Netball: Engaging the Front Defender

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.

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.

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.

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON* Set up in pairs 1 partner (A) has the ball. Partner A faces away from partner B. A Passes the ball in the air to themself and turns. Partner B jumps back to 3 feet distance and immediately puts arms up to defend the ball.  Player A moves ball around and player B is to track the ball.  Switch over players. 

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.

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON* Set up: 1 ball, one third space, 1 feeder in between 2 lines of players in partners. Feeder sends ball into open court space. Players contest for the loose ball. Player who does not receive the ball becomes the defender. Defender gets three feet and arms over the ball. Player with the ball passes back to feeder. 

Set up: A wall, one third space, one ball, 4+ cones, 2 players. 4 cones are set up in a zig zag formation down the length of a third space towards a wall. The ball is placed on the furthest away cone.  A defending player stands in the middle of the cones, they are to ‘pick up’ the attacker when they drive out. The attacker, drives out towards the first cone and zig zags towards all cones to move past the defender and get the ball off the cone. The attacker passes the ball to the wall and gets the rebound. 

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON* Shooters to take shots at goal and deliberately miss to cause a rebound situation. Initially have the defender standing beside the shooter and jumping in, across the player to box the shooter out and grab the rebound.  Once players have a feel for this movement, have them defend the shot with the correct distance, as if in a game situation. The defender then needs to react to the shot being taken, turn quickly and box (block) the player out from the rebound.   

Have the feeder start on the centre circle. Set up two boxes starting in the middle of the court and ending at one edge, with the bottom edge of the boxes being the transverse line. The feeder's aim is to pass to the attacker, in either box. They will be marked by one defender in the box and another defender behind the box, who will only move in if the first defender over-commits to an intercept and becomes unable to recover their position. The defenders are aiming to make sure the attacker doesn't receive the ball in the inside box. Ideally they would intercept the ball. In his scenario of a Centre pass it would be the Centre defending from in front with the WD ready to come into the box from behind.

Get into 3's with one ball  Set up 4 cones approximately 4-5 meters wide and 2-3 meters high  One player will be the feeder and stand approximately 2-3 meters in front of the cones One player will be the attacker and will start centrally behind the cones and the other player will be the defender and will start centrally in front of the cones  The attacker will move between the cones running out wide and forwar to the cones closer to the feeder  The feeder can only feed the ball when the attacker is at either front cone  The defender must try to intercept the ball  The defener must get 4 successful interceptions (2 each side) before they can switch out 

Players are in groups of threes, one ball, 1/3 space.  Players set up like 'piggy in the middle'. Defender in the middle sets up three foot mark with arms in the air.  Players attempt to pass over the defender with the defender trying to time and intercept drive to beat the ball. 

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.

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 8-10m 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 the next feeder on the same side. It doesn't matter which side they pick to start the drill, but both passes have to stay on the same side each time. The Attacker also has to receive the ball in line with or in front of the Feeder, to keep play moving forward.

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

In pairs ball between two player 1 holds the ball infront. As player 2 comes round the back player 1 releases the ball ( by lobbing the ball 10cm and retracting her hands)for player 2 to intercept

Get into 3's with one ball  Set up two cones approximately 4-5 meters apart  One player will be the feeder and stand approximately 2-3 meters in front of the cones One player will be the attacker and will start centrally behind the cones and the other player will be the defender and will start centrally in front of the cones  The attacker will move between the two cones - running back and forth  At any point the feeder and pass the ball in  The defender must go for the interception  The defender must get 3 interceptions to swap out 

5 players, 1 ball, half court space. 2 players set up near baseline as posts (one in circle and one in pocket). 1 defensive player is set up between the two posts. 2 working players start on half way with the ball. They pass the ball down the court between eachother. Either player delivers a ball to one of the posts. The defender has to attempt a flying intercpet. 

Player 1 holds the ball out in front.Player 2 runs round one way then the other to touch the ball each time

Get into 4's with 1 ball  Using cones create a '+' to split your area into 4 boxes 2 players will be feeder - one either side of the line  The other two players, one will be an attacker and the other a defender - they will start one side of the line, in one box (that feeder should start with the ball)  The attack must receive the ball from the first feeder, they can then choose which feeder they pass it to The attacker must now receive the ball in another box  The attacker will work until they have received one ball in each box without the ball being touched by the defender or any mistakes The aim of the defender is to prevent the attacker getting the ball  The practice is continous - the attacker will stay in until they have successfully completed their 4 boxes, likewise the defence will stay in until they make a tip, interception or force a mistake

Set up 3 cones along a transverse line, one in the middle, one at the edge of court and one in between these. Have one defender behind the line and one in front. The attackers aim is to come over the line to receive a Centre pass, inbetween the inside cones. If the attacker receives the ball: In between the middle cones: 1pt to the attacker In between the outside cones: 1pt to the defenders Keep score out of 6 attempts. The defenders need to be aware of each other and work to restrict the movements of the attacker.