|England netball captain's top tips!|
|Around the Academy:
England captain Olivia Murphy took some time out from her own training schedule to tell YOU how to improve your netball.
Whether you're just starting to play netball or are a bit of an old pro - remember YOU can still be a better player.
I'm still working on improving my passing as well as learning new tactics.
But don't worry because I've got some hints on how YOU can practice your game wherever you are!
The more you can do at a younger age the faster you'll dazzle your opponents on court.
But we don't want you suffering from burn out so make sure you eat the right things to stock up on energy.
Passing is the most important skill used in netball.
So get out there and practice passing the ball with a friend in your garden or out on court.
And don't worry if you can't find anyone to help because you can do lots of work on your own.
Next, make lots of targets on the wall - either draw on a point with chalk or stick on some cardboard circles.
Your targets should be different heights so you can perfect the chest, bounce, shoulder and overhead passes.
Don't forget to vary how close you stand to the wall too.
Netball is normally played at a fast pace so it's important you stay fit and healthy.
Whatever position you play in, you'll be expected to move around a lot.
So you need to work on sprinting, jogging, running backwards and sidestepping.
Try jogging to school, sprinting round your garden - just don't try running backwards down stairs!
Once you've got your feet round these moves, it's also a good idea to practice the patterns of play on the court.
Your school teacher or club coach will be able to tell you which tactical patterns your team uses most.
But remember you can learn how to use the space on court effectively by good footwork, passing and movement.
If you follow these steps you'll be well on your way to becoming the next big thing in netball!
But the best advice I can give you is to get out there and ENJOY playing.