Netball: defensive blocking

Hi, this is a question for both me as a player and to pass on to players in social netball teams that I organise. I'm looking for any advice or tips to pass on to attacking players who are 'blocked out' by defenders, for instance when GS comes out to support and then can't get back into the circle. I often feel like I'm ballroom dancing with defenders rather than getting away from them! Any short drills that I could do with teams (we occassionally meet up and do a bit of pre-match training) would also be great. And if anyone has anything that individual players can do in their own time that would awesome! I'm a big fan of Rae Druce's Netball Fitness ebook, the advice for skipping & plyometrics is really transforming my flat footwork and jumping ability so anything I can do and encourage other players to do would be great. Thank you!

I play school and state netball as a GK/GD, when my other player is defending the GS or GA, I hold on to her defenders leg/hand for an extra lean. Because I'm quite larger and taller than most girls and already have a pretty good lean, when I ask my defender to hold me so that i am closer to deflecting the shot, she uses two of her hands and her body strength to hold me. My coach told me not to do this because she believed I wasn't allowing myself nor my other player to get an intercept or rebound, even though we had gotten most rebounds and had gotten a few intercepts with this technique. Is this an disadvantage or advantage to us?

Help... I am new to coaching netball albeit have played for years. My experience in playing comes from being an attacker so trying to work with my defence, is proving tricky. The issue I have is that both my GD and GK face mark. I have tried numerous drills in training however as soon as they get in to a match, they revert back to face marking. When the ball is coming down the court, I encourage them to stay on their toes, side marking and moving in front and round the back however when the GA or the GS moves out, the face marking starts. We have had balls bounce of the backs of heads and all sorts. Does anyone have any tips?  Di

My GD was do face marking in a game and doing a fantastic job at blocking the GA entering the circle and not being able to shake her off, the umpire for the other team repeatedly called her for intimidation.To me it did not appear to be intimidation and the player herself umpires and sees this in many of the high level games. She is not pushing, no arms are used in fact it is the other players pushing into her. Is this intimidation I thought that was a pretty tough call. What constitutes as intimidation?

hi i jut started playing GK for a local netball team and i am struggling abit, im not sure on what i can and cant do, ie jumping and waving my arms etc plz help

How do you beat a player that is blocking/face defending an attacker who is finding it hard to get free? Particularly when they are trying to go forward into the space for the ball.

Defending off court player.When a player in general play goes off court to improve her position , does the defender HAVE to allow her onto the court ? OR can she block her from returning. Eg shooter on one side of the circle goes off court around the goalpost and tries to return to court on the other side but defender {on court} blocks her from returning. Is this legal ???

they are shooting from too far away and are missing a lot of goals Do I take them back to basics? they are 12 year old girls. We lost the grand final by 3 goals and there has been a team change for the Spring season.

I need some clarification please. In the goal circle if GS steps in towards the goal post and lifts her grounded foot, where does the defender defend from if the shooter stepped in before the defender lifted her arms? Is the 3ft from where her grounded foot was or where she stepped in to?

When a shooter steps in when taking a shot the defender does not have to move. Is this rule still current or have they changed it because on saturdays game my defenders were not moving when the shooter stepped in but they were being pulled for obstruction every time. Also if the shooter steps in and you keep your feet still but move your arm is this still obstruction?

Would like some advice as to how to coach defenders to defend a shooter who holds to protect space?  Any advice would be appreciated.  Thank you.

What is the best way for a Goal Keeper to defend, especially within the semi circle. ? Should they watch the ball then try to intercept any ball going to Goal Shooter or just mark up their partner?Submitted via email

My teams are getting a bit older now and watching ANZ challenge and Aus NZ games the way the defenders defend or block has certainly changed. The defenders now have their backs to the attackers arms out wide what we used to say was airplane arms which would be picked up as obstrution. In the circle the defender is between goal and player at the edge still with back to the player and side shuffles with arms out wide blocking the shooter moving into the circle.  Is this not obstruction or are they doing something that does not constitute an obstruction call. Netball is certainly changing quickly in the way it is played