The following drills focus on individual netball skills and ball handling including bounce pass, chest pass, hook pass, shoulder pass as well as bringing in the complication of a defender.
Variety of Dishes and Hooks with a Defender
The aim is to pass the ball in different ways, avoiding interference from a defender.
Organisation: 2 players facing each other at a distance suitable for player’s ability, 1 defender 2nd staging the worker. Worker passes the ball to the other player using correct hook pass and dish technique. A second feeder is placed square to the worker in order for the ball to passed to them. Worker can now begin to use the step-across technique
Coaching Points:
- Refer to Hook pass and Dish ball coaching points
- For the step-across technique
- Ball is taken to the side of the body around waist height
- Step across your body with the opposite foot to the side of the ball (ensure this is not your landing foot)
- Bounce the ball to the receiver
- Keep ball low to avoid defence
Progressions:
- Use both sides of the body
- Receiver moves to get pass
- Receiver has a defender (vary starting positions)
Variety of Dishes and Hooks
The aim is to pass the ball in different ways, avoiding interference from a defender
Organisation: 2 players facing each other at a distance suitable for player’s ability, 1 ball. 1 Player passes the ball to the other using correct hook pass and dish technique.
Coaching Points:
- Refer to Hook pass coaching points
- For the dish ball
- Ball is taken to the side of the body around waist height
- Step out to the same side as the ball (ensuring this is not your landing foot)
- Bounce the ball to the receiver
- Keep ball low to avoid defence
Progressions:
- Use both sides of the body
- A Variety of Dishes and Hooks with Defender
Hook Pass with a Defender
This video illustrates a progression from the Hook Pass. Please refer to The Hook Pass for more information.
Hook Pass
The aim is to pass the ball avoiding interference from a defender.
Organisation: 2 players facing each other at a distance suitable for player’s ability, 1 ball. 1 Player passes the ball to the other using correct hook pass technique.
Coaching Points:
- Take the ball from a two-handed catching position
- Bring the ball up to shoulder height and out to one hand
- Step out to the same side as the ball (ensuring this is your non-landing foot)
- Curve the ball around by rotating your shoulder and releasing the ball off your fingertips
Progressions:
Hook Pass With Defender
Chest Pass
The aim is to practice a passing technique over a middle distance, allowing the pass to be made with control and speed.
Organisation: 2 players facing each other at a distance suitable for player’s ability, 1 ball. Players pass the ball between each other using correct chest pass technique.
Coaching Points:
- From a two-handed catching position make sure the ball is kept at chest height
- Fingers should be spread behind the ball
- Keep elbows low and relaxed
- Transfer weight from back foot to front foot
- Push the ball out, extending and following through with the arms, wrists, hands and fingers in the direction of the receiver
Progressions:
- Increase the distance between the players ensuring accuracy and speed are maintained
- Move from a static receiver to a moving receiver
- Add a defender to the moving receiver
- Apply pressure by using pass in a group drill e.g. The Chest Pass Square
Bounce Pass
The aim is to practice a passing technique over a short distance to improve Netball skills.
Organisation: 2 players facing each other at a distance suitable for player’s ability, 1 ball. Players pass the ball between each other using correct bounce pass technique.
Coaching Points:
- From a two-handed catch take the ball to just above waist height
- Fingers should be spread behind the ball
- Keep elbows low and relaxed
- Transfer weight from back foot to front foot
- Push the ball down, aiming for it to bounce two-thirds of the distance towards the receiver.
Progressions:
- Move from a static receiver to a moving receiver
- Add a defender to the moving receiver
- Apply pressure by using pass in a group drill e.g. Straight Line Drill 1
- Apply to circle edge feeds in to a shooter e.g. Shooting: The Lunge
Shoulder Pass
The aim is to practice a passing technique over a long distance to improve Netball skills.
Organisation: 2 players facing each other at a distance suitable for player’s ability, 1 ball. Players pass the ball between each other using correct shoulder pass technique.
Coaching Points:
- Balanced starting position with opposite foot forward to throwing arm
- Use second to steady the ball if necessary
- Hold the ball at head height with fingers spread behind (not under) the ball
- Body weight is transferred from the back foot to the front foot
- The hand, arm and shoulder should then thrust forwards towards the target
Progressions:
- Ensure players use both left and right sides
- Increase the distance of the pass
- Move from a static receiver to a moving receiver
- Add a defender to the moving receiver
- Apply pressure by using pass in a group drill e.g. Shoulder Pass with 1 Ball
