Netball
Invasion Games | Years 5–6 | 6 Lessons
Netball Sessions
These netball sessions progress from the previous unit of year 3/4, looking to keep improving our throwing, catching, dribbling and shooting, whilst introducing tactical and positional knowledge, as well as improving our decision making skills through playing small sided games. Lessons are progressive and suitable for indoor or outdoor delivery.
Lessons
Lesson 1: Advanced Passing
Warm-up • Skill Development • Game
View Lesson Plan
Learning Objectives:
- To be able to show a clear understanding of the types of passes in netball and how to use them in different situations
- To understand how good communication can help others
Success Criteria:
- I can choose between chest, bounce or overhead passes.
- I understand how effective communication can help when working as part of a team
- I can create space before receiving or passing.
Key Words:
- Accuracy
- Communication
- Space
Equipment:
- Netballs/large balls
- Bibs
- Cones
Preparation Ideas (warm up) – Germs & Medicine
Choose 3 taggers, they are the germs. Choose 3 releasers, they are the medicine. The germs move around the area trying to tag as many people as possible. If you are tagged, stand still in the ready position. The 3 medicines will be given a ball and need to release anyone who has been tagged by the germs by throwing the ball and then receiving the ball back from those who have been tagged.
Skill Development
Box Passing
If the children struggle with/can’t remember any skills throughout the session, refer back to the year 3/4 session to go through skills
Get the children into groups of around 6-7 per group. Start them off in a small boxed off area of the hall. In the area, they must try to complete as many types of netball passes as possible. Allow time for the children to be creative. Remember that when you have the ball in hand, you cannot move, you can only pivot
Progression:
>Once the group feel comfortable enough with their passes, give 1 or 2 of them a bib and ask them to become defenders. The attacking team must try to keep the ball away from the defenders, who can only intercept the ball to win it back. If they do, swap with the person who lost the ball.
>Increase the number of defenders if the game becomes too easy.
Foxes and rabbits
Keep the children in the same groups of 6-7 per group. Again, they will be working in a small area within the hall space. Pick 1-2 people in the group to put a bib on, they will be the rabbits in the game. The aim of the team who has possession of the ball is to tag the rabbits. Once they have been tagged, they are out of the game. The only rule of those who have the ball (foxes), is that if you have the ball in your hand you cannot move.
The aim is for their team mates to work together to get close to those with the bibs on, so that if they receive the ball, they can tag that person without having to move.
Progression:
>Increase the size of the space in the area.
Game – Over The Water
Split the hall into 3 areas. Two of the areas will be quite large (the bank), with a small lane in the middle (the river) (see diagram). Split the class into 3 even teams.
The two teams in the large areas (banks) are the teams who have possession of the ball. The team in the narrow lane in the middle (the river) are the defending team.
The game starts with the ball in one of the bank areas. That team must complete a set number of passes and then pass the ball ‘over the water’ in the middle, to the team on the other bank area. They then must complete passes and send the ball back over. Again, when you have the ball, you cannot move.
The defending team send 2-3 people into the bank area where the ball is to try and win possession back. The job of the others in the defending team is to spread out along the narrow lane (water) and try to intercept the pass across the water. If the ball then reaches the other bank areas, the defending team send a different group of 2-3 to try and win the ball back. Repeat until the defending team win back possession and swap roles with the team who lose possession
Progression:
>You can increase the number of passes needed to be completed.
>Allow the defending team to send more players into the bank area to retrieve the ball
Teaching Points:
- Make sure the children are using the correct technique for each type of pass and have a clear understanding of when to use certain types of passes e.g., bounce or chest pass used for short distance and overhead and lob pass used for longer distance passes.
- We want to see and hear clear and good communication between the teams. This applies to both sets of teams. We want to hear the attacking team clearly calling for the ball (when they are in spaces to receive) and the defending team talking to one another about who enters the areas each time.
- Can we hear the attacking team give out some extra information to the person who has/is about to receive the ball such as ‘time’ when they have time and space and can relax or ‘defender’ when a defender is close by that they cannot see. This clear information being passed on can help those who have the ball
Key Questions:
- What does communication involve?
