what to do on game day + Checklist

A little preparation on game day goes a long way in helping both you and your players feel calm and confident.

Before the Game

• Plan your team positions
  Know who is playing where for each quarter. You can always make changes on the day, but having a plan means you’ll have more time to focus on tactics, encouragement, and the game itself. Remember: its essential (and Club policy) that all players are rotated through all positions during 9U and 11U - this produces skilled and happy netballers! You can see a great system for managing this at Netball Vic here.

• Arrive early
  Meet your team 15–20 minutes before the game to settle everyone in and avoid feeling rushed.

• Warm up properly
  Include a light jog, a simple ball drill, and the knee program to get bodies moving and ready to play.

• Gather the drink bottles!

  Direct your team to leave their drink bottles with you, to ensure they come straight to you during the breaks.

• Have a team chant

  Get your team to devise a chant they do before they hit the court - at the star of the game and each quarter. This can be as simple as 3-2-1 Parkside! … but is often more fun (with dance moves!) in the younger age groups :) Team chants help foster unity, positivity, and team spirit.

During the Game

• Be positive
  Encourage effort, teamwork, and improvement - confidence grows when players feel supported and are having fun!

• Take notes
  Jot down things you notice that you’d like to work on at the next training session.

After the Game

• Shake hands with the opposition coach
  A quick “thank you” and “great game” helps model good sportspersonship for your players.

• Congratulate your team

  Irrespective of the score or who won, your team has always done many things well and tried their best - let them know!

You can download a checklist for Game Day here: Game Day Checklist for Coaches