Defend the pass
Ready when: Small games (b4) done.
What you are learning
Defending: marking a receiver by staying close, between them and the ball, and watching both; and marking the passer from 0.9 m with the arms up over the ball. Good defence forces bad passes and wins intercepts.
Words on this card Contact, Chest pass, Mark, Intercept
- Contact
- Touching or bumping another player in a way that stops their play; not allowed.
- Chest pass
- Passes from the chest with both hands; from the shoulder with one hand over a longer distance; bounced once on the way; and floated high over a defender.
- Mark
- Staying close to an opponent to stop them getting the ball.
- Intercept
- Catching or tipping a pass meant for an opponent.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Stand beside the receiver, slightly in front, so you see both the ball and the player.
- Move with them as they move.
- When the passer has the ball, step back to 0.9 m and raise your arms over the ball.
Your part while they practise
Be the passer.
Step by step
- Mark the receiver: stay close, between the player and the ball.
- Track alongside and watch both.
- Then mark the passer from 0.9 m with the arms up over the ball.
How much: 10 of each 12 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Intercept
Two passers, one receiver, one defender; the defender scores for each touch or intercept.
Who plays: the defender against the passers and receiver; rotate.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Two passers stand 6 m apart; the receiver and defender are between them
- The passers try to get the ball to the receiver
- The defender tries to touch or intercept it
- 10 passes, then rotate
- Fair play
- A grown-up passer must use bounce passes only.
- Points
- The defender scores 1 point for each touch and 2 for an intercept; the passers score 1 point for each clean catch by the receiver.
- Fouls
- A point to the passers
- Contact
- Marking the passer closer than 0.9 m
- The defender watching only the ball and losing the receiver
- Winning
- The most points after everyone has defended.
- 3 points for 1 star
- 6 points for 2 stars
- 9 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A slow passer.
A fast pass with a fake.
What you will see, and what to say
- the defender stands too close
Stay at 0.9 m
Measure with a long stride. - the defender watches the ball only
See the ball and your player
Keep both in sight.
Self-check
4 of 10 passes forced to a poor option or intercepted.
Stop and get a coach when
Ankle injury.
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 defensive pressure, intercepts.
awiseathlete.com/sports/netball/netball-i2