SEASON FRAMEWORK GUIDE
Planning a season of netball can be overwhelming based on all the the critical elements you need to consider.
Knowing where to start is the first step however understanding the steps that should follow will be key to mapping out your season framework.
Let’s dive into some actionable steps you can follow to assist with planning for your playing group.
STEP ONE - RESEARCH
This first step does not require you to spend weeks with your eyes glued to a computer but it does require you to gain an understanding on netball for your age group. Ask yourself the below questions and if you are not sure of the answers, head to our skills lists (coach resource page).
Previous CORE skills – What are the core skills that age group should’ve learnt upto that point. Essentially we are looking at what the group should be able to perform based on the previous years of playing/training.
For example
You have an 11 year team. Based off what they should’ve have learnt upto that date i would expect they know how to (let’s just look at the footwork category);
- Running to the ball using 1/2
- Pivots – both pivots and understanding why
- Body angles when movement
- Stationary catching
- Understanding when to land L/R feet
Action : Make a list of the core skills your team should be able to perform based on their at.
STEP TWO - EDUCATION/SKILL CHECKER SESSION
This is a session you hold at the start of your season and its purpose is to give you an idea on where your team is at technically and personally.
We recommend this session by extended outside of your normal training hours and be set for 2hrs. Within this 2hr’s you would set out certain tasks that would allow you take notes and form a framework based on the results of the day.
Choose your CORE skills
Decide what core skills you would like to see if your players can perform. Set the playing group up in activities and you simple stand back and take notes. This is not a BIG coach share session, more so a chance to look at your playing group objectively.
No matter the age, we recommend checking on the following as a start (you SHOULD add additional skills as based on your age group);
- Running to the ball – do they have good body shape/angles, are they using 1/2 well, can they perform this skill at speed, under fatigue and under pressure.
- Pivots – do they have good body shape/angles, can they perform this skill well, at speed, under fatigue and under pressure.
- Catching – can they perform this skill well, at speed, under fatigue and under pressure.
- Body shape – HIPS
- Passing – Shoulder, overhead and chest
- Pass on extension
- Coming forward – working on 0 phase
- Creating space on court
- Ball pressure
- Breaking free from a defence
- Brining the ball down the court from one end to the other
Make notes on EVERYTHING you notice. All the information collected will play a vital role in your framework planning.
Get to know your players
Spend some time in this session getting to know/understand your players. This can be such an important tool that helps you create sessions and understand gives your players drive.
Some questions you may ask are;
- What do they love most about netball (helps you determine if they love to win or are there socially)?
- What is something you are proud of since you started playing netball?
- Which year was your favourite year playing and why?
- What position is there favorite, even if they don’t normally play it?
- Do you like or love training? Why?
- How do you learn best at netball – watching a demo then doing, just doing, listening then doing or you find it a little challenging to learn at netball
- If you make a mistake on court, how do you learn best from it? (give options)
Now ask some ‘getting to know you outside of netball questions’
- What is your favorite thing to do?
- What is your favorite tv show ect
You should compile this list based of what you want to know about the players and highlight important learnings.
This information now helps you understand each player better. No one player is the same as another and a cookie cutter approach will not be of any benefit through the season.
STEP 3 - UNDERSTANDING WHERE YOU ARE AT
To create a framework you will need your notes from your skill checker session. You may have collected a big number of notes or corrections, but we are gig to reduce that list by following the below process.
- Categorise each skill into areas on court ie Passing, footwork, attack, defence, court play, creating space, shooting (if you checked on shooting skills)
- Is there any correction skills that are similar?
- Rate your teams overall performance in each skill out of 5. Make a list now of the biggest challenges in those core skills.
- Was there any areas of BIG concern during the skill checker?
- Was there any court skills that would massively effect game day?
- Was there any small challenges that would be simple to correct and make a difference on game day? ie – no ball pressure
Looking over your notes consider the following;
- What core skill family (passing footwork ect) does correction skills come from.
- Instead of thinking of a band aid solution to quick fix the issue, could you go back to basics and work on the core skill that correction skill comes from and focus on development from there.
- Identify what is the most important areas to address first, second ect
- You should now have a clear vision on what your team needs to work on over the next few weeks.
STEP 4 - MAPPING OUT YOUR FRAMEWORK
- Choose a block you want to work within – 4 weeks, 6 weeks ect. I would not pre plan community netball past 6 weeks as their are variations that occur during a season.
- Set goals for the block – What would you like to achieve in the block
- Choose your topics (technical / tactical skills) that will be your driver for those goals (you can at this point choose your activities also or you can do that weekly – more information in session planning).
- Choose a way to measure these goals – collecting game day stats, though game play at training ect
- Revisit your goals at the end of 6 weeks – is the team there? Do you need 2 more weeks, are you ready to move onto the next block ect
- Repeat for each training block.
Article written by Kat Dahl
Elevate CEO
Community netball expert
