Netball: 1 vs 1 Defending in the Circle

This session looks at developing your players defending skills focusing on how to effectively limit the space for the shooters in the circle, remaining ball side to gain possession of the ball.

Ensure your team get their basic defence correct in order to build and develop their skills to secure to possession.

Develop your team's defending skills with this session, by focusing on closing down the opposition and denying them space

Tighten up your defence and get your players man marking the opposition, building upon their current basic defending skills

Slowly, the two attacking players pass the ball back and forth and the defender should move to the ball side of the spare attacking player to prevent the pass.

The feeder occassionaly feeds the ball to the far side of the spare attacking player i.e. When 1 has the ball, defence will be on blue 3's left and the ball will be fed to blue 3's right.

The defending player in this situation must try to make the interception.

Player 4 marks player 3 while aiming to intercept the pass between the two blue players (feeders).

If Player 4 makes their move too soon the feeders should try to play the ball over the defender's head to player 3.

The first team starts with the ball inside the attacking third, with all the other players except one stood outside the area.

The aim for the team in the area with the ball is to complete as many sets of 5 passes as possible. Every time they complete 5 passes another defender from outside the area is allowed in to try and intercept the ball.

Once all of the defending players have entered the playing area, or after an interception has been made, the teams change over and try to beat the first teams score.

1. Double cut back:

WA runs one way, stops abruptly and changes direction before again changing direction for a second time to go and meet the pass.

2. Cut back:

WA runs one way, stops quickly - changes direction and runs into space to meet the pass.

3. Double bluff:

WA runs and stops, making it look as though they are going to cut back before continuing their run in the direction they were already running to meet the pass.