Tecchilaw - 5. Let us play netball

Netball is popular among women. At present boys too play this game and male competitions are held. In order to become a good netball player, the correct footwork must be mastered. In addition, by identifying the correct skills and developing them you can enjoy the sport and improve your physical fitness.

You learned certain activities related to ball handling in grade 6.

There are five main skills in netball

Footwork is the correct movement of the feet with the ball in hand. Footwork is important to maintain one’s balance, to move in different directions after landing and to take the ball to the goal area.

Landing must be practised after warming up by moving in different directions. The following drills will help you to improve your foot work

Engage in them, under the direction of your teacher.

1. Run on the spot slowly and stop at the command.

2. Run on the spot, on the balls of your feet and stop at the command.

3. Run fast on the spot and stop at the command.

4. Run fast and stop instantly at the command.

5. Walk backwards and stop instantly at the command.

6. Run fast, jump up, land and stop at the command.

7. Run jumping over a marked line and stop instantly at the command.

8. Run forward jumping over a few marked lines and stop at the command and land on one foot (figure 5.2).

Perform the following drills to practise movement in different directions

1. To the command of your teacher run backward, forward and sideways, that is to the right and to the left non-stop.

2. Bend the knees slightly, stand on the balls of your feet and run forward, backwards and side ways (to the left and the right).

3. Place obstacles and run around them in a zig zag manner (figure 5.3).

4. Run to a mark placed on the ground, touch the mark with the foot and then run to the left or to the right.

Perform the following drills to practise landing

Drills done without a ball

1. Do a run-up, take off with one foot and land with both feet over a line.

2. Do a run-up, take off with one foot and land with the other foot over the line.

Drills performed with the ball

1. Land on both feet, keep one foot forward and throw the ball.

2. Jump up with both feet and throw the ball.

3. Stay at one place holding the ball, rotate your self on the ball of your landing foot. Move or step with the other foot in the direction you need. (This is called pivoting)

4. Land on one foot, pivot and throw the ball

In addition to activities done individually there are other activities that can be done in pairs and with the participation of more players. Engage in such activities with the guidance of your teacher.

1. Get three players to stand at the corners of a triangle as shown in figure 5.9. A passes the ball to B. B jumps up, catches the ball and lands, pivots and throws the ball to C. C repeats what B did and passes the ball to A.