Key Stage 3-4 Netball Course
Newman College
9th February 2014
Nicky Fuller
Key Stage 3-4 Netball course
Aims:
· Based on the England Netball Attacking and Defending Principles
· Focus on a Games for Understanding approach
· To work through the skills and rules of netball integrated into games and isolated where necessary
Attacking Principles / Defending principlesScore Goals
Be ball side
Create and penetrate space
Use of the straight line ball to attack
Provide options / Be Ball side
Close down and deny space
Apply Pressure
Regain Possession
1.0 Movement Skills
Fundamental Movement Skills / Fitness Components / Netball SkillsTake off / Sprinting may be here as speed component / Roll
Sprinting / Reaction Time / Chest Pass
Change of Direction / Agility / Catching
Change of Pace / Balance / Shoulder Pass
Side Step / Strength / Shooting
Jumping / Coordination / Feint Dodge
Landing / Reverse Pivot
Turning in the Air
FUNDAMENTAL MOVEMENT SKILLS
1. TAKE OFF
The take off is described as the first step required to initiate a movement either from a moving or stationary position. An individual will make a conscious decision to move and it is the ability of the individual to execute this first step effectively so as to maximise the speed of the response. Working on this initial take off step maximises the chance of beating an opponent to the ball.
Coaching Points:
- Feet shoulder width apart
- Opposite arm to leg drives forward
- Body upright and balanced with weight over feet
- Head up looking ahead
- High knee lift to initiate the take off step
Common Errors:
- Knee lift not high enough
- Hips not leaning forwards in the direction of the movement
- Stepping back before going forward
2. SPRINTING
The ability to move at speed is an essential skill for netball and the ability to change pace and direction must also be trained. Players will combine an effective take off with a sprint to ensure they move as quickly as possible through the court when on attack and defence.
Coaching Points:
- Keep weight on balls of feet
- Head up and upper body upright
- Opposite arm to leg, with arms bent at 90 degrees
- Feet shoulder width apart
- High knee lift
Common Errors:
- Arms are not synchronised with the leg action
- Stride length is too long and more than a shoulder width distance
- The knee lift is too low
3. CHANGE OF DIRECTION
A change of direction is effective when trying to deceive an opponent and the attacker will move in one direction but then stop and cut back in another.
Coaching Points:
- Feet shoulder width apart
- Weight over the feet
- Upper body is balanced over the feet and upright
- Initiate the change of direction with a strong plant of the outside foot
- Strong push off from the outside foot speeds up the directional change and the inside foot leads
- Hips and shoulders turn quickly to accelerate in the new direction
Common Errors:
- Upper body dips downwards when the foot is planted to change direction
- A long stride is used leading into the foot plant to change direction
- Hips are slow to turn into the direction of the movement
4. CHANGE OF PACE
A change of pace is often executed to displace a defender allowing the player to receive the ball in an uncontested space. Elite performers will effectively use a moderate pace as the opponent tracks them through a space and then suddenly accelerate to get free. A change of pace can also be accompanied with a change of direction to effectively outwit an opponent.
Coaching Points:
- Keep body upright with good body balance and alignment
- Use small steps to allow for a sudden change of pace
- Pump the arms to accelerate
- Keep weight over feet when decreasing the pace
Common Errors:
- Stride length too big when increasing the pace
- Limited use of the arms when accelerating
- Body not balanced over the feet
- Upper body dips when accelerating
5. JUMPING
Often players will jump from stationary and moving positions, which do necessitate jumping to be executed off one and two feet. Within the fundamentals stage coaches should ensure that young performers experience and practice the five basic jumps which are:-
- Jumping from two feet to land on two feet
- Jumping from one foot to land on the same foot
- Jumping from two feet to land on one foot
- Jumping from one foot to land on the other foot
- Jumping from one foot to land on two feet
Netball is an aerial game with several passes being caught in the air and jumping is a vital movement skill for a player receiving a pass or when defending a high ball. There is also a need for players to jump and extend forwards to take a ball at speed.
