How to improve agility in netball

Engaging in speed and agility training can be an enjoyable experience. It offers a chance to enhance your foot speed, quickness, and ability to change directions swiftly.

Why is speed and agility important in netball?

Agility plays a vital role in netball as players are constantly accelerating and decelerating at high speeds. Abrupt changes in direction and swift movements can lead to injuries if the body is not adequately prepared. However, athletes who focus on agility training can maintain stability even during directional changes.

Having speed on the court is also a significant advantage. Regardless of your existing speed, there are various methods to continue enhancing it.

Speed and agility are essential skills in both offensive and defensive strategies.

Offensively, speed is needed to alter directions swiftly and agility is required to evade defenders, receive the ball, and maintain possession. The ability to pass the ball quickly is also crucial in keeping the gameplay fluid.

Defensively, rapid movement is crucial to stick with your opponent and possess the speed to intercept the ball.

How do you practice speed and agility in netball?

You can improve your speed and agility in netball with minimal equipment and space, even at home.

Here’s a drill idea that you can try at home using jumpers if needed!

Nailed that?

try our drill variation exclusively available for Members.

How to improve agility in netball?

Short, high-intensity sessions or incorporating speed drills into your warm-up can help you practice footwork patterns throughout the season.

We have included over 15 speed and agility drills in our Member’s Area to assist you in enhancing your agility in netball. Give them a try.

Discover the drills in Player Developer > Speed and Agility.

Speed and agility netball drills with ball

Circle Drills are our preferred speed and agility netball drills involving a ball.

For this drill, you will require:

12 – 15 cones1 x ball2 x players

Instructions for performing this speed and agility netball drill with a ball:

Set up 12-15 cones in a large circle

The feeder holds the ball on one side

Player positioned on the opposite side

The player maneuvers around the circle using sidesteps while keeping an eye on the feeder with the ball

The feeder drops the ball to the left or right side at shoulder height

The player must react and attempt to reach the ball in a single bounce by navigating around the cones.

A notable feature of this speed and agility netball drill is its progression. The video demonstrating the progression is exclusively accessible in our Member’s Area. Join now.

Individual netball agility drills

Engaging in individual netball agility drills can be enjoyable. Challenge yourself by increasing the number of repetitions in a specific drill within 30 seconds as your strength and fitness improve.

Acceleration and deceleration can lead to injuries if the body is not adequately conditioned. Practicing speed and agility drills at home between training sessions and matches can prepare your body for the movements required during gameplay.

Our favorite individual netball agility drill involves 5 cones and some running space.

To watch the full video and explore 2 variations of this drill, check out our Member’s Area.

How to improve agility in netball, About the Author:

Nat Panagarry

Nat is a Superleague captain and has, to date, won the Grand Final twice with her team.

Nat is also a Performance Coach Consultant at Elite Netball Academy and works with our players in weekly academy classes and at camps to improve performance on and off the court.