- How can you effectively communicate with other in the group?
- Can anyone name a type of pass in netball?
- What determines which type of pass we need to make?
National curriculum links:
- Use running, throwing and catching in isolation and combination
- Play competitive games against others, applying basic principles for both attacking and defending
- Develop control and technique through playing netball
Social/environmental skills:
- Develop team work and collaboration skills
- Develop good communication skills
- Show creativity in their work throughout the session
Lesson 2: Advanced Shooting
Warm-up • Skill Development • Game
View Lesson Plan
Learning Objectives:
- To be able to shoot with correct technique.
- To understand the shooting differences between netball and basketball
Success Criteria:
- I can use the correct technique throughout the session
- I understand how shooting in netball differs from different sports such as basketball
Key Words:
- Shooting
- Technique
- Accuracy
Equipment:
- Netballs/Large balls
- Cones
- Bibs
- Netball posts
Preparation Ideas (warm up) – Tag & Shoot
Pick 2 taggers, set out the two hoops either side of the playing area with 3-5 balls. If you are tagged you must go and take a shot at the hoop, if you miss you must do one lap of the playing area, if you score you can join straight back into the game.
Skill Development
Hot Seat
Place 2 hoops at opposite sides of the room. Have a shooting cone in front of each hoop about 1m away from the hoop to make it a realistic shooting distance. The children will line up behind a cone and wait for their turn to shoot at the hoop. When you shoot if you score you join the back of the line, if you miss you go into the hot seat.
If the person after you scores, the person in the hot seat is out (or can do a forfeit to stop people sitting out. E.g. 10 star jumps).
Game – 3v3
Split the class into 4 even teams and have two games going on at once in a half court. This game will be attack v defence.
Attacking team start on the half way line of the half court and the defensive team start at the hoop. The game is a simple 3v3 game, each team taking it in turns to send 3 different players out at a time.
The attacking team get 5 attempts to score as many baskets as possible before the team’s swap. One turn ends if they ball is intercepted by the defending team or the ball goes out of play
Teaching Points:
- Accuracy is key when shooting in netball. As there isn’t a backboard available to help with the shot like in basketball, you need to be able to increase the accuracy in order to shoot successfully. You will need to reiterate this to the children as they shoot
- Remember that when we shoot in netball, we can’t jump so we are not able to shoot as far. Therefore, it’s important to get as close to the basket as possible.
- The ball should have a loop action to it as it is traveling. As there is no backboard, if we shoot too straight and forward, the ball will go past the hoop. We want the ball to loop up and into the net.
- In netball, as you shoot, the defender cannot intercept or stand too close, so get the children to take their time with their shot, ensuring they are balanced and fully concentrating in order to maximise their accuracy
Key Questions:
- How close should you be when shooting in netball and why?
- Why do we need more accuracy in shooting in netball compared to a sport like basketball?
- How does your shot differ compared to a basketball shot?
National Curriculum Links:
- Using running in isolation and combination
- Playing competitive games against others, applying basic principles for attacking and defending
- Developing control, balance and technique through playing netball
Social/environmental skills:
- Developing team work and collaboration skills
- Developing good communication skills
- Showing patience in their work
- Showing and developing resilience in trying to improve in the session
Lesson 3: Positional Play
Warm-up • Skill Development • Game
View Lesson Plan
Learning Objectives:
- To understand the different positions in netball
- To experience playing in different positions
Success Criteria:
- I know the positions in netball
- I understand the roles of each position in netball
Key Words:
- Positions
- Attacking
- Defending
- Shape
Equipment:
- Netballs
- Bibs
- Cones
- Netball posts if available or benches
Preparation Ideas (warm up) – Pair Tag
Pick 2-3 taggers and then the rest of the class will get into pairs. Each pair will have one ball between them, if you have a ball, you cannot be tagged.
Aim of the game is to work with your partner so you avoid getting tagged by passing the ball effectively so neither of you get tagged. If you get tagged, you and your partner must complete 10 consecutive passes before you can join back in.
