Netball: Defend the Lane

Develop your player's understanding of how to use their body to dominate and limit the space available to their opponents focusing on a centre pass scenario.

This drill is for a defender to practice intercepting and dictating play.

Use 4 feeders to make a space like a wide corridor for the attacker in a third. Have 2 feeders on each side of the third 6-7m apart facing each other.

The attacker will start the drill by passing to one of the first feeders, who will then pass back to the attacker. The attacker then has to pass to one of the next 2 feeders further up, on either side.

The attacker also has to receive the ball in line with or in front of the Feeder, to keep play moving forward.

Slowly the two attackers pass the ball back and forth down the court towards the circle. The defender must move to the ball side of the player inside the circle.

The defender must remain on their toes and keep moving as the two attacking players can put the ball into the circle at any point.

Create a narrow channel for 2 attackers and 2 defenders to work in, from the centre circle to the end of court.

Have a feeder on each side of the channel; both able to move along the side.

Attackers are attempting to play the ball over the baseline.

Defenders are focusing on keeping the attackers high or forcing them to make as many passes as possible.

(The more passes the attackers are forced to make the better. This is because they are more likely to make errors under fatigue and gives the defenders more opportunities to intercept.)

Points

Attackers pass the ball over the baseline = 1 point to Attackers

Defender intercepts the ball =1 point to Defenders

Best of 5

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.