5 FUN NETBALL DRILLS FOR KIDS

Netball stands out as an excellent game for youngsters. It does wonders for their body fitness, sharpens their thinking, and polishes their social ability. These easy-to-follow netball drills for kids are tailor-made for youngsters. They’ll help kids master the fundamentals of the game while having a blast on the court.

Through consistent practice, these exercises will elevate your team’s passing, shooting, offensive, and defensive techniques. Your squad will eagerly await the next practice session, as these drills are an absolute joy!

Feel free to tweak these exercises to suit your team’s unique situation. The key is ensuring the kids have a great time while they learn.

5 Fun Netball Drills for Kids

Pepper Pot Passing Drill
Shooting Shuttles Drill
Hoop Balls Drill
Skittle Netball Drill
Zone Passing Drill

1. PEPPER POT PASSING DRILL

This fun drill helps players master fast and accurate passing.

Setting Up:

Begin by splitting the team into groups of four players each.
In each group, three players should form a semi-circle, and the fourth player stands in the middle.
Two outer players in the semi-circle should each be given a ball.

EXECUTING THE DRILL:

To carry out this passing exercise, follow these steps:

The first player passes the ball to the teammate positioned in the middle.
The middle player subsequently transfers the ball to the following teammate who isn’t holding a ball.
Repeat this sequence, ensuring the middle player consistently receives and passes the ball to the subsequent player without a ball.

HELPFUL HINTS AND CHANGES:

While the youngsters might seem awkward initially, they’ll quickly pick up how to pass more precisely and swiftly. Make sure you switch the player at the center with those in the half-circle. Also, spice up this practice routine by urging the kids to increase their pace and try out a single ball instead of two.

2. SHOOTING SHUTTLES DRILL:

Skills Practiced: Shooting

This shooting drill teaches children to take precise shots at the goal while in motion. It also helps players develop quick decision-making abilities while maintaining focus on the target (the net).

Setup:

Like the previous drill, organize your players into four groups to manage the exercise effectively. Mark three positions at different distances from the netball post.

Arrange these marks in a straight line, one after the other. Assign a score to each position based on its distance from the post—the farther it is, the higher the score.

For instance, you could allocate one point for the closest position to the post and three points for the farthest position.

How to Perform the Drill:

Execute the drill by having players choose a position to shoot at the goal.

Upon successful shooting, the player earns points according to their chosen position. For instance, they might score three points for a goal from the farthest position.

The subsequent player follows suit, and this cycle continues for a set period of time. Discover which player accumulates the most points by the end of the session!

3. HOOP BALLS DRILL:

Skills Practiced: Shooting and Passing

The hoop balls drill combines the abilities mastered in earlier exercises: shooting and passing. This drill offers an opportunity to develop further and enhance these essential skills.

Setup:

Divide the team into two groups and designate an area on the netball court for placing two sets of three hoops on opposite sides.

Position the two groups of children at opposite ends of the court, each with three hoops behind them.

How to Perform the Drill:

The objective of this drill is for a group to advance to the opposing side and then bounce a ball into the hoop. Players are not allowed to run while holding the ball. The team earns a point for each successful goal made in this manner.

Once the ball crosses the line on the opposite side, the opposing team starts working to move the ball in the opposite direction. Defenders strive to gain possession of the ball without physically contacting the other players.

If, during the game, a team causes the ball to go out of bounds on the sidelines, the opposing team gains possession of the ball.

4. SKITTLE NETBALL DRILL:

Skills Practiced: Shooting and Chest Passing

The skittle netball drill is designed to enhance your players’ shooting accuracy and their proficiency in executing chest passes. It introduces an extra challenge by incorporating a range of ball types.

Setup:

For this drill involving kids, ensure a few elements are in place, along with additional equipment.

Mark out a spacious square area and position a skittle at the center.
Divide the kids into two teams and have them stationed on opposite sides of the square.
Collect two benches and various balls, including footballs, rugby, and tennis balls. Position the benches at opposite ends of the designated area.

How to Perform the Drill:

This game consists of two parts: targeting the skittle and engaging in a sprint to carry out chest passes among team members.

Both teams initiate the drill by aiming at the skittle. If a team misses, possession of the ball goes to the opposing team.
The teams continue with the drill until they successfully hit the skittle. They then swiftly move to the benches at the opposite ends of the area.
Each team divides into pairs and performs chest passes, ensuring the ball travels through the entire group.
The team that completes the drill first emerges as the victor.

5. ZONE PASSING DRILL:

Skills Practiced: Attacking and Defending

This energizing, timed drill focuses on intercepting the ball and executing impactful attacking passes.

Setup:

Split the players into two teams.
Divide the playing area into four equal quadrants.

How to Perform the Drill:

The first team takes on the role of attackers. They aim to pass the ball to each team member without anyone leaving their designated quadrant. Attackers must remain stationary, permitted only to pivot on one foot.
The second team acts as defenders. Their goal is to intercept passes from the opposing team.
This drill operates within a set timeframe. Track the number of successful passes the attacking team completes during this period. The attacking side must start anew if the defending team successfully intercepts the ball.
Once the designated time is up, have the teams switch roles. Attackers become defenders, and defenders transform into attackers.

Tips and Variations:

Feel free to introduce variations to the drill to keep things engaging. Children tend to grasp concepts swiftly and might lose interest if the activity becomes repetitive. Injecting variety is key!

BONUS NETBALL DRILLS FOR KIDS :

Shadow Defending Drill:

In the shadow-defending drill, two teammates stand opposite each other, and one player aims to mimic every movement of the other player, acting like a shadow or mirror image. This exercise is valuable for instructing players on how to track their opponents’ actions to defend skillfully and effectively.

Clear-Out Drill:

The clear-out drill is yet another technique. It educates players about the importance of not congregating in a single area. This is a frequent issue for newcomers, and the drill instills the discipline of creating room for one another.

Fitness Drills:

I’ve extensively covered netball workouts designed to boost fitness. These workouts assist players in preventing injuries and elevating their performance levels. These exercises include plyometric routines, stretching regimens, team conditioning, and shooting drills that enhance agility and precision.

5 FUN NETBALL DRILLS FOR KIDS

5 Fun Netball Drills for Kids