Playing positions and a class game

1Why this matters

In netball, where you may go depends on your position. A team wins when all seven players know their areas, do their own jobs and pass the ball through the thirds to the shooters. This lesson sets out the seven positions, how a game starts and restarts, and then puts everything together in a class game.

2The seven positions

Figure 2. The court, and the red team's positions at a centre pass. Diagram: Ganzaa.

Entering an area your position is not allowed in is offside, whether or not you have the ball. The other team gets a free pass where it happened.

3Starting and restarting play

• Each quarter starts, and play restarts after every goal, with a centre pass from the centre circle. The teams take turns, whichever team scored.
• Until the umpire whistles, only the two centres are in the centre third. On the whistle, the GA, WA, WD and GD of each team may run in.
• The centre pass must be caught or touched in the centre third.

4Fouls in brief

• Footwork and three seconds: a free pass to the other team.
• Offside, or throwing over a whole third: a free pass.
• Contact or obstruction: a penalty. The player who caused it must stand beside the thrower and take no part in play until the ball has been passed or shot.

Worked example

Byiringiro, playing wing attack, sprints into the attacking shooting circle to catch a pass close to the post.

Decision. Offside: the WA may not enter the shooting circle. The other team gets a free pass. He should lead to the edge of the circle and pass in to the GS or GA.

5The session (about 40 minutes)

Warm-up (7 minutes). Jog, side-step and dodge; dynamic stretches. Pass in threes while moving up the court, with every pass caught in a new third.

Positions walk-through (6 minutes). Each team stands in the Figure 2 shape. The teacher calls a position; that player walks every area she may enter and says her main job.

Class game (22 minutes).

• Seven a side, with bibs. If you have none, pin paper labels with the letters.
• Four quarters of 5 minutes: a class adaptation of the official 15 minutes. After each quarter, every player moves to a new position, so everyone learns every role.
• A student umpire calls stepping, offside, obstruction and contact; the teacher checks. Other students keep the score and the time.
• Instructions from the teacher, for example: "the centre pass must go to a player who has dodged into space", or "only pass into the circle when a shooter is within 2 m of the post".

Cool-down (5 minutes). Walk and stretch; each team names one rule it found hard and one tactic that worked.

6Fair play and safety

• Shake hands with the other team and thank the umpire.
• Accept the umpire's call; only the captain may ask about a decision, politely.
• Keep bags and benches well back from the court lines.

Practice

Solution. The centre (C).

Solution. The goal defence (GD) and the goal keeper (GK).

Solution. Blue. Centre passes alternate between the teams, whichever team scored.

Solution. Offside: the GS may play only in the attacking third. The other team gets a free pass.