How to plan a training session

The best (and easiest!) way to keep your team engaged and learning is to have a simple plan. Training sessions without a plan are much more likely to turn into a bit of a shambles 😄

Planning doesn’t need to be complicated. The easiest way is to think of training in chunks:

  1. Warm-up
    This can be a simple jog around the court, or a fun game. Make sure to include the Netball Australia Knee Program.

  2. Fitness
    Keep this age-appropriate and fun: for younger teams a footwork drill/game is perfect; 13U teams will include sprints and plyometrics.

  3. Team chat
    A quick discussion about the last game and what to focus on for the next game. (You can use the ‘feedback sandwich method’: 1. Element the team did well 2. Something the team can work on 3. Another thing the team did great!)

  4. Ball skills
    Drills in pairs, small groups (2–4 players), or whole-team activities.

  5. Skill focus
    Introduce a new skill or practise an existing skill within a drill or activity. A great time to focus on something specific like defence tactics, centre pass strategies, front cutting, using space etc

  6. Game play
    Finish with half-court play to put skills into action. Have your team practice in the positions they will play in the next game.

You don’t need to spend a long time planning, but having a basic structure will make training run much more smoothly. You can find lots of drills and warm-up games online on YouTube and social media. The best accounts include: Netball Australia, Silver Ferns, NetFit Netball, Elite Netball Academy, Netball Revolution.

Don’t be afraid to repeat drills — repetition helps players learn and build confidence, especially in the younger age groups. And remember, adding in fun warm-up games or end-of-training games keeps kids engaged and excited to come back next week!

You can download a one-pager of the above here: How to Plan a Training Session