Skill Development
Positional play
Split the court into 3 sections, using 3 different coloured cones and get the children to understand the each of the roles.
>Goalkeeper and goal defender– Can only operate in the defensive third and middle third
>Centre – Operates throughout the full court
>Goal attack and goal shooter– Operate in the middle and attacking thirds
Attack v defence
Set up two separate courts, with the split thirds and split the class into teams of 5 and have each team choose their positions.
If you do not have netball hoops available, set up a bench and have an extra player stood on the bench ready to catch.
Each team will take it in turns to attack and defend each other’s goal. If the defending team win the ball back, the game stops and the teams swap roles. The ball will then begin in the attacking team’s defensive third.
If the defending team win the ball back, they receive a point. If the attacking team score, they are awarded a point
After 5 minutes of play, swap the team’s so they can play against another team and swap player’s roles so the children can experience different positions.
Note: If a player moves into an area they are not allowed in, this is offside. If the attacking team violate this rule, the defending team are awarded a point. If a defending team violate this rule the attacking team are awarded the point
Game – Game Of Netball
Same as the game above, however this time, it is a normal game of netball, so the game continues if the defending team win the ball back
Note: If the offside rule is broken, a free pass is awarded to the opposition
Teaching Points:
- We want the children to gain an understanding of which areas they can move into as they are playing. Make sure that only the centre is moving into all areas and that the defensive and attacking players are only moving in their respective areas. We want them to understand that if a player moves into an area they are not allowed in, this is offside.
- As the attackers and defenders can only move into certain parts of the pitch, we want the children to gain an understanding of how they can help their team from their positions. When in attack, we want the defenders to push into the middle third and the centre to join the attackers in the final third. When defending, the centre should push back into the defensive third and the attackers move into the middle third to help.
- As the attacking team, can we pass and move the ball effectively through the thirds and make sure that we are in space to receive the ball. As the defenders, can we mark a specific player to stop them from receiving a pass and make it more difficult for the opposition to attack
Key Questions:
- Can someone name a position and which areas on the pitch they can move in?
- What happens if a player moves into an area they are not allowed in?
- How can we help our team when we are attacking?
- How can we help our team when we are defending?
National curriculum links:
- Using running, throwing and catching in isolation and combination
- Play competitive games against others, applying basic principles for attacking and defending
- Developing control and technique through playing netball
Social/environmental skills:
- Developing good team work and collaboration skills
- Developing good communication skils
- Improving our decision making skills
Lesson 4: Attacking Movements
Warm-up • Skill Development • Game
View Lesson Plan
Learning Objectives:
- To understand the attacking positions in netball
- To understand how to implement different attacking tactics
- To be able to make good decision throughout the session
Success Criteria:
- I understand and remember the attacking roles and positions involved in netball
- I can come up with, understand and use different attacking tactics during the session
- I am able to make correct decisions throughout the session
Key Words:
- Spatial awareness
- Creativity
- Communication
- Team work
Equipment:
- Netballs
- Cones
- Bibs
- Netball posts if available or benches
Preparation Ideas (warm up) – Lily Pad Tag
Place spots all around the area. As many as there are pupils in the class. Pick 3-4 people to be taggers. They cannot stand on a spot (lily pad). Everyone starts off the spots. The game is a simple tag game. Every time someone reaches and stands on a spot for at least 3 seconds, they receive one point.
When standing on a spot, you cannot be tagged but to gain another point, you need to move to another spot. When you are running in between spots, you can be tagged. If you are tagged, your score returns to 0.
Progression:
>Add more taggers
>Remove spots to make the game more difficult.
Skill Development
Attacking thirds
Split the class into groups of 6. We want to have the following:
>2 defenders
>2 attackers
>1 centre
>1 attacking defender
>EXTRA – 1 target player on the bench (if netball hoops are unavailable)
Have the area set up to resemble the attacking third of a netball court and a hoop for the attacking team to score into. If a hoop isn’t available, have a bench set up and an extra player stood on the bench, which the attackers must pass to, to score a point.
