Netball is one of those sports which is still seen as a ‘girl's sport' by many people but for the thousands of participants, young and old, regularly playing throughout the year in winter and summer leagues it is much more than that - they even let men take part sometimes!
To be successful in netball does, undoubtedly, require an exceptional level of skill but this must be accompanied by high levels fitness to enable the player to perform at their optimal level for the duration of the game.
Not only is netball physically demanding but it also places great stress on mental capacity. During games which last an hour, players need to be able to concentrate and make quick decisions to allow them to gain the upper hand. Fitter players will be able to maintain their mental ability throughout the game which will enhance their performance and enable them to outwit and pre-guess a more tired opponent right up until the final whistle which is essential when matches can be won or lost with the final shot.
Netball is an interval based team sport which requires the ability to repeatedly perform short duration, high intensity efforts. A good all round Netball player should display;
- good cardiovascular fitness
- well developed upper and lower body muscular strength
- power and endurance
- agility and flexibility
- acceleration
- speed
- jumping power
- balance and co-ordination.
With recent rule changes making netball a quicker, more competitive game, it is now even more crucial for players to be fit to allow them to show off their skills on the court and also to decrease their likelihood of injury.
4 Week Gym Programme
Improve your performance and try our 4 week fitness programme. Download a programme here or check out our Sports for Life board in the fitness suite, pick up a leaflet and get started.
If you are unsure how to use the cards a member of our fitness team will gladly show you.
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