Netball Basics Introduction

Overview

Duration: 50 minutes
Class Size: 25 students
Year Group: Year 7
Unit: Netball Skills and Strategy (Lesson 1 of 6)

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National Curriculum Alignment

PE Programme of Study - Key Stage 3 (Ages 11-14):

• Develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities.
• Engage in competitive sports and activities with an understanding of tactics and composition.
• Develop the ability to evaluate and improve performance.
• Acquire and develop skills in running, jumping, throwing, catching, and other movement skills.
• Understand the rules and principles of net and wall games including team sports.

Relevant Learning Outcomes:

• Use running, jumping, throwing, and catching in isolation and in combination.
• Play competitive games, modified where appropriate, and apply basic principles suitable for attacking and defending.
• Develop movement skills and knowledge of game rules including footwork rules and passing techniques in netball.

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Learning Objectives

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

1. Demonstrate correct basic netball passing techniques (chest pass and bounce pass).
2. Show understanding of footwork rules specific to netball.
3. Apply netball passing and catching skills in a small-sided game scenario.
4. Follow basic netball rules during gameplay situations.

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Success Criteria

• Students consistently demonstrate correct passing techniques with accuracy and control.
• Students show correct foot placement and understand footwork rules during play (pivot step).
• Students participate in mini-games applying passing, catching, and footwork rules effectively.
• Students verbally or non-verbally recognise correct and incorrect footwork during activities.

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Resources Needed

• 12 netballs (or similar size balls)
• Cones for marking zones
• Bibs/pinnies for teams
• Visual aids/posters demonstrating passing techniques and footwork rules
• Whistle and timer

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter (5 minutes):

• Activity: Quick warm-up game, “Netball Simon Says” focused on dynamic movements (jogging, jumping, pivoting).
• Purpose: Ready body and introduce footwork concept through simple movement commands.

2. Introduction & Explanation (5 minutes):

• Use visual aids to introduce and demonstrate:
  • Basic netball rules (especially footwork rule: pivoting without dragging or stepping twice).
  • Two key passes: chest pass and bounce pass.
• Teacher-guided discussion on why footwork is important for maintaining possession.

3. Skill Development Drills (15 minutes):

• Students work in pairs, spaced out using cones.
• Activity 1: Chest Pass Drill
  • Focus on hand placement, step towards target, and catching techniques.
• Activity 2: Bounce Pass Drill
  • Emphasise the ball bouncing approx. two-thirds of the distance to partner’s feet height.
• Peer feedback is encouraged with sentence starters provided for lower ability students (“You did well by…”, “Try to pivot by…”).

4. Mini Game Stations (20 minutes):

• Split the class into 5 groups of 5. Each group rotates through 3 mini games lasting 6 minutes each with 2 minutes transfer/rest:

Station 1: Passing Relay

• Teams line up and race to pass the ball down the line and back within footwork rules. Focus: quick decision making & accuracy.

Station 2: Footwork Freeze

• When the whistle blows, the player with the ball must stop and pivot correctly before passing. Mistakes earn brief ‘time-out’. Focus: applying footwork under pressure.

Station 3: 3v3 Netball SSG (Small-Sided Game)

• Mini netball game on half court emphasising the use of chest and bounce passing, correct footwork and basic rule adherence. Teacher observes and prompts.

5. Cool Down & Reflection (5 minutes):

• Gentle stretching focusing on arms and legs.
• Group discussion/reflection prompt: “What did you find hard about footwork? How did the passes help your team?”
• Teacher to recap key learning points and outline focus for next lesson.

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Differentiation Strategies

Learner Type	Strategy
Lower Ability	Provide visual cues and demonstrations. Pair with supportive peers. Simplify instructions.
EAL Learners	Use clear, concise language and gestures. Pre-teach key vocabulary.
Physical/Sensory Needs	Allow extra space for movement. Reduce passing distance if needed.
Advanced Learners	Challenge with additional passes: shoulder pass, lob pass during drills and games.
Behaviour Support	Clear rules and boundaries, use of positive reinforcement and well-structured transitions.

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Extension Activities for Advanced Students

• Practice alternate passing styles (shoulder and lob pass) during mini games.
• Introduce pressure passing drills where defenders close down quickly to simulate game pressure.
• Experiment with quick pivoting and passing combinations to improve spatial awareness and speed.

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Assessment & Feedback

• Formative: Observation checklists for accurate passing technique and footwork during drills and mini games.
• Peer assessment: Students provide feedback to partners using success criteria statements.
• Self-assessment: Quick thumbs up/down or traffic light cards on understanding of footwork rules and passing techniques at lesson end.

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Teacher Notes

• Keep energy high by maintaining the game-based approach.
• Use positive language and reinforce students when they follow the footwork rule correctly.
• Rotate roles quickly in drills to keep all students engaged.
• Use whistle to manage game flow and keep mini games fast-paced.

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This lesson establishes a solid foundation in netball rules and skills essential for subsequent lessons, addressing all students’ physical and cognitive needs while adhering strictly to the National Curriculum requirements for KS3 PE.