General tips
Suggestions and observations for coaches:
· Defenders should

1... ask themselves "where's my player" and "where's the ball" aim to intercept the ball
2....restrict their opponent's movement
3....keep the ball away from their oponent
4....restrict the options available to throwers
5....watch the wrist action of shooter for direction of pass

· When changing your defence from the left to the right side (or vice versa) of an opponent do it in front of that player
From Col Evans

• Triangle drill
  Requirements: 4 players, one ball
  Place 3 players in a triangle 3-4m apart, one with the ball (thrower). 4th player (defender) stands opposite thrower, between and a little in front of the other two players (receivers). Thrower then makes chest pass to either receiver, defender must try to intercept. After five clean interceptions, players rotate.
  Coaching points:
  · Adjust distances according to skill/size of defender to ensure defender has a realistic chance to intercept the ball.
  · Ensure good fast chest passes only, no overheads.
  · Defender should react to ball, not thrower's eyes
  · Defender should use correct technique to come around defender (outside arm)
  · Ensure defender does not "creep up" on thrower.
  Progression:
  · Make defender stand back on or behind the line between the receivers.
  · Widen gap between receivers
  From Andy Dawson
  
  
  Piggies in the middle
  Requirements: 7+ players, one ball
  The team gathers in a circle with two players in the middle. The ball is moved across the circle at varying speeds, heights and using various types of passes. Each time the ball is passed the 'passer' calls the name of the 'passee'. The players in the middle of the circle must try and intercept the ball as it passes through or over.
  After a player has intercepted 5 passes, a new player enters the circle.
  Coaching points: A good drill for learning to pull in the 'fingertip grazers', and, if the ball is moving fast enough to pick up reaction time to the calls.
  From Michelle Evans - Friends Netball Club, Tasmania
  
  
  Balance of defence
  PURPOSE: To introduce players to the concept and skills required for area (zone) defence.
  ORGANISATION: Group of nine: five attackers, four defenders as shown in the diagram. Defenders each have their own area. Attackers move through from one area to the next in a given direction, retaining balanced spacing. On a signal change direction and positions. Attacker (BT) in the middle passes to any attacker and receives a return pass. Defenders move to intercept.
  
  PROGRESSIONS: Nine defenders, in groups of three, each in one third of the court. Several groups of three attackers stand outside a goal line with a ball. Each group of attackers moves the ball through the whole court Defenders look to intercept passes. When any group of attackers has completed their court run or the ball has been intercepted, they become the next group of defenders.

  
  COACHING POINTS:
  · Defenders constantly mobile, reducing view of clear spaces.
  · Head up, eyes alert, concentrating on the ball.
  · Stay off attacker until the ball is about to be released. Tempt the pass, then go for the interception.
  · Work together to close down angles and vision.
  · Watch each other and shift across to cover angles as the ball changes position.
  COMMON ERRORS CORRECTIONS
  Space related
  Closing in on attacker so that the ball not released to them and there is no opportunity to intercept Defender must position on an angle which gives vision of both the attacker, other defenders and the ball.
  Failing to move as a unit in response to the ball Focus on ball. Increase space awareness of defenders by drawing their attention to the need to work as defending pair.
  Timing
  Slow reaction on movement to intercept. Keep a balanced position working on the balls of the feet, ready to spring out.
  Players standing still rather than moving Practice movements without pressure.
  This session is an example of those contained in the publication WINNING SPACE by Pamela Barham and Christine Maylor. For more information see www.netballcoaching.com
  From Pam Barham - NCI
  
  
  Zone Out
  Resources: 2 thirds of a netball court
  Drill description:
  · · Split your players into groups of two. One to attack - one to defend.
  · · Defenders will line up along the middle transverse line between the 2 thirds.
  · · Attackers will line up along the base line, matched up as a pair with 1 defender.
  · · Attackers will run at defenders 2 at a time, from varied positions along the base line. It is up to the coach to select and call on 2 attackers.
  · · The other players will wait to the side of the court until they are called upon.
  · · The Defenders are to Zone the Attackers from getting into the area.
  · · Repeat the steps until all persons have had a turn, and change roles.
  Coaching Points:
  · · Ensure contact is monitored from both Attackers and Defenders.
  · · If there are more courts, more players can go at once.
  · · Be careful of too many people working this drill in a small place.
  Variations:
  · · Players can all be Attackers and one person is the Defender.
  · · After zoning several people, they join the end of the line of Attackers and someone else becomes the Defender.
  · · So on until everyone has had a substantial try at Zoning, perhaps giving the Defenders longer.
  · · This can be utilised around the goal ring between Goal Attacking players and Goal Defending players.
  · · As apposed to a one-on-one scenario, players can adopt a complete zone along the line and take on the Attacking player whom ever is closer at the time.
  Progression: This drill should help players develop Zoning skills. The focus of having 2 persons moving in the same area helps give more of a game feel. By this it's more realistic that only having one on one as 2 defenders or more may be zoning in an actual game. The idea is to get the basic skill perfected and then move on to the full complete zone, where a player will zone another and then if need be stay in their area and zone a different player who may come their way.
  From Kate Chandler - University Netball, Darwin, Australia
  
  Red Rover Variation
  Resources: 2 thirds of a netball court
  Drill Description:
  · 3 players are selected as defenders
  · The transverse line is the middle marker and defenders must not cross this line.
  · When called by the coach, all other players are to try and cross from the base line over the middle marker, to the transverse line behind the defenders.
  · The defenders are to zone as many people as possible.
  · Persons are allowed to pass who can not be zoned.
  · The game is stopped when all but 1 person has reached the line.
  · The last person becomes a defender
  · The game continues until only one person remains, or the defenders hold everyone out for a significant amount of time.
  Coaching points:
  · Ensure correct zoning technique is being used.
  · This is a no tagging game.
  Variations:
  · The size of the game court can be varied depending upon the number of participants.
  · Game can be stopped after a certain time rather than "last man standing".
  Progression:
  · Develops Zone defence skills.
  · Duration of games should get longer as zoning abilities get better.
  From Kate Chandler - University Netball, Darwin, Australia