Coaching Points for Jumping Upwards:
- Use a two footed base where possible
- Feet shoulder width apart
- Lower the hips but keep the body upright
- Arms swing back and vigorously upwards
- Maintain a straight body position in the air
Coaching Points for Jumping Forwards:
- Bend knees, lower hips but keep body upright
- Swing arms lowering and driving the body forward
- Keep head up
Common Errors:
- Limited arm movement in the direction of the jump
- Hips do not lower sufficiently for the upwards jump
- Knees are not flexed on take off
6. LANDING
The ability to land is an essential skill required to accompany a jump particularly when considering the footwork rule applied in netball. Landing effectively is crucial in terms of preventing injury and a coach will always spend a great deal of time on developing this technique.
Coaching Points:
- Knees flex and slightly flex ankles on impact
- Land on the balls of the feet
- Keep upper body upright, abdominals tight and head upright
- If landing on one foot bring the other down as quickly as possible to ensure balance and control
Common Errors:
- Landing on the heels or flat footed
- Not flexing the knees
- Body leaning forward over the feet
7. SIDE STEP
The use of a side step is an essential movement skill that will enhance a player’s ability to get free, move around and also track an opponent when defending. The use of a side step will allow circle players to move in various directions in an attempt to outwit an opponent within a confined space. Defending through all areas of the court involves tracking a player from in front and often the lateral movement means a side step may be used.
Coaching Points:
- Keep on the balls of the feet
- Head up
- Knees slightly flexed with the trunk upright
- Feet should remain shoulder width apart
- Weight should be balanced over the feet
Common Errors:
- Feet beyond shoulder width
- Weight falls over the outside foot
8. TURNING IN THE AIR
Jumping and landing are the essential skills supporting the ability to turn in the air. A player will use a turn in the air to ensure that on landing she faces the direction of play and the attacking goal. The ball carrier in netball has only three seconds to make a decision and pass or shoot. If a player can jump and turn in the air before landing this will allow more time to observe the options available and make the appropriate decision. Turning in the air removes the need to pivot after landing to face the direction of play.
Coaching Points:
- Use the coaching points for jumping
- After take off begin to initiate the turn with the head, shoulders and hips turning
- Keep body upright and abdominals should be tight
- Maintain the balanced body position on landing
Common Errors:
- Not turning the hips after take off and initiating the turn early
2.0 Ball Skills
Catching and Passing technical models
The technical models for catching and passing
Common principles that apply to catching and passing:
Successful Passing: Balanced (even when airborne), Weight transference (not always forwards), follow-through after release, rotation of hips to generate power.
Successful Catching: hand is extended and behind the ball, player is balanced
There are lots of variables of passing and catching that we may need to coach at early stages to ensure success, this includes;
· ability to catch and release on both sides of the body
· ability to release the ball where it is caught
· Transference of weight in different directions
· Rotating the hips to generate power
· Catching and passing under pressure
· Making decisions every time the ball is caught and released
How to Observe, analyse and Generate Feedback
Observe:
· Break down and focus on one part or point at a time
· Observe from different angles
· Observe several times
· Check if the outcome is effective
Analyse:
· Compare observations with the technically correct model
· Analyse where the performance matches the correct model
· Analyse where the performance mis-matches the correct model
· Decide which one of three coaching option to take; Reinforce, Modify Or take note but no actions
Feedback:
· Start with athlete/player to promote awareness by asking what they noticed about…
· Limit the information to 1 or 2 key points
· Give simple and specific information in a positive way
· Check for understanding “what will you do now?”
