Netball: dodging and marking

The 2025 Netball Super League season has introduced a rule that will change close games forever: no match can end in a draw. If scores are level after 60 minutes, two 5-minute periods of extra time will be played, with a one-minute break between them. If still tied, play continues until one team establishes a two-goal lead.

This is high-stakes netball. Are your players ready for it?

Understanding the Rules

The structure is straightforward:

  • Regulation: 60 minutes (4 x 15-minute quarters)
  • Extra time (if tied): Two 5-minute periods with 1-minute half-time
  • Extended extra time (if still tied): Play continues until a team leads by 2 goals

The Super Shot rule applies during extra time, adding another layer of tactical complexity. Centre passes alternate as normal. The team that wins gets 3 points; the loser gets 0.

The New Points System

The NSL has also changed the points allocation:

  • Win: 3 points
  • Loss by 5 goals or fewer: 1 point
  • Loss by more than 5 goals: 0 points

This means extra time carries enormous weight. A draw that would have given both teams 1 point now produces a winner with 3 points and a loser with 0 (unless it was already close). The stakes are higher than ever.

Physical Preparation

Extra time demands fitness. Players must maintain execution quality in potentially the 70th or 75th minute of play. Traditional 60-minute conditioning isn't enough.

Extend training games. Run scrimmages that go beyond normal match length. Players need to experience decision-making and skill execution when genuinely fatigued.

Interval conditioning. Extra time is high-intensity bursts separated by brief recovery. Design fitness work that replicates this pattern - repeated efforts with incomplete rest.

Simulation sessions. Occasionally simulate extra time scenarios in training. After a full scrimmage, announce "scores are level" and play on. This normalises the experience.

Related Drills: Build your team's endurance with our Fitness Drills for extended play conditioning.

Tactical Preparation

Substitution Strategy

You can't save substitutions for extra time if you haven't won regulation. The balance is keeping your best players fresh enough to perform in extra time while not losing the game in the fourth quarter.

Consider which players are best suited to high-pressure, fatigued conditions. Mental resilience and composure may matter more than pure skill in extra time.

Super Shot Strategy

The Super Shot applies in extra time. A single two-goal conversion can swing a game. Have a clear plan for Super Shot usage during these periods - and ensure your best long-range shooter is on court.

Extended Extra Time Awareness

If the game reaches "next two goals wins" territory, tactics simplify. Every possession is sudden death. Turnovers become catastrophic. Train your team to play with maximum care and composure in these moments.

Psychological Preparation

Extra time is as much mental as physical. Players who've never experienced it can freeze. Players who've practiced it perform.

Visualisation. Have players mentally rehearse extra time scenarios. What does it feel like to take a shot with the game on the line? To defend knowing one mistake could end it?

Positive framing. Extra time isn't a crisis - it's an opportunity. You've earned the chance to win a game that was on the edge. The team that sees extra time as exciting rather than terrifying has an advantage.

Process focus. In pressure moments, outcome focus ("we must score") creates tension. Process focus ("see the target, trust the technique") creates flow. Train your players to narrow attention to the next action, not the consequences.

Managing the One-Minute Break

Between extra time periods, you have one minute. This isn't long enough for complex tactical changes. Use it wisely:

  • Hydration and physical recovery
  • One or two key messages maximum
  • Energy and encouragement
  • Reminder of process focus

What you don't want is panicked tactical reinvention. Keep it simple, keep it positive, keep it short.

Learning from Experience

As the season progresses, some teams will accumulate extra time experience. Each situation is a learning opportunity:

  • What worked? What didn't?
  • Which players performed under pressure?
  • What would you do differently?

Document these lessons. They'll inform future preparation and give your team an edge in subsequent close games.

The Competitive Advantage

Many teams will neglect extra time preparation, focusing only on 60-minute netball. The teams that practice extra time scenarios, condition for extended play, and psychologically prepare their players will win more close games.

In a competition where points are precious, turning potential draws into wins could be the difference between finals and missing out. Prepare accordingly.

Where to Go Next

Prepare your team for the demands of extra time with these resources:

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linked defence sessions

need help planning 4 linked session plans for my group of girls age 16-18 mixed ability

Archived User Coach

Is this type of defending an a...

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?

Archived User Coach

How do I stop face marking..? ...

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

Diane Coach, England

Passing, defending, getting fr...

