Netball Passing Fun

Unit Title: Netball Skills in Action

Lesson 2 of 6: Passing and Catching Drills
Year Levels: 3 – 6
Class Size: 15 students
Time: 53 minutes
School: Carnamah District High School
Teacher Style: High-expectation generalist, cross-year group instruction
Curriculum Area: Health and Physical Education
Australian Curriculum Links:

• ACPMP043 (Years 3–4): Practise and refine fundamental movement skills in a range of movement sequences and situations.
• ACPMP061 (Years 5–6): Practise specialised movement skills and apply them in a variety of movement sequences and situations.
• ACPMP050/ACPMP068 (Years 3–6): Adopt inclusive practices when participating in physical activities.
• ACPMP046/ACPMP065: Participate in physical activities designed to enhance fitness.

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WALT (We Are Learning To):

• Perform a variety of netball passes (chest, bounce, and overhead) with control and accuracy.
• Successfully catch passes using correct body positioning.
• Work cooperatively and communicate effectively with a team.

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Success Criteria:

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate control and accuracy in at least two different netball passes.
2. Catch passes consistently using correct hand formation and footwork.
3. Use verbal and non-verbal communication during partner and group activities.
4. Reflect and identify at least one area for improvement in their technique.

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Equipment Needed:

• 6 netballs (size 4 for Years 3–4; size 5 for Years 5–6)
• 15 marker cones
• Whistle
• Stopwatch or timer app
• Chalk or court lines
• “Pass it Perfect” self-assessment charts
• Whiteboard and dry-erase markers
• Laminated visual cue cards (passes and catching tips)

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Warm-Up (7 minutes)

Game: “Traffic Light Tag”

• Purpose: Energise students, reinforce spatial awareness, and get hands moving.
• Instructions:
  • Teacher calls out "Red" (freeze), "Yellow" (walk), "Green" (run within boundaries).
  • Introduce added twist: when “Orange” is called out, students must do 5 chest passes with a partner.
• Differentiation:
  • Allow some students to jog instead of run.
  • Assign peer leaders to support younger or motor-skill-delayed students.

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Skill Focus: Warm-Up Drills (10 minutes)

Drill 1: Partner Passing Basics

Chest Pass (3 min)
Bounce Pass (3 min)
Overhead Pass (4 min)

Set up: Students pair up and stand 2–3 metres apart in two long lines. Focus is on technique.

Key coaching cues:

• Chest Pass: Step forward, push ball from chest, thumbs down on release.
• Bounce Pass: Target the floor ¾ of the way to partner.
• Overhead Pass: Lift arms, release with full arm extension above head.

Differentiation:

• Support: Visual cue cards available; close proximity passing.
• Extension: Challenge pairs to count consecutive successful passes without dropping.

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Main Activity: Game-Based Drills (25 minutes)

Drill 1: Circle Chaos (10 minutes)

Setup:

• 4–5 small circles of 3–4 players with one ball per group.
• One player stands in centre, others on outside. Centre player receives and returns a pass.

Instructions:

• Students rotate roles every 90 seconds.
• Use all three pass types when appropriate.
• Emphasis: move into space, call for the ball.

Focus:

• Passing under pressure
• Quick hand-eye coordination
• Team communication

Differentiation:

• Support: More time in catching role, shorter distances.
• Extension: Add a second ball, or restrict to non-dominant hand.

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Drill 2: "Netball Tennis" (15 minutes)

Setup:

• Court divided with chalk or cones to create two “sides”.
• Teams of 3–4 work in zones.
• Goal: Pass the ball across the ‘net’ without it touching the ground.
• Opponents catch and return. Drop = point lost.

Rules:

• 3 passes max per side
• Must use at least two types of passes in a round
• Rotate teams every 4 minutes

Focus:

• Strategic passing
• Anticipation and readiness
• Quick footwork

Extension Option:

• Add scoring system: bonus if three-pass combo includes all pass types.

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Reflection and Cool Down (8 minutes)

Cool Down Game: "Mirror Catch" (3 minutes)

• In pairs, one student leads slow movement, including gentle throws and catches. Partner mirrors.

Guided Reflection (5 minutes)

• Sit in a circle. Ask:
  • “Which pass felt best today and why?”
  • “What helped you focus during catching?”
  • “How can we work better as a team next time?”

Use whiteboard or journals for a quick self-rating:

• Green: “I nailed it!”
• Orange: “I’m halfway there.”
• Red: “I need more practice.”

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Assessment Opportunities

• Teacher observes students using a skill checklist during partner and group games.
• Student self-assessment (‘Pass it Perfect’ mini chart).
• Peer feedback encouraged during circle drill.

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Differentiation Strategies

For EAL/D and Students with Diverse Needs:

• Visual support (cue cards, modelling)
• Pair with mentor buddy
• Specific, simple instructions repeated and shown

For Younger Learners (Year 2/3 Overlap):

• Simplify games with fewer rules
• Use smaller spaces and shorter distances

For Advanced Students:

• Introduce fakes and pivots before pass
• Challenge passing under timed conditions

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Extension Activity

Mini Team Challenge Journal
Students keep a mini “teamwork tracker” for each netball lesson:

• Rate themselves in three areas: skill, effort, communication.
• Draw a quick comic or diagram of a successful play.

Teacher can use these for discussion in the next session.

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Teacher Reflection Questions

After the class, consider:

• Did students actively engage and show enjoyment?
• Which students demonstrated strong communication during partner activities?
• Was the skill emphasis appropriate across all year levels?

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Stay tuned for Lesson 3: Movement and Footwork Drills where we add dodging, pivoting, and game positioning to elevate court awareness!

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Prepared for Carnamah District High School by AI Assistant – Constructed for excellence in engagement, alignment with Australian Curriculum standards, and personalisation across multi-year groups.