Attacking & Defending

For Shooters - Improve speed and footwork with some of the following:

jogging with plenty of changes of direction

jumping, turning and jogging around the goal circlesjog backwards, forwards and sideways working in the goalcircle area with focus on the goal poststretch with plenty of arm mobility exercisessprint speed work, plenty of six step pace work, goal line to top of circle, across circle etc.

A sequenced drill for shooters

Place marker cones in goal circle about 1 metre apart

Facing down court and using quick feet, running step, the shooter makes figures of 8, working around the cones

.Add other shooter, emphasising the need to keep a balanced circle.

Add a pass from a stationary feederTake the cones away; try to keep the figure of 8 pattern going as much as possible.

Use chest and bounce passes, varying the distance, height and strength.

Stress the need for forward or diagonal backward movement to take a pass.

Add one player as a defender.

The ball starts in the circle, passes out to the moving feeder, who passes to the free player, who shoots for goal with normal defending and rebounding taking place.

Stress the need for eye or ball faking by the feeder before the ball is passed.

Add another feederThe ball travels from the centre with the pass going to the WA.

Both shooters are in the circle moving in a figure of 8 pattern with one defender marking the players.

The ball is passed in and out of the circle three times before a shot is attempted.

Stress cooperative play between the players with good body language and eye contact.

The GA stands out of the circle and could receive the centre pass.

As a variation require the ball to be passed to the GA before it enters the shooting circle.

Again nominate the number of times the ball must be passed between the players before a shot is attempted.

Add defenders and build up into a centre pass strategy with options of pass, in and around the circle.

  - Suggestions and observations for coachesDefenders should:ask themselves "where’s my player" and "where’s the ball"aim to intercept the ballrestrict their opponent’s movementkeep the ball away from their opponentrestrict the options available to throwerswatch the wrist action of shooter for direction of passwhen changing defence from left to right side (or vice versa) of an opponent, defenders should do that in front of that player.

Triangle drillNeed 4 players and 1 ball.Three players in a triangle 3-4 metres apart, one with ball (thrower). The fourth player (defender) stands opposite thrower, between and a little in front of the other two players (receivers). Thrower then makes chest pass to either receiver, defender must try to intercept. After five clean interceptions, players rotate.Coaching points:Adjust distances according to size/skill of defender to ensure realistic chanceEnsure good fast chess passes only, no  over heads, Defender should react to ball, not thrower’s eyes Defender should use correct technique to come around attacker (outside arm)Ensure defender does not ‘creep up’ on thrower.Progression: Make defender stand back on or behind the line between the receivers, widen gap between receivers.

DEFENCE by Yvonne Willering

A defending team is waiting for mistakes to occur. However it may at the same time, actively encourage the opposing team to make them.Constant defensive pressure will destroy the quality of opposition ball. By forcing the attacking team to make quick decisions, options will be reduced.Good positioning of defensive players will limit the passing angles and deny space and speed to the opposition.When we are talking of a team defence, we are not referring to just 3-4 players, but to the entire team. Why wait for the ball to be in the final third of the court, before trying to gain possession?Defence work includes the following:

1. PRESSURIZING A PLAYER. ONE ON ONE MARKINGPlayer tries to prevent her partner from receiving the ball. What the team is trying to do is to force the opposition into errors or into a held ball situation. The disadvantage of this type of defence work is that it is reactive rather than creative. You are simply following the movements of your partner.

2. SEMI-LOOSE DEFENDINGStill a one on one situation, but defence is slightly off the player. This is to give the attacking player a false sense of security in assuming she is free to receive a pass. Timing is vital in order to take the intercept. If the defender is committed too soon she may be easily beaten, the pass may not be thrown or a different pass is given in order to beat the defender.

3. MARKING SPACEWith marking space, peripheral vision is vital. The defending team sets up intercepts for individual members. Intercepts are generally taken after the opposition has been set up into a false sense of security in assuming some attacking players are free to receive the pass, or after the opposition has made a mistake. With this style of defence, players are able to create situations and opportunities for an intercept, rather than simply reacting to the movements of the opposing team.

4. PART COURT I FULL COURT ZONEPlayers have specific areas of court to defend, her stance being in relation to where the ball is at anyone time. This type of defence is reliant on total team work because if any player is out of position, the ball will be passed with ease, leaving many of the defending players, behind play. The aim is to encourage the opposition to throw a long clearing pass to one of her team mates, which can then be easily intercepted. Players close to the ball, mark a little higher, so that spaces are left further down court, to encourage the longer pass being made.

5. DEFENDING PLAYER WITH THE BALL 

Aims

:• To force opponents to pass in a particular direction

• To force opponents to make a particular pass

• To tip or intercept ball as it is being passed

• After the pass is made, to direct oppositions next movement. i.e.Towards or away from the pass just thrown.Rather than simply defending 0.9m in front of a player with the ball, defend the player on their favourite attacking side. Mark left/right handed players accordingly.The position of the player marking the passer, can dictate the play to come (eg. Mark player towards the sideline or mark the player to path of ball) thereby making it possible for a team mate to have an attempt for the ball at the receivers end of the pass.

Additional Defence Work

DEFENCE OF THE SHOT 

Lean:0.9m from first grounded foot of the shooter. The defender stretches out to pressure the point of release of the shot.

Either 

i Opposite foot forward to arm outstretched over ball

ii Same arm/foot forward

iii Balance on both feet.The other arm is used for balance and to cover a possible pass to the other shooter. The 0.9m stance can be taken from up front, to the side or behind the shooter, the choice of position, dependent on shooting style and distance away from the goal.

Jump:Timing is involved and if successfully executed will result in a deflection of the shot. Player is at least 0.9m away from first grounded foot of the shooter. Time a powerful leap in the air towards the ball, to attempt to tip the ball at its point of release or above.Combination:Lean over the shot, standing at least 0.9m from the first grounded foot of the shooter, then bring back foot forward, to jump on release of the shot.

REBOUNDINGThe defender should work to establish the rebounding position, whilst shot is being taken. The defender after leaning or jumping the shot. needs to screen out that shooter, so that both defenders will then have a more favourable rebounding positions.