How do you teach circle defenders 2 on 1 defence?

Shana MiatkeCoach, Australia

Hi Catherine as a coach and a defender you have asked a good question. What I Teach the girls to do is to put themselves inbetween the GA & Gs. They have to constantly remain on their toes but if putting enough pressure to force the closest goalie out further while being ready for a lob over. A great exercise for teaching how to move around your attacks is to place a chair on court. Teach your defenders to take three side steps. First one to the side the second a side step along the player the last one in front. It should be a quick movement the final one coming through with the outside arm. Hopefully this has helped.

Netball CoachCoach

Thanks Shana and good question Catherine. Depending on the age of the girls and their agility, there are things I like the defender to do. Watch the eyes of the girl passing - they will generally looking at the girl who they plan to pass to and if able try the intercept (at least have a go 1st time around to see if they are able to). Two, if the GA or GS is too far away from goal then let that girls get it. I pretend that their is a smaller "D" around the goal. Guard the one closer to the goal and not defend the one shooting because they are further out, you want a 50/50 chance for a rebound compare to a lob over the top for a closer shot. Or three create a "contact" to the further out goaler to give time for the other defender to get back on the other goaler for the 50/50 rebound option. My pet hate is the GD giving away frees in the centre 3rd. for defenders, the goalers dont get goals outside the "D".