Every player should be able to successfully demonstrate a 1st and 2nd stage defence to apply pressure to the ball carrier and force an error or turnover.
The session begins with a fun warm-up where plays need to be quick to react for both attack and defence. The session looks particularly at stage 1 and 2 defence, marking your player and applying pressure when they have the ball. These skills are crucial in defence to help mark your player out of the game or applying pressure to force a held ball or error. The session provides a series of drills allowing your players to practice these skills, as well as tips to become more successful. The session concludes with a modified game of netball, with certain conditions placed upon the game to get your players implementing what they have learnt.
Players should begin working as a unit and in partnerships to be more successful in defence.
in more ways than one
sportplan_netball
in more ways than one
sportplan_netball
Split circle defence is the system the top three NSL teams have built their identity around in 2026. The Goal Keeper and Goal Defence divide the circle into zones, switch in synchrony, and make every passing option look risky. Here is how to coach it.
Most netball shooters know how to shoot. The difference at the top is who can shoot when it counts. A structured 10-minute pre-game mental routine is the most under-used performance tool in club netball - and it is the simplest to teach.
The best Goal Defences in the 2026 NSL season are intercepting more than ever. The reason is not raw athleticism. It is a deliberate shift from chasing the attacker to driving into the flight path of the ball. Here is how to coach it.
