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If you are considering learning how to play the energetic game of netball, you may be wondering about the kind of skills you can expect to learn as a beginner. Not only that, if you want to know if you can practice on your own and what kind of kit you need to invest in, then you have landed in the right place.

The Right Kit

Remember that even if you take private netball lessons, the aim is to play netball in a team. This means that you will probably need to purchase a custom kit. Here is an idea of what you will need.

Training Shoes: Make sure that you choose training shoes with good support and a strong sole. As an extremely fast-paced game that is demanding on your ankles and feet, investing in good shoes is important.

Socks: So much friction on your feet means that you should wear two pairs of socks, socks with two layers and even consider foot padding in your socks to be more comfortable.

Knee and Ankle Support: Netball requires much jumping and landing. For this reason, many players add extra support to their knees and ankles by adding strapping to buffer the strain.

Netball players can end up close together on a court, so don’t make the mistake of wearing any jewellery that can be pulled off. For similar reasons ensure that your hair is tied up and that your nails are short.

Fitness Level

A high level of fitness is needed for netball because it is an intense and fast-paced game where players are constantly moving. Whether you take private netball lessons or practice on your own, concentrate on exercises that will improve your stability and balance, as well as strengthen your core.

If you are serious about finding a South African netball coach, you can expect to spend a lot of time on exercise drills to improve your speed and endurance too. Here are some of the key areas on which your SA Netball coach will focus.

Endurance: Without endurance, even the most skilled netball moves could be wasted. Consider cross-training by taking up running, swimming or cycling so that you can maintain endurance throughout your game.

Speed: Speed in netball is essential for changing positions, direction or leaping towards the ball. Good cross-training techniques to increase speed include skipping, stairs and low hurdles. Short sprints are also a good way to improve leg strength.

Strengthening Your Core:  A good performance in netball is dependent on a strong core. To achieve this, plank regularly and use a wobble board or Pilates ball while you do arm and chest exercises.

Practising Tips

Firstly, if you are practising or playing a match, always remember to warm up with stretches, jogging and other movement drills.

Whether you are taking private netball lessons with the best South African netball coach or practising by yourself, here are key strategies that will help you to improve your game.

• Pass the ball to a friend using one or both hands.
• Make a chalk mark on a favourite wall and practice throwing and catching the ball on your own at different distances.
• Increase your agility by dribbling the ball at different speeds: jogging, sprinting, side-stepping and even moving backwards.
• Watch the first team and focus on the players who play the same position as you.

Which Position Will Suit You Best?

Like any team sport, it can take a while to find the position that will suit you best. A good way to find out all that you can about the positions is to find a SA netball coach to take you through the nuances of each.

Private netball lessons are a good way to discuss and test out the key elements of these positions with a South African netball coach.

• Goal attack: Find out how to work with the wing and centre to move the ball towards the goal shooter. Here, passing should be precise and quick.
• Goal shooter: Accurate shooting from within the shooting circle is key for this position. This player needs to master quick reactions to their surroundings and remain calm under pressure.
• Wing attack: In this position, the player needs to receive passes quickly and work well with the centre. Speed and agility are key for these players.
• Centre: Key to controlling the game, centres need to be fast and excellent passers of the ball.
• Goal Defence: Defenders work with the goalkeeper to block passes. These players need the stamina to cover a large area on the court.
• Goalkeeper: These players are alert at all times and have great stamina to react and intercept passes from the opposing team.

Finally, remember to enjoy the game, but if you want to make the team and are a bit more serious about it all, consider private netball lessons with a good SA netball coach.