Max group of 4. Attackers pair up with 2 pairs at each end of the practise. Use a third of the netball court. 2 defenders set up in the middle. 1 ball. One A starts with the ball. She passes to her partner who has made a move to get past a defender. First A then moves, taking on the other defender to receive the ball back from her partner, a 1-2 passing pattern. A then passes to another A at the front of the opposite line to where she started. Defenders mark tightly. Working As line up at the back of the opposite line to where they started. New As repeat.
Defenders mark tighly but do not come together. They should man to man mark where possible, putting the individual attacker under pressure to get free. Attackers need to take on the defenders with conviction and without hesitation. They must use definite moves, trying to outwit their defender and creating space to drive in to.
This practice has no coaching points
This practice has no progressions
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.
