Prioritising training content
As a netball coach, it’s not uncommon to look at your team and see a dozen areas that need work — footwork, passing, timing, communication, shooting, defence, positioning, game sense… the list can feel endless. So, how do you decide what skills to focus on first when everything feels like a priority?
Here are five clear steps to help you prioritise skill development and create meaningful progress:
1. Skill assessment
Before you begin planning your season, it’s essential to assess your players’ court knowledge and technical skills. This will help tailor your training sessions to their specific needs and ensure effective skill development.
Why Use a Skill Checker?
- Identify Core Skill Gaps
Determine which fundamental skills (e.g., ball handling, footwork) need improvement. - Assess Court Awareness & Spacing
Recognise if your team struggles with positioning and movement. - Pinpoint Key Areas for Development
Identify which parts of the court need the most attention. - Evaluate Attack & Defence Understanding
See if players grasp key offensive and defensive concepts.
How to Conduct a Skill Assessment
1. Game Play Assessment Observe your team during their first match or an internal training game while making notes. Avoid constant sideline coaching—simply let them play. Provide feedback at intervals to assess how players respond and apply instructions. Focus on recording observations rather than giving immediate corrections.
2. First Training Session Assessment Design a session that allows players to showcase key core skills (e.g., footwork, passing, attacking, defending, and creating space). Take structured notes while they move through various drills and exercises. Complement this with a game play assessment for a more complete evaluation.
2. Identify the Game-Day Impact Areas
Start by reflecting on what’s happening during games. Ask yourself:
What skills are costing us goals?
Where are we turning over possession most?
Are we struggling more in attack or defence or in general core skills
Focus on the skills that are most closely linked to game-day performance. For example, if your team can’t get the ball past the transverse line, work on centre pass structures and passing under pressure before perfecting shooting technique.
3. Use the "Big 3" Prioritisation Framework
When everything seems important, break it down into these three categories:
Essential to compete – What skills must your players have just to stay in the game? (e.g. catching under pressure, clean footwork)
Helpful to win – What gives your team a competitive edge? (e.g. defensive switches, second-phase options)
Nice to have – Extras that can be developed later. (e.g. advanced set plays)
This framework ensures you build a foundation before layering on complexity.
4. Consider Your Players' Stage of Development
What’s appropriate for a 13-year-old rep team may be very different from a senior social team. Younger or less experienced players need time with the core basics: balance, footwork, catching, timing, and decision making.
For more experienced players, focus may shift to combination work, tactical understanding, and refining specific units like circle defence or midcourt transitions.
5. Group Skills Into Themes
Instead of training 10 individual skills, group them by outcome:
Possession Skills – passing, catching, ball protection
Movement Skills – leading, dodging, footwork
Defence Skills – 1-on-1 pressure, positioning, intercept timing
This approach creates efficient, game-like training that covers multiple improvement areas without overwhelming players.
6. Involve the Players
Don’t underestimate the power of asking your players what they think. They often know what’s working and what’s not. Use:
Post-game reflections
One-on-one check-ins
Group goal-setting sessions
When players help choose the focus, they’ll engage more and take ownership of their development.
Final Notes: Progress Over Perfection
You don’t have to fix everything at once. The best coaches know how to layer learning over time. Start with one or two priority skills per week or training cycle, revisit them regularly, and celebrate small wins along the way.
Choosing what to focus on is a skill in itself — and with a bit of structure and insight, you’ll create sessions that feel targeted, purposeful, and impactful.
Article written by Kat Dahl
Elevate CEO
Community netball expert