Decision making when passing:
Passing Mind Map
3.0 Attacking Skills
HOLD AND LUNGE
Coaching Points:
- Keep body upright (head and shoulders up)
- Knees slightly flexed
- Position the defender away from the intended space
- Stride length shoulder width or slightly wider (player should experiment here and note if they struggle to stand up from the lunge the stride is too wide)
- Move towards the ball after its release and bring the ball into the body as you stand up
- On balls of feet to enable repositioning in relation to intended space / position of defender
When to use? Used to protect a space often in and around the shooting circle & when the defender is marking tightly in a small space
FRONT / BACK CUT
Coaching Points:
- Look ahead and maintain a balanced position (body upright, shoulder width apart stride, opposite arm to leg when running)
- Plant and push off the left foot if front cutting the defender to the right (lead away from the ball carrier and intended direction)
- Inside foot should be placed in the direction of the intended movement
- Take off step should be short with hips and shoulders facing the intended direction (be between the defender and the ball)
When to use a front cut? Moving down the court and needing to get ball side
When to use the back cut? The defender has committed to the front space and prevents the front / forward movement & the space behind the defender is available
ROLL
Coaching Points:
- Knees flexed, look ahead, upper body upright & on the balls of the feet
- Base is shoulder width apart
- Head turns first with the hips to promote a fast turn
- Body must turn away from the ball
- Pivot on the intended direction side foot e.g. if rolling to left side use the left foot
- Outside foot should move quickly around (180 degrees)
- Pivoting foot should quickly be placed in the intended direction of movement
When to use? In a small space, tight 1 on 1 defender or a defender that is slow to change direction, at the centre pass to free yourself off the line with a defender at the side and in front
ATTACKING PRINCIPLES
1.0 Score goals: ultimate aim of a game
Why and How?
● To be able to score under pressure
● To cope with shooting when being marked
2.0 Be ball side of opponent: the ball receiver needs to ensure she is in between the ball and their opponent
Why and How?
● It is harder to intercept if this occurs
● The ball can be flatter and released more quickly if the receiver is ball side
3.0 Give ball carrier choices: there should be an option ahead, behind and on the width of the ball carrier
Why and How?
● It gives the ball carrier an opportunity to make a decision about who is the best receiver
● It means that the receivers needs to be coached to be aware of the spaces that are available
● Timing is an important skill to be coached if the choices are to be effective
● These choices can be readily practiced in dead ball situations
4.0 Move ball flat and fast : ball less likely to be intercepted
Why and How?
● Players have to time their move and receive ball at speed
● It is the quickest route to goal
5.0 Create and penetrate space - move to a free space
Why and How?
● This provides choices for the ball carrier
● It prevents crowding on court
● This can create an option for another player to receive the ball
6.0 Use of the straight line
Why and How?
● direct route
● faster route to goal
● less of an angle for defenders to intercept
7.0 Use square ball to player on overlap run
Why and How?
● opens up space
● prevents attacking players being drawn up court
4.0 Defending
Attacking warm-ups
Defending QualitiesDominance / determination / hungry for the ball / risk taker / assertive / Organisation / Coaching Points
1.In pairs, feeder bounces/rolls the ball to one of four points and worker with twitchy feet sprints to retrieve ball / Use a 3m x 3 m area / 2 hands onto the ball
Accurate pass back
Busy feet
2. Pairs - holding elbows and try to stand on each others toes! / Use a 3m x 3 m area / Busy feet
Have to attack!
3. Pairs – both with hands on the ball trying to snatch the ball away / Use a 3m x 3 m area / Fingers around the ball
Determination
4. A at a cone and B in between cones. B throws ball against wall strongly and sprints to cone and A sprint to catch the ball and repeats . / 2 cones set up 3 metres apart and 2 metres from the ball 1 player at one cone and one player in the middle of the cones / Turn hips
Keep ball flat
Sprint
5.In 3’s A stand behind B and holds onto their waist. B protects them from C within a limited space. C has to touch A’s back / Use a 3m x 3 m area / Busy feet
6. In 2’s face each other and hold onto each others elbows – who will push each the other one out of the area / Use a 3m x 3 m area / Low centre of gravity
Illegal!!
7. In 3’s A and B are standing still and passing a ball between each other – C can go to either of them and push them over / As above / Footbase forward and back
Strong legs. A and B must focus on the passing
Tag netball (6 aside) / Use a third of the court / Take a risk and go for the interception when defending
Quick release when attacking
5.0 Shooting skills