Netball: Engaging the Front Defender

Develop your player's ability to dictate their opponents movement and apply pressure to the ball carrier.

Develop your players' defending capabilities by breaking down an interception into different elements.

Develop your team's rebounding ability in order to secure possession and allow your team the opportunity to take the ball through court to a shot.

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

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.

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.

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.