Adapting to the new modifications: An honest review

As a player and a coach, when England Netball announced the new modifications to the game I had very mixed emotions. On the one hand I was grateful to be able to get back to playing the game I love, but on the other hand I was worried that the modifications would make the game an attackers paradise and strip it from the physicality I have grown to love. 

However a few months on and after some rusty friendly matches to dust of the cobwebs, I can now sit down to reflect on the modifications, plan my coaching for the future and decide that actually they are not all that bad. 

For those of you who are still struggling with coaching to the new modifications, playing to the new rules or just feel a bit overwhelmed by the changes, I thought it might be helpful for you to hear me answer some of my own original questions and doubts after having played and coached the game with the new rules. 

Worry 1: ‘Defenders aren’t going to be able to do anything? It’s going to be so easy for the attack to launch the ball into the circle’ 

WRONG! It turns out that in terms of circle defence, not much has changed. As long as you are not in ‘idle play’ (in other words not near the ball) you can mark the player just as close as before meaning that the physicality of the game remains (YAY!). The only things that have changed in the circle are that players can no longer shout at each other continuously, you cannot mark face to face, and your mark has to be 4ft. Other than that, the pressure in the circle and the body-on-body marking remains the same. 

Worry 2: ‘I’m not going to be able to coach my players effectively when wearing a mask’

As much as it pains me to say it, with wearing masks in public places becoming the ‘new normal’ it really isn’t that bad. As a coach, I have had to make sure that I am clearer and more selective in my instructions to my players, but is that really such a bad thing? If it is making communication more effective then perhaps this has been a positive change. 

Worry 3: ‘We have to teach everyone how to zone, it’s the only defence we will be able to use’ 

This really isn’t the case. Whilst the ball is in play, players can mark 1-1 and be just as close as before. However, the training sessions we spent learning how to zone and putting this into practice will not go to waste. If anything the squad has a new trick to pull out of the hat on game day!

Worry 4: ‘Are my players going to enjoy the game as much as before?’

Yes, yes, yes. Turns out we are quite a resilient bunch and no matter what the pandemic throws at us, nothing will stop us from playing the game we love. Even though we may be pulled away from the security of indoor match play and instead forced to take on the cold and wet nights, it feels AMAZING to be back on the courts after so long off and nothing can rain on that parade! 

If you are still struggling to adapt to coaching to the new modifications or have just lost inspiration for your coaching, NET can help you. We provide programmes for you and your players whether you are looking for a personal programme to get you from gym to court, a coaching programme you can take to your own sessions or an online training community to help you along the way. Follow the links to find out more.