Stable body position and landing
Ready when: nothing, this is the first card.
What you are learning
The ready position (feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, eyes up) and landing still and balanced after a jump. In netball every catch ends with a landing, and a steady landing keeps to the footwork rule and protects the knees.
Words on this card Footwork rule, Clear
- Footwork rule
- The first foot to land after a catch is the landing foot; it may pivot but not step away.
- Clear
- Ways of getting free: running out of a crowded space; holding a defender off with the body to keep a space; stepping up, then sprinting back.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Stand with the feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, eyes up.
- Jump up and land in the same position, knees bent over the toes, quiet and still.
- Jump forward to a spot, land still, and turn on the landing foot to face the next spot.
Your part while they practise
Show the position from the side.
Step by step
- Stand with the feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, eyes up.
- Jump and land in that position with the knees bent and still.
- Jump, catch a thrown ball and land.
How much: 10 landings, 3 rounds 8 min a session 4 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: The V
Three spots in a V; jump to the next spot, land still, turn on the landing foot to face the next spot.
Who plays: the child against their own best, or two children taking turns.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Put three spots in a V, about a big step apart
- Jump to the first spot, land still and count "one"
- Turn on the landing foot to face the next spot and jump again
- 10 jumps round the V
- Fair play
- A grown-up lands on one foot each time.
- Points
- 1 point for each still, quiet landing; 1 point for each turn on the landing foot without a step.
- Fouls
- No points for that jump
- The knees falling inward
- A step or wobble after landing
- The landing foot sliding on the turn
- Winning
- Beat your best from 10 jumps.
- 8 points for 1 star
- 14 points for 2 stars
- 18 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A small hop.
A hop from a spot to a hoop with a catch.
What you will see, and what to say
- the knees cave in
Knees over the toes
Point the knees forward. - the landing is loud
Land soft, bend your knees
Quiet feet.
Self-check
8 of 10 landings balanced and quiet on both feet.
Stop and get a coach when
Pain in the knee or ankle.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains landing, balance.
awiseathlete.com/sports/netball/netball-b1