Marking at 0.9 m

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Netball drill · Age 8 and up

Obstruction is the penalty that frustrates junior defenders most, because it punishes them for trying hard. A defender who stays tight to the player with the ball, arms up, is giving away a penalty pass every time. The rule is simple once it has been drilled: tight before the catch, then step back to 0.9 m from the landing foot, and only then go up to defend the pass.

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Time
10 minutes
Players
Groups of 4: C, WA, GA, and a WD defending
Equipment
  • 1 ball per group
  • Position bibs (C, WA, GA, WD)
  • A 90 cm stick, skipping rope or cone pair, to show what 0.9 m looks like

Setup

  1. Before the drill, lay a 90 cm stick or rope on the floor so every player can see the distance.
  2. The centre (C) has the ball in the centre third. The wing attack (WA) drives to receive, and the wing defence (WD) marks them tight.
  3. As the WA catches and lands, the WD steps back to 0.9 m from the landing foot and puts their arms up.
  4. The goal attack (GA) leads out of the attacking third, and the WA passes over or around the WD to them.
  5. Rotate after five reps. Then let the WD try to tip the pass from 0.9 m.

Coaching points

  • WD: the distance is measured from the attacker's landing foot to your nearer foot. Step back, then defend.
  • Arms up and over the ball, and stay balanced. Leaning in so far that you fall towards them is obstruction too.
  • At 0.9 m, defend the pass: track the ball with your hands and try to make the pass go high or wide.
  • If you are not trying to defend, you can be closer than 0.9 m, but you must keep your arms down.

On the run sheet: Tight before the catch, then step back to 0.9 m from the landing foot, arms up and over the ball, no contact, and do not lean in

Progressions

  1. Make the WA pivot before passing, so the WD has to keep 0.9 m from the landing foot as the body turns.
  2. Add a second attacker so the WA can choose, and the WD has to read which pass is coming.
  3. Defend a shot: the same rule, with the goal keeper 0.9 m from the shooter.

How it runs

The wing attack drives towards the centre and the wing defence follows, tight. The centre passes, the wing attack catches and lands, and the wing defence is too close. So they step back, to about a metre, and go up with their arms. The goal attack leads out of the attacking third and the wing attack passes over the defender's hands to them. The animation shows the defender tight at the catch and at a legal distance when the pass is thrown.

Netball is a non-contact game, and this is a non-contact drill. The defender never touches the attacker or the ball while it is in their hands. Use the stick on the floor until every player can step back to the right distance without looking.

The rule it is practising

Obstruction and the 0.9 m distance. A player defending the player with the ball must be at least 0.9 m from that player's landing foot, measured to the defender's nearer foot. Closer than that, they may stand there, but may not defend: no arms up, no leaning, no jumping at the ball. Get it wrong and the attacking team gets a penalty pass, with the defender standing out of play beside the thrower until the ball is released. In the goal circle that becomes a penalty pass or shot.

Junior formats such as Bee Netball and NetSetGO keep the 0.9 m rule, and at the youngest ages umpires often explain it rather than penalise it every time. Check your league's version.

The mistakes to watch for

Stepping back too far, which gives the passer a free pass. Arms up before stepping back. Leaning in from 0.9 m until the defender is falling into the attacker. And stepping back towards the ball's side, which takes the defender away from the pass they are meant to stop.

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