The ball begins with the attacking defender on the outside of the area. The centre player also starts on the outside of the area but they can move into and out of that area. The attackers and defenders must stay in their main area. The idea is for the attacking team to move and create space to score into the net/pass to the player on the bench. The defenders must defend and try to either intercept a pass or prevent a basket being scored
Take 5 turns to try and score as many points as possible before having the children mix up their roles between being the attacker/defenders/centres and attacking defenders.
Game – Games of Netball
Set up a court with the three thirds. Pick teams of 5 and allow the children to pick their own positions. Normal Hi 5 netball rules apply
If you have the capability, have two games running at once. If not, have two teams on and two teams off. Swapping after a 5 minute game
Teaching Points:
- As the attacking team, we want to try and create and move into spaces to receive the ball. We want to be on the move, possibly overlapping/crossing over with our fellow attacking player to create confusion for the defenders.
- The role of the centre is important. Remember they can move freely from the third, so can move around and time their run into the attacking third to receive the ball in space. It is not always about just moving into the attacking third immediately. Sometimes, moving back into the middle third and creating more space is the optimum tactic to use
- Allow the attacking team to be creative with their movements. In the attacking third game, you may allow the attacking team to come together after a couple of attempts to come up with new tactics/movements to use to create the space and ultimately score a point.
Key Questions:
- How can we help our team mate who is in possession of the ball?
- What tactics did you use to create more space to move into?
- How can you improve your attacking play in the next game? (teams who are sat out)
National curriculum links:
- Use running, throwing and catching in isolation and combination
- Play competitive games against others, applying basic principles for both attacking and defending
- Develop control and technique through playing netball
Social/environmental skills:
- Developing team work and collaboration skills
- Developing good communication skills
- Being creative in coming up with different tactics to use to win the game
- Showing and developing leadership
- Showing resilience in looking for improvements to their work
Lesson 5: Defending As A Team
Warm-up • Skill Development • Game
View Lesson Plan
Learning Objectives:
- To understand the importance of defending in netball
- To understand how we can defend in different ways in netball
Success Criteria:
- I can mark an opponent effectively.
- I can defend space as well as a player.
- I can communicate with teammates when defending.
Key Words:
- Mark the player
- Mark the ball
- Mark the space
Equipment:
- Cones
- Netballs
- Bibs
- Hoops
- Netball posts/benches
Preparation Ideas (warm up) – Defend the fort
Set up an area with a split line in the middle (like a dodgeball court). Have one team set up as the defending team and one team set up as the attacking team. Set up obstacles on the defending team’s side. This may be balls on a cone, hula hoops set up as castles, anything that the defending team need to protect.
The job of the attacking team is to throw the balls and try to destroy the obstacles. The job of the defending team is to block and protect those obstacles. Can the defending team come up with simple tactics on how they are going to protect the obstacles from being hit and destroyed?
Teams to swap roles and time how long they can protect their side.
Skill Development
Defending thirds
Split the class ideally into teams of 6. The teams will be:
>2 defenders
>2 attackers
>1 attacking centre
>1 defending centre
This game is the same as the attacking third last week, with the focus now being on the defence.
Have the area set up to resemble the attacking third and a hoop for the attacking team to score into. If a hoop isn’t available, have a bench set up and an extra player stood on the bench which the attackers must pass to, to score a point.
The ball begins with the attacking centre on the outside of the area. Once they pass into the attacking area, they can move into it along with the defending centre. The attackers and defenders must stay in the main area. The idea is for the attacking team to move and create space to score into the net. The defenders must defend and try to either intercept a pass or prevent a basket being scored.
Note: Obstruction rule – As a defender, we cannot make contact with any attacker both with or without the ball. When an attacker has the ball, you must stand 1m back from them.
Take 5 turns to try and score as many points as possible before having the children mix up their roles between being the attacker/defenders/centres and attacking defenders.
Game – Netball Games
Set up a court with the three thirds. Pick teams of 5 and allow the children to pick their own positions. Normal netball rules apply
If you have the capability, have two games running at once. If not, have two teams on and two teams off. Swapping after a 5 minute game
Teaching Points:
- As the defending team, we need to remember 3 things. To mark the player, mark the space and mark the ball. We ideally would like to mark specifically an attacking player, but we also need to be wary of the space.
