Skills and Drills
Useful sites for netball coaches
Example Skills & Drills
Here are a few practices you might like to try:
Drill 1
- Players set up on 3 points of a triangle.
- Player 1 passes ball into the space for player 2 who is moving towards next group.
- Player 2 then passes to player 3 etc.
- Players move onto next group after delivering pass
- Encourage passing accuracy and timing of move.
Variations
- Change direction of ball – either on call or when next person does not move to receive ball.
- Specify type of pass. (Chest, shoulder, bounce etc)
- Specify type of release (in air, one handed)
- Player to lead away from triangle and cut back to receive pass.
- 2 players to lead from each corner. One player receives 1st pass and other cuts to receive 2nd pass.
- Complete set number of passes without a dropped ball
Drill 2
- 3 players make a simultaneous offer for the ball.
- Ball is passed between all 3 players (each taking a pass).
- Ball is then returned to first receiver and the next 3 players make their offer and practice is repeated.
- Encourage use of space
Variations
- Add defenders
- Specify type of pass
- Use 2 balls
- Make it court specific (e.g centre court players to hit circle edge, shooters to receive final pass and shoot)
Drill 3
- Attacker takes ball from feeder 1. Returns ball to feeder 1. Take ball from feeder 2 etc
- Defender attempts to intercept.
- Encourage quick changes of direction, a variety of ways of getting free.
- Ball to be passed into space
Variations
- Take specified number of passes in a random order.
- Add a second defender
- Only 2 players to have a ball – attacker takes from feeder and gives back to a feeder without ball.
- Only 1 player with a ball, attacker to receive pass from one feeder and give back a different feeder
Drill 4
- 4 v 4 in a confined area
- Attacking team aim to get 10 consecutive passes
- After each pass player needs to run around a cone (a different one to the previous player and they can not run around the same cone consecutively)
Variations
- Specify pass
- Pass in given order
- Use of 1 / 2's
Drill 5
This is one of the many routines that are being used by the Satellite and County Academy coaches from their coaching manual.
Explanation and Tips
Set up 2 lines of players as shown. R1 starts in the practice area anticipating the first pass to sprint on to.
R3 starts with the ball, R2 makes a straight drive for the ball (a).
The ball is sent to that player (1) as R1 drives onto the path of the ball and intercepts it (b). R1 then passes it to R4 (2).
R3 then drives out to receive a pass while R2 drives to make an interception and passes to R5.
Continue practice.
Players to join the back of the opposite line they started in.
Number of players
Up to 6 players per group
Equipment
1 ball (4 cones can be useful to make a rectangle)
Coaching Points
• Interception
• Face the direction of run
• Catch with two hands (common mistake is to go with one hand and leap, so ending up moving sideways)
• Land clear of the intended catcher and in a balanced throwing position)
Variations
• This is a defending activity and so it is important that the defender has a chance to get the ball. Make sure all passes are flat chest passes to start with. The pass must be ahead of the attacker or it is very difficult to intercept.
• Use a variety of passes as the defender has to react, e.g. chest bounce and lob.
• Use chest passes unless the defender moves too early, then use a different pass.
Game related
Intercepting and catching
