Netball: Cover Defence: Ball and Hole Game

Feeder on the centre circle, 2 attackers on the third line (~5m apart) with the defender stood behind in between them. The feeder can pass to either attacker and the defender will go for the intercept. Whoever gets the ball then passes to the feeder and the attacker that the ball was thrown to runs back towards the edge of the circle with the defender. The Feeder then passes to the Attacker again and the Defender tries to intercept.

A feeder and attacker start on a third line, about 5m apart. A defender starts off to the side and behind the attacker. The feeder does a chest pass to the attacker which the defender will attempt to intercept. The feeder runs into the Centre third and the defender (or attacker if the defender missed the intercept) passes to the feeder. The attacker then runs to the edge of the circle to receive a ball from the feeder. The defender tracks the attacker back and again goes for the intercept.

In groups of 5.  2 balls.  4 players in square 1 worker in middle.  2 Players continuously pass to each other while worker stands in middle and chooses when to intercept the continuous ball.  Passes should be flat and fast – no high balls.Rotate the worker

Set up 4 feeders in Compass positions (North, South, East, West), with 2 defenders standing behind the W feeder and to the side. The E feeder begins the drills by passing to either the N or S feeder. Whichever N or S feeder has the ball then passes to the W feeder and the Defenders can go for the intercept. If the defenders go too early then the N/S feeder with the ball has the option to pass opposite instead and the other N/S feeder will play the ball to the W feeder. The W feeder only ever plays the ball to the E feeder. The W feeder also has a ball at the start and after the E feeder has released their ball then the W feeder passes their ball to the E feeder so that there are 2 balls in play.

Whole group drill, 5 cones, 2 feeders (red) and 2 balls. Players drive forwards, change direction on the cone and make the interception from a high ball from the feeder at the 2nd and 4th cone.

Have two feeders passing a ball back and forth about 5m apart.  Position two cones on either side of one feeder, making a gate. The defender has to run between one gate after an intercept, before making the next intercept, alternating sides. The feeder at the opposite end has the option of holding onto the ball if the defender moves too early. If this happens then the other feeder who was set to receive the ball will move in between the cones that the defender has just come from, to receive the ball out to the side. This will help the defender recognise if they are moving too early or too late and make them recover to move back for the intercept.

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON* Set up GS and GK in the shooting circle.  Two midcourt players start with the ball in the centre third towards the transverse line. One player in the centre of the court (C), one on the side (WA).  Put a bib on a player to be the floating defender.  Ball starts with the player in the center and is passed square to the other midcourt player who passes straight back. Floating defender to put pressure on these passes- hands over the ball. The WA player on the side then drives as if heading to the pocket, in the same channel. C player passes a long ball to the pocket for the WA.  GK comes out of the circle hunting for that long ball to the WA ensuring the timing is right. If GK is successful, they then pass back to the C and drive up the court.  Floating defender to defend the GK player coming up the court and trying to get the next ball. GK player will need to dodge or front cut in order to get free for the pass from the C player. 

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON* Set up: Goal 6+ players (at least 2 players at each corner) 2 lines 1 ball   A player (player 1) starts out of the lines facing back at the line (line A).  1st player (player 2) in the other line (line B) drives directly out to the same distance as player 1.  Player at the front of line A starts with the ball and passes the ball diagonally to the player 2 who has driven out from line B.  Player 1 is to drive across to intercept the pass to player 2.  If successful player 1 passes to line B and joins the line, if not, player 2 will have received the ball and passes to line B (player 1 still joins the line). Player 2 then becomes the person intercepting as another palyer drives out from line A.  The process is the same but opposite lines.   

Blue 2 moves to receive ball from Blue 1 and returns the ball to Blue 1, who immediately throws to White2. Blue2 attempts to intercept pass. When completed, reverse exercise to receive on the other side.Blue 1 moves out etc.

3 and 4 are posts (static). 1 and 2 can only feed the ball straight. They pass the ball to each other and occasionally feed to 3 and 4. Defender 1 must go for the interception. NB-the defender must be successful to build confidence

Players 2 and 3 stand just in front of a line. White 1 stands in the middle but just behind the line, and is ready to move, on her toes. The feeder feeds the ball to one of the posts and the worker must move forward to intercept the pass before returning to her start position.

Split the group into minimum of 3 people with one ball per group. Player 2 runs to the side to receive ball from player 1. They then turn and feed the ball to player 3 (the next player waiting in line). Player 3 feeds the ball back to player 1 as player 2 moves quickly through to try and intercept the pass.

Player 2 with ball throws ball towards player 1 Player 1 throws ball to player 3 and player 1 attempts to intercept this After three attempts, the practice then reverses, with player 3 throwing to player 1 and intercepting throw from player 1 to player 2 etc.

Groups of three or fours one ball. 2 feeders and 2 defenders. feeders stand 4 to 6 metres apart defenders position themselves beside the feeders. Player 1 and 2 pass the ball back and forth. White 1 must move to intercept the pass. Progression :- Defence must move round feeders so eventually she is starting from behind her.

Variation: White player 1 faces Red player 1 and attempts to intercept Red player 1s pass against the wall. You must allocate a target area on the wall, which equates to the ability of the players.

Half the group have a ball each, the other half has to stand tactically in between the two lines. The players with the balls start behind the line and have to try and get across to the other line by using the static players (middle players can pivot on the spot). 1 or 2 catchers have to try and intercept the balls. Players caught out must either sit out or help catch out the remaining players. See how many of the attacking team can get successfully across to the other side!

Using a limited area of the court. i.e. a tennis service court or badminton court (about 3 metres wide). Worker 2 dodges to receive the ball between the two lines.the ball is fed in so that the defender is successful As the defender increases their confidence, then increase the area in which the attacker can run

White 1 is defending and must try to be first to the pass from the feeder (blue 1). Blue 2, the attacker, is not allowed to step in front of the defender but can move laterally to be in an open position to receive the pass from the feeder. Repeat for 5 passes and then rotate players.

2 Feeders (Blue1 and Blue2) pass the ball to each other, attempting to pass a straight ball to White1. Green1 marks White1. Increase the distance between 1 and 2 as the confidence of the defender increases

Defender (green 1) attapts to intercept ball passed between 3 static players. Important that 3 players are not to far away from each other.