage Defence)

The aim is to restrict the vision of the opposing player who is in possession of the ball adding a jump to tip the ball away.

Organisation: Three players – a shooter, defender, and receiver. The shooter attempts to shoot whilst the defender takes up a tall stance with arms and hands covering the potential path the ball will take. The defender times their jump to tip the ball away.

Coaching Points

  • Defender takes up a ready position 0.9m (3 feet) in front of the player with the ball, knees bent, on toes ready to jump.
  • Watch the ball and player’s eyes ready to time the tip.
  • On anticipation of the shot/pass jump upwards and towards the ball which has just been released.
  • Fingers spread, palms facing ball.
  • Bodyweight slightly forwards whilst maintaining this position before you jump to intercept.

Progressions:

  • This can be applied to any area of the court, not just shooting.
  • Tip the ball towards the ground so that you can regain possession of it
  • Tip the ball towards a player on your team.

Leaning (2nd Stage Defence)

The aim is to restrict the vision of the opposing player who is in possession of the ball.

Organisation: Three players – a shooter, defender, and receiver. The shooter attempts to shoot whilst the defender takes up a tall stance with arms and hands covering the potential path the ball will take.

Coaching Points

  • Defender takes up a position in front of the player with the ball at a distance of 0.9m (3 feet) from their landing foot.
  • Fully stretched (either tall or wide) to cover the space as near to the ball as possible.
  • Fingers spread, palms facing ball.
  • Watch the ball and player’s eyes.
  • Feet less than shoulder-width apart and keep on toes for maximum height.
  • Bodyweight slightly forwards whilst maintaining this position for at least three seconds.

Progressions:

  • This can be applied to any area of the court, not just shooting.
  • Progress to rebounding drill

Centre Pass – (2nd Stage Defence)

The aim is to intercept the ball between Wing attack and Goal attack using half of the court.

Organisation: Three players, Wing Defence; Goal Attack and Wing Attack. WD and WA start side by side on the goal line. GA passes to WA and then moves towards the goal to receive the pass back. The WD’s role is to block this pass. Coaching Points Fully stretched (either tall or wide) to cover the space as near to the ball as possible. Fingers spread, palms facing ball. Watch the ball and player’s eyes. Feet less than shoulder-width apart and keep on toes for maximum height. Ensure passes are accurate and into the space, enabling the moving player to attack the ball Keep head and eyes up, maintaining an awareness of the players and space around you Make your drives clear by using your arms and moving into the space available, aiming to balance the court at all times.

3rd stage Face Marking Slip Step

A slip step is a backward crossover movement where one leg leads over the other depending on the direction you wish to travel. If moving left, your right leg crosses over the left and vice versa

3rd stage Face Marking Side Step

The aim is to delay an attacking player from moving forward.

Linking 1st & 3rd Stage Defending

This is a progression that aims to link the skills learnt in previous drills.

Organisation: 4 players. One defender. WA starts from the centre court working down to goal. The defender incorporates skills learned from Stage 1 and Stage 3 to block passes to WA and Shooter.

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