What Are Defensive Skills in Netball?

In netball, defensive skills come into play when the opposition has the ball. Defensive skills help the defending team retrieve the ball so that it can attack and try to score. The principal tasks of the defending team are to slow the opposition attack, close down options for opposing players to pass to each other and ultimately force them into relinquishing possession through error or interception.

  1. Getting Ball Side

    • When the opposition team gains possession of the ball, the first task for the defending player is to position himself ball side between the player in possession and the player the defender is guarding. This limits the pass options of the player with the ball and increases the chances of making an interception. When guarding the player with the ball, the defender should try to restrict his options to pass to a teammate.

    Keeping Track of the Ball and the Player

    • A skilled defender simultaneously trains her sight on the ball and the player she is guarding. This requires flexibility and concentration. The defending player must position herself close to her opponent at an angle that allows her to use peripheral vision to track the opponent and the ball. This provides the defending player with the opportunity to intercept the ball before it reaches the player she is guarding.

    Body Position

    • A key element of a defender's job is to maintain the correct body position. Keep feet shoulder-width apart and weight equally balanced on the balls of the feet. The head should be kept up at all times and the arms held comfortably in front of the body, ready to anticipate and intercept the path of the ball. The attacking player will try to use moves such as the front cut, roll and reverse pivot to get in front of their opponent to be free to receive the ball. The defender uses small, quick steps to move accordingly and prevent this from happening.

    Defensive Positions

    • When the opposition team has the ball, the entire team must defend as a unit. However, specialty defensive positions exist. The wing defense patrols the circle and the defensive thirds and defends against the opposition's wing attack. The goal defense moves around the defensive and center thirds and the goal circle, seeking to break up opposition attacks. The final line of defense is the goal keeper, who defends the final third and the goal circle and tries to prevent the goal shooter from scoring.