Footwork drills for an 11 year old?

Lee-annes NetballCoach, Australia

there is a lot to learn when teaching a player to land, be balanced, catch a ball and know which is their grounded foot, and then throw a pass with direction and power to another player.

so when teaching this try starting off with the take off.  i find the easiest way is to do a run, hop, land with 2 feet.  make sure chest is up and eyes on the target they are running at.  make sure they are balanced, their heals are on the ground, and they arent piked.  keep that exercise going without a ball, until they can catch their imaginary ball up high and land balanced with 2 feet (ie, bent knees, land on balls of feet and pushes heals into the ground, chest up, feet around hip width apart).  once they have mastered that, then bring in the ball. then add in the pivot, which should be a stron turn on the ball of their foot, and turn direction towards the player they are passing to.  make sure she has her feet not too close together, or too far apart, so she can stay balanced and ready to pass.  the biggest mistake i find my girls make is that they bounce in their landings and turns, and therefore step.  once she has the run, catch pivot nice and balanced, the pass she be pretty straight forward.

Hope that helps.

Sportplan TeamAdministrator, United Kingdom

Hello Mairi, we used the search bar to find you the following resources for improving footwork (search bar should be at the top of your page - this will find you drills, answered coach's questions and lesson plans).

Drill: Criss cross - pass and land on outside foot
Drill: Ice Cream
Drill: Hula hoop landing practice
Session balance and change of direction
Session: Ideal Footwork
Answer: Footwork for U9 that has never played before

Hope these links help!

Netball CoachCoach

I used ice cream drill for this with great success. The girls thought it was dorky (12-15yrs) but it worked. Also when they start stepping during a game, yelling ice cream is incentive to stop it. (I think it makes me sound dorky so it hits home :)

I tell them " no ice cream cones" just ice cream.

Answered using Sportplan on Mobile

Netball CoachCoach

Oh Anita that's funny !!! Ice Cream is so simple yet so effective !!! Change the wording Anita ???