maDe in hEartlaNnd

Thursday, March 25, 2004

Shooting Tips

Feet
Your feet should be shoulder width apart (for better balance) with them facing toward the post.

Hands
Place the ball in one hand on your fingers - not on the tips, but not flat on the palm, (a finger space between the ball and palm). Your other hand is used to support the ball only. Rest it slightly on the ball during the whole motion.

Arms
Being a high shooting technique, your arm should be straight above your head and almost resting against your ear. Try not to arch your back.

Aim
It is very important to take aim before shooting. Aiming at something solid is a lot easier than imagining a spot above or in the middle of the ring. The ideal place to aim is at the front of the ring in the centre.

Arms and legs
Your arms and legs bend at the same time, again making sure that your elbows and knees are pointing to the post. When bending your arm it is mostly a drop from the elbow not the shoulder; you should not be able to see your elbow come forward. This is where the other hand supports the ball on the drop behind the head - so it doesn't fall off your hand.

Release
When pushing up from the knees, don't be afraid to go right up onto your toes, (or over a small jump as you get further away from the goal post). Try not to fall forward as you release the ball. By falling forward you shorten the distance between the defender and you. Push with the arms at the same time as the legs, making sure the release of the ball is above the head not forward of the head. This is so you don't push the ball into the defender's hands. The final push comes from the hands, fingers, and flicking of the wrist to follow through.

Flight of ball
The ideal way to successfully shoot a goal is to get the ball above the ring so it falls down into the ring cleanly, (without touching the sides). This is why when releasing the ball the motion is up and not forward.

Changing your technique takes time
Be prepared to miss a lot of shots at first. Start practicing close to the goal post and gradually move further out as you feel more comfortable. I would suggest working on the change during the off season, definitely not during your main competition. Remember, the more you practice the better you will become.

Work hard girls!

dawnstory Off the lights on 11:00 PM

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Saturday, March 13, 2004

//What are the different styles of defence?

It is important that players develop skills in all styles of defence to avoid becoming predictable! Different opposition will react differently to the various styles of defence so what may work on some attackers may not on others, so the key to effective defence is to be able to apply the most disruptive style for each opposition.

- One on One
This is where the defender plays close to the body and in front of the attacker to restrict the opponents freedom of movement and to intercept any flat passes. For example, a GK may mark tightly one on one if the GS is close to the base line. This is basis of all other defensive styles and should be the first taught to young players. If taught well, it develops a player's vision, body angles, body balance, quick footwork and turning, close marking without contacting and timing to the intercept.

- Restrictive Marking
This is where the defending player marks her opponent to a specific area of court, by preventing her movement elsewhere. For example: a WD may work to force her opponent away from the circle edge towards the sideline to force an angled pass into the shooting circle.

- Off Marking
A player may decide to stand away from the opponent to deceive the passer into believing the player is free. The defender then goes for the intercept once the ball has left the passer's hands. It can also be effective in zone defence to try and confuse the passer on what space is available to the attacking players.

- Zone
The most commonly used zone is applied in the midcourt, it is where the defending players move into an area of court to crowd the space available to the attacking team. The aim of a zone is to force an intercept or to force the opposition into error, such as a held ball. It is harder to set up a zone now as players do not have to wait for 'play' in a throw in situation, so on a quick throw in there may not be the time to set up a zone effectively. Defensive players will need to use all the different styles of defence within the zone at different times, so all other defensive styles need to be taught first.

dawnstory Off the lights on 5:04 AM

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Tuesday, March 09, 2004

//What to do against a tall GS?

There are a number of different options that could be tried:

- The GK to play off the GS, to try to deceive passer into giving a flatter pass

- The GK to constantly change positioning to confuse the space available to the GS

- Ensure all defenders through court work hard on the ball before it gets to the attacking third. With an emphasis on .9 marking, other players may then be able to intercept the ball before it gets there!

- There should also be an emphasis to ensure the WA and C do not get to the circle edge to feed. The main feeders need to identified early so that they can be restricted in their opportunities to pass to the GS

- The GD could come back to work with the GK on the GS, there is a danger here that the GA will then have too much freedom. If the GS is double marked, the defenders must ensure they do not get too tight on the GS as this will allow the GA the space to drive into the circle

dawnstory Off the lights on 4:49 AM

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Monday, March 08, 2004

//Its all about defending.

Defenders need..

Good footwork
A lot of defense work is reliant on good foot work. It's important that your feet can move quickly and effectively to get you into a good defensive position or to block off an attacking player or to get to that high ball.

