Title: At t acking Principle: Side and goal line t hrow ins! Date: Venue: Session Goals: Net ball Court Duration: 1 Hour 15 Minut es No of Players: Minimum of 14 players Ability / Level: This session looks at developing your players' attacking principles with the focus on developing options on a defensive goal line throw in and maintaining possession of the ball to increase chances on at goal. The session helps players to understand the importance of communication and timing when it comes to set plays. Players will develop their understanding that there should be an option ahead, behind and on the width of the ball carrier, whilst moving the ball flat and fast using the straight line where possible. This session has progressions to stretch and challenge your more able players with conditions to aid your developing players. Warm Up Beginner - Int ermediat e Personal Coaching Goals: Equipment: Net balls, Cones, Bibs and Whist le This session aims to get your players effectively thinking about different ways to take a goal line or side line throw in think on who will take the passes subsequent to maintain possession and successfully get the ball down the court to their shooters. Players will demonstrate a change of pace and direction to beat their opponent to increase their teams attempts on goal. Time Task / Activity / Session Content Coaching Points Anywheres The feeder can pass the ball anywhere. The worker must move at speed to retrieve the ball and return it to the feeder. Work like this for 10 passes and then swap player roles. Feeder should use a variety of passes to keep the worker on their toes - shoulder/bounce/chest pass. The worker should aim to make their pass on the move. This a great little practice for your players to do before any session or match as gets the players pulse raising an ready for the session ahead. pg 1 / 6
Bulldog Setup: Choose 1 player to be the catcher - they start standing on the line between 2 thirds, wearing a bib. All other players start spread along the goal line facing the catcher. Game: The aim is for all the other players to run and get past the catcher into the end zone without being caught - the last player still active is the winner. The catcher must try and catch as many players as possible before they reach the end zone. Rules: If a player is caught by the catcher they then become a catcher and start this role on the line for the next run back. Players must not go outside of the blue coned area. Once a player has reached the end zone line they must wait there until the coach signals they may try to run back once all players have attempted to run across. Players can only wait a maximum of 5 seconds after the coach signals they can run from the end zone line - if they do not move after this time they automatically become a catcher. Larger playing area Limited number of defenders/catchers Catchers are passive to start with Encourage attacking players to explore different ways to get free from the catcher (the defender) especially when more catchers are added. Players should be demonstrating the following skills in order to beat the catcher/s: Dodging Change of direction Change of pace The catcher (defender) needs to be encouraged to use tactics in order to catch players successfully. Do they home in on one player or a group of players? Thinking about their body positioning and being prepared and on their toes. The catcher needs to use their peripheral vision if balls are added into the game - this will be vital when working with your team later in the session to develop a successful zone defence. I used bulldog as the warm up game as it helped my players to start thinking about how to beat the defenders/catchers and ways to work together to use the most effective strategies and tactics to do so. Players have to run as soon as coach signals Smaller working area - less space to move (harder for the attackers) Give players a ball between the group they have to look after it and get it to the other side by passing the ball between them. Only the person holding the ball can be tagged. More catchers to start with - extra pressure Ball in pairs have to get it to the end zone - harder for the catchers (defence) pg 2 / 6
Skill Development Pract ices Down t he court wit h def enders. Position two lines of opposing players along the court in a straight line. The GK faces the back wall, away from the court, throws the ball up in the air, rotates and releases to the next player. The next player must drive into space to receive the pass. Place any number of static defenders dotted around the court (6/8/9 players) while performing the above drill. Once the ball has reached the end of the court, you can change the roles around, so the static defenders now become the passing team and vice versa. Finish this practice by adding the following rule: If the attacking player receives the ball near the static defender then the defender is allowed to actively defend the pass. Defenders start passive then become active Use spot markers or cones to give players an idea of where to drive too Follow my lead! Split players into groups of 7 with one ball lined up down the court. Players stand in a line spaced down the length of the court and the player at the end starts with the ball. When everyone is ready the next