Netball · Defending · Circle work & feeding

Circle defence: front and behind

gk learns when to front the shooter and when to drop behind, while gd fronts GA on the circle edge and WA tries to feed.

WAGAGSwdgdgk
Start / 4
Time
15 min
Players
6–10
Age
U13+
Area
Goal third
Equipment
2 netballs6 position bibs

Setup

  1. Goal third. WA outside the circle with the ball, wd marking at 0.9 m.
  2. GA on the circle edge with gd; GS in the circle with gk behind, between GS and the post.

How it runs

  1. WA has 3 seconds to feed GA or GS; the attackers move to get free.
  2. gk fronts when GS leads toward the ball and drops behind when GS goes to the post.
  3. gd fronts GA to keep them off the circle edge.
  4. Defenders score for a touch or a held ball; attackers score for a goal.

Coaching points

  • Front: body between the shooter and the ball, eyes on the ball.
  • Behind: stay goal side, one arm's length off, ready to jump for the lob.
  • Switch on the shooter's move, not after the pass is thrown.

Common mistakes

  • Fronting so tight that the lob over the top is wide open.
  • Contact when moving round the shooter.
  • Watching only the shooter and losing sight of the ball.

Say it: “Lead out, front; go to the post, drop behind.”

Make it harder

  • Add a GS rebound with a second ball fed by the coach.
  • WA can pass to GA and back to re-feed.

Make it easier

  • GS moves at half pace while gk practises the switch.
  • Feeder calls "front" or "behind" before each feed.

Pairs well with

Reviewed by the Sportdify coaching team.