To 'read the play'
It is also important to be able to 'read the play' and to be able to anticipate where the ball is going and the timing of the pass and your opposition's moves.

Variety
A defender also needs to be able to vary their style of defense so that they don't become too predictable. You are really trying to get into the attacker's mind so that they start thinking about what you might do and not just their own play.

Perseverance
Above all, the one attribute that a defender needs most is perseverance. Often you don't reap the benefits of your hard work until late in the quarter or even late in the game. When an attacker starts to make mistakes or miss shots it is often because of the work that a defender has put in throughout every quarter finally coming to fruition

1. Understanding 0 - 3 phases of defence

- 0 Phase
This is the preparation phase, for example: A GK is in 0 phase when changing position on her GS in relation to the ball movement through court. Lack of concentration in 0 phase will result in defenders being caught 'out of position'.

- 1st Phase
When a defending player uses a variety of defensive styles to attempt to intercept or disrupt the pass to her opponent, she is working in 1st phase. But if the intercept is missed, the defender must recover quickly so that she can be effective in 2nd phase.

- 2nd Phase
This is when the defender can either mark the opposition player with the ball, to try to force an intercept for a team mate or drop quickly into a space to disrupt the attacking options or help out another defender. After the opponent has passed the ball, the defender moves into 3rd phase.

- 3rd Phase
After the pass has been released the defender must then move up on the attacker to direct her either into other players to crowd space or away from her team mates to stop her being available again. This then puts pressure on the attacking team to look for other passing options.

These phases are an important skill for every player regardless of position. Effective pressure by a defending team working these phases of defence will result in intercepts being forced and/or errors being made by the attacking team such as held ball.

so where are you at?

dawnstory Off the lights on 6:55 AM

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Saturday, March 06, 2004

Finally!! someone contributed something. its heng!
but some modification is done. BY me! haaa.

When you walk through a big big storm
Hold your head up high high up,
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of a storm,
There's a bright golden sky,
And the sweet silver song of a lark.
Walk on through the wind, Walk on through the rain,
Though your dreams be tossed and blown...
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart,
And you'll never run alone... You'll never run alone.
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart,
And you'll never walk alone...
You'll never walk alone.

*sings out loud

dawnstory Off the lights on 5:41 AM

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Wednesday, March 03, 2004

What's right? What's wrong?

Came across a netball.austrialia web site, pointing out the common faults of a netball player.
Which i find it useful, So was thinking of showing you girls.

//When Catching..

CORRECT
Move to meet the ball
Extend arms and finger tips towards the ball
Keep eyes on the ball
Fingers spread to the side of the ball (thumbs behind)
Snatch the ball in the air and pull towards the body
Controlled land - one or two feet
Cushion land with flexed ankle, knee and hip
Allow time to gain balance
Pivot and prepare to pass

COMMON FAULTS
Movement away from the ball - body and arms
Arms bent and held close to the body
Eyes not on the ball
Catching with palms of the hand
Thumbs not behind the ball
Fingers under the ball
Uncontrolled land
Unsure of landed foot
No cushioning of land
Insufficient time to gain balance

//When dodging..

CORRECT
Drive off in one direction - on 'change'
Keep body and head upright and steady
Push off strongly with the outside foot in the new direction
Pump arms strongly
Movement should always be forward to the ball

COMMON FAULTS
Not executing a definite first move
Eyes and head looking down
Using inside foot to push off and change direction and not executing a definite push off to allow a quick change of direction
Keeping arms hanging beside the body and not using them to increase the power of second move
Running parallel to the first dodge position - in a straight line

//When sprinting..

CORRECT
Run on balls of feet
Bend elbows and knees and drive forward with them
Run lightly
Keep head erect

COMMON FAULTS
Running on heels or toes
Keeping arms straight beside body or swinging them across the body
Running flat footed or not keeping knees flexed during ground contact
Eyes down.

so lets try to improvise on the common faults we make. =]

dawnstory Off the lights on 5:55 AM

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Monday, March 01, 2004

OUR HOME SWEET HOME

This shall be my first entry for our blog.
this blog is specially created just for uss. - our wonderful family-
i knoe its v sweet. =]

Hey,girls
just EMAIL me, and i will update the blog just the way u want it.
Keep us inform w any happening things that is going on among you girls.
And i will post it on the blog.

and lets keep it going girls!

Girls, you really rocks.

dawnstory Off the lights on 7:58 AM

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