I'm coaching u/10's and have an excellent A team, but the B team have learners who haven't been playing netball so long. Does anyone have one or two basic activities, easy to understand (for them) which I can drill them with for passing, defending and getting free, as well as something for the shooters. They are always all over the place (we do practice channels) and really struggle to get free - they run a bit and then just stop to wait for the ball. Anything, even just some advice would be appreciated! :)

Archived User Coach

Intimidation?! | Sportplan

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?

Archived User Coach

what large muscle groups are u...

what large muscle groups are used when marking a ball

wack Coach, United States of America

what muscles are used when mar...

so the joint/type of movement and muscle groupsby this type of marking i mean marking with hands over the ball 3 feet apart

clemmie rydon Coach, England

Marking a player off court? | ...

This happened numerous times in a recent game where the GD was blocking the GA up the court and the GA left the court and tried to return from the back line under the post. The GA was insisting that the GD was "marking off court" and on a couple of occasions the umpire called this and awarded a penalty to GA under the post? The GD was on court at all time whilst marking.

Libby76 Coach, England

GA marking a GK Marking a GS! ...

I'm new to joining an adult netball team although I played a few years ago in school so my rules are rusty! If I am GK marking a GS trying to prevent her from scoring

Shelly Smith Coach, England

Defending A Shooter who Splits...

I am not sure how to teach my girls how to defend a shooter who catches a pass with the splits and then sets up to shoot. Can anyone assist. Girls are aged 15 & 16yrsthanks

Diane Meeres Coach, Australia

Gk marking a holding gs | Spor...

I’m looking for a drill for my gk to help defend a holding gs. I’ve encouraged the gk to keep moving around the gs to limit passing options into the gs but need a drill

clare wilds Coach, England

Is this closed marking or open...

In the drills GK dancing & Prevent the Middle Pass..is the defence Open Marking(angled toward the passer)? If they are closed marking is this a progression? Is it harder? I prefer closed marking but for a beginner is this going to be harder? Thanks. I am new to coaching & loving Sportplan:)

Archived User Coach

how to protect yourself as gs/...

I was playing GS today and marked by a very tall GK. As I was watching the ball come forward, I moved to the top of the D but she didn't stay with me and remained behind me. I couldn't see her and was unsure if I should stay close to her to be aware of where I could move, or to just move where I wanted. My back was turned to her as I was facing where the ball was, should I be side on to see her in my peripheral vision but not stay with her, or should I keep marking her to hold her then come forward when appropriate? I would be grateful for any advice, thank you,

netballcrazy Coach, England

Goal Defence defending shooter...

Hello - i am looking for a few GD tips on the best way to defend a shooter that receives the ball a couple of ways as i always struggle to get around them when they do these moves! First way is that the shooter lunges out very wide (practically doing the splits) to receive the ball from the feeder on the circle edge and steps back closer to the net with the foot that is closest. I can defend her getting close to the net, but then she turns to the feeder and jumps and splits - thus always ending up close to the net. The second way is when the shooter stays quite stationery under the net, a couple of foot off the back line and holds her space there. she receives the ball by a large over head pass, so she steps back slightly on one leg to receive the ball from the feeder. what would be the best way to defend all the large overhead long passes to her, or draw her out? any help or some ideas i can try would be great! thank you :-)

paula xox Coach, England

Where should a defending (oppo...

Ask a question and have it answered by Coaches from around the world and Sportplan's team of Experts.

Archived User Coach

Contact on the Ball by GD? | S...

My GD is tall and has a very good stretch when marking the shoot. She anticipates well, and when she sees the shoot about to release the ball, times her action and from her stretch, flicks her hand to try to deflect the ball from its path. In a recent game, she was continually pulled for contact when doing this. She felt either the shoot had raised the ball up into her hands (and it should have been the GD's possession), or the shoot had actually released the ball before she then deflected it, rather than her knocking the ball from the shoots possession. The umpire after the game was happy to discuss and said the GD had been penalised for knocking the ball out of the shoots hands, and should have stuck with the stretch and not added the flick. Any advice?

Susan Donald Coach, England

Purposely using elbows - a gro...

What is the best way for players 11-13 to mitigate the affect of open players using their elbows. It is brought to the umpires attention and they do their best. However, I have in the last few weeks heard 2 different coaches (when I was observing games - hence I could hear the coach) give instructions to her players to "use elbows and intimidate". Seems a growing trend based on what a lot of players are doing on court in a range of teams. Defensively my players are starting to shy away from staying close to their oppn player. When on attack - I tell them to keep moving so the oppn defense can't set up on them and use the elbow. The poor GS particularly is getting really knocked about a lot of time as she is trying to execute a hold sometimes.

Sheryl Pascoe Coach, Australia

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