person in line runs out to receive the pass. The receiver then pivots and throws to the next person who has run out to receive the pass. Once the ball gets to the other side the ball comes back in the same way. This practice can be done in competition against other lines of players or against the clock (how long to play the ball down the court and back). Encourage players to communication with each other throughout the practice. Players need to demonstrate sound timing and read off one another. Players need to push off their outside foot to change direction and pace to loose their defender. Defenders start completely active from the start of the practice Add extra defenders to apply more pressure and increase intensity of the practice Encourage players to run out before the person with the ball pivots - timing is key! Players need to demonstrate quick, powerful passes. Ensure players have a good solid base and have balance before throwing the ball. Make activity quick and continuous. This is good practice to use to get your players thinking about reading off the player in front of them and is very useful when devising and performing set plays as each player reads off a player to make their movement on and off the ball. pg 3 / 6
Shorter distance between players - shorter pass needed Walk through practice first then build up gradually to full speed Larger distance between players - longer, harder pass needed Add in floating defenders to apply pressure on the player and the ball Screen Pass Split players into groups of at least 4 with one ball using half a court per group. WD drives onto the circle edge. GD uses the WD and the opposition WA to screen off their opposing GA and drives into the circle to receive the first pass WD peels off to drive for the second pass ideally close to the transverse line. Players have 3-4 attempts then switch over positional roles. WD and GD must communicate with one another and they must keep the GK in the loop. The C must be available as a support player. WA and GA need to set up as soon as the ball goes off the backline in order to get the dominant position. Players need to use strong and efficient footwork off the sideline/baseline to beat their defender. Players need to use their arms and legs to drive forward quickly and effectively. A screen can be set up anywhere - the side of the circle gives an added advantage. The GK could also work with the WD while the GD throws in. The screen can also be used effectively to offer GK a deeper option closer to the transverse line. This deeper pass can often decrease the number of passes through the court as GD/WD can pass straight to WA/GA then into the GS. Players walk through the movement patterns then gradually build up speed and intensity of goal line throw in Add floating defenders to apply pressure on the player and the ball Defenders can mark as closely and tightly as possible pg 4 / 6
Doule Lead Pass Split players into groups of 4 with one ball using half a court per group. The focus of these goal line throw ins is 'double lead' - players following off the lead of their team mates. The double lead option is where the WD drives wide, allowing the GD or GK to drive straight. The person throwing then has 3 options - the player driving wide, or straight, or the C if others are unavailable. Depending on the choice of the first option, the second option could be the pass to the other 'attacking' player or the person backing up the square - the one who threw in. To penetrate further down court on attack the WA or C could be used providing they have prepared well. Players have 3-4 attempts at the set play then players switch around positional roles. Encourage players to communicate with one another to ensure each player knows and understands the movement for the set play - in this case the WD and GD. The C player must be available as a support player. The WA and GA must set up as soon as the ball goes off the backline in order to get their desired position. Players need to use strong and efficient footwork to beat their opponent and secure the ball. Players need to use their arms and legs to drive towards the ball. The success of this attacking move relies on the cooperative timing and willingness of players to prepare to receive the ball, perhaps 2 or 3 times before they actually receive a pass. Players walk through the movement patterns then gradually build up speed and intensity of goal line throw in Add floating defenders to apply pressure on the player and the ball Defenders can mark as closely and tightly as possible pg 5 / 6
Modif ied Game 4 v 4 Half Court Split players into even teams - groups of 4 with a ball using half a court per group. Normal netball rules apply. Attackers score a point by scoring a goal. Defenders score a point by catching the ball over the centre circle line. Defenders can also score points for the following: Players have the opportunity to put into practice the set plays for the goal line throw ins a lot more often as players are playing a half court game. Encourage players to communicate with their team mates to decide who will take the the goal line pass and who will take the second pass. attempted set play of goal line throw in = 1 point successful set play of goal line throw in = 5 points Other Comments: Evaluation: pg 6 / 6