- When defending, as a player is about to attempt to shoot or pass, we want a defender to be close to them, stretching their arms up, making themselves as big as possible (jumping etc) and making it as difficult as possible to shoot. Remember however that in netball, we need to be standing 1m away from the attacker with the ball or this will be seen as a foul
- If the player in possession of the ball is far out and not near the basket, we don’t really need to mark them tightly. We would be better marking some space in front of them that makes it more difficult for an attacking player to find space. The defender has to decide whether they think they are close enough to mark tightly, or are they far enough away where they can mark the space in front of them better. Remember that we again are not allowed to make contact with attackers who are moving into space. This is obstruction and will be called as a foul
Key Questions:
- When defending in netball, what 3 things do we need to remember to mark as a team?
- As a defender, what do we need to be wary of so we don’t commit an obstruction?
- When do we need to mark the player on the ball and when would it be best to mark the space instead?
National curriculum links:
- Use running, throwing and catching in isolation and combination
- Play competitive games against others, applying basic principles for both attacking and defending
- Develop control and technique through playing netball
Social/environmental skills:
- Developing team work and collaboration skills
- Developing good communication skills
- Being creative in coming up with tactics to use in their games
- Showing and developing leadership skills
Lesson 6: Netball Games
Warm-up • Skill Development • Game
View Lesson Plan
Learning Objectives:
- To apply skills, rules, and tactics in competitive netball games.
Success Criteria:
- I can use skills taught in previous weeks within games.
- I can follow rules independently.
- I can work positively with my team.
Key Words:
- Compete
- Respect
Equipment:
- Netballs
- Cones
- Bibs
- Netball posts/benches
Preparation Ideas (warm up) – Team Warm Up
Give each group a ball and allow them to go and create their own warm up. This should include a dynamic movement (jog, shuttle), a stretch (1 stretch per person in the group) and practice passing the ball in the group
We also want to see the group come up with tactics they are going to use in their games.
Recap netball rules to the class
Game – Netball games
Split the class into teams of 5. Recap the rules of netball from previous weeks. Make sure each game is of equal time and allow for time for the children to reflect on their games and what they could do better.
Each team will play each other, 3 points for a win, 1 point for every point scored, bonus point for MVP (most valuable player) for each game. This can be chosen by one of the teams sitting out to keep them engaged in the lesson. The team must all agree and give a reason for that MVP for it to count.
Playing with 4 teams:
| Court 1 | Court 2 |
| 1 v 2 | 3 v 4 |
| 1 v 3 | 2 v 4 |
| 1 v 4 | 2 v 3 |
If you only have one space available go with the 4 teams and look to make the teams slightly bigger to accommodate the 4 teams. Play 5 minute games
Teaching Points:
- Make sure the children understand the rules in netball and are able to follow them throughout the session. Any breaches of the rules, stop the game and get the children to explain why it has been stopped
- We want to see the children use the positions and defending/attacking tactics taught in previous weeks
- Can we see the team moving and looking for spaces to receive the ball. Are all the team attacking and defending as a team. Are we sticking to the roles that we give at the start of the game and not producing any offsides during the game.
- Can we get the class competing fairly and displaying good sportsmanship throughout the session. Encourage, praise and highlight any positive behaviour in games.
Key Questions:
- What did we do well during the game in attack?
- What did we do well during the game when defending?
- Can we make any changes to tactics or positions in the next game to improve?
- Did everyone feel involved in the game? If not, why?
National curriculum links:
- Use running, throwing and catching in isolation and combination
- Play competitive games against others, applying basic principles for attacking and defending
- Developing control and technique through playing netball
- Comparing their own and their team’s performance against a previous attempt and looking for improvements
Social/environmental skills:
- Showing good sportsmanship to others
- Developing team work and collaboration skills
- Developing good communication skills
- Showing creativity in their work by coming up with tactics
- Showing and developing leadership skills
- Showing resilience in their work by looking for improvements
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