What Rugby Netball Teaches Your Players
I used to teach netball! I reckon it's better than basketball as a means of teaching spatial awareness, footwork and go forward.
Rugby netball is a great way to develop core skills, but when mentioned to the players tends to bring a few groans. So here is a fresh version for you to try, and which is a great game for a 10 minute warm up.
- The set up: Lay out a 20 metre square pitch, with a 2 metre square box (or circle) at each end. These are the scoring zones.
- The teams: Pick out two equal teams of no more than 8 a side.
- Scoring: To score, the ball must be caught in a scoring zone. The scoring zone is out of bounds to the defence, and can only be occupied by an attacker for 3 seconds.
- Passing: The ball can be passed forward. Any type of pass is allowed, but no pass can be more than 5 metres.
- Running: Players cannot run with the ball.
- Marking: These are the two key rules. Every player must be marked by another player. Players cannot swap markers during the game.
- Contact: Don't allow contact. Defenders must be three feet from the ball carrier at all times. Any closer and they are penalised with one push up whilst the play continues.
- If the ball goes to the ground, it is given to the team not in possession previously.
- Penalties: Any offence leads to the ball immediately being passed to the other side at the point where the offence occurred.
Developments
- Defenders: Two players on each side are nominated to defend only. They are not allowed out of their half. This will free up space for both sides, since the man markers will have to remain with their defenders (in effect becoming outright attackers).
- Quick passing: Once in possession a side must move the ball out of their half within 10 seconds.
Skills to look for
- Players getting into space, away from defender. They should use side steps, twists and changes of pace.
- Accurate passing in traffic.
- Different types of passing.
- Clear communication, such using names and hand signals.
- Players working quickly and problem solving.