University Netball Squad prepare for BUCS

During the early part of the university netball pre-season programme the team had undertaken some profiling training. This included taking part in a filmed two hour exercise followed by a detailed video analysis session. The focus was to analyse the team and individual performance within a training environment.

Throughout the season the 1^st team use regular video and performance analysis sessions based upon match footage. However, this was the first time that the players had watched themselves in a training environment and comparisons were made regarding intensity, focus and attention to detail. The process also involved completing a personal performance profile, where each team member highlighted their own strengths and areas for improvement.

At the test match, each player was asked to identify an international player and track their performance throughout the game. The squad then cross referenced the international player’s performance against their own profile.

Organiser Charlotte Hale commented, “The match was closely contested and enjoyable to watch. Identifying and tracking an international player is a really useful training tool and will help the university players to identify technical and tactical areas of match-play that they needed to improve upon themselves and set realistic training goals.  This season the squad have been looking closely at varying the ways in which they can get free in attack through court play, staggering and creating options for the ball carrier. Often the players have been asked to reflect back upon the specifics observed at the test match in order to benchmark key skills and strategies to improve their understanding.”

After an intense 7 weeks of pre-season training, the University of Exeter Netball 1^st team will start their British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) campaign this week with a home match against newly promoted Kent University. This promises to be a closely contested match in which the team hope to put into practice several of the key area’s they have been working on in training, as identified by the performance profiling process. The University of Exeter finished seventh overall in last years BUCS competition which saw approximately 150 institutions compete against each other in over 50 disciplines.

Netball is one of the University of Exeter's 10 focus sports receiving extensive support via the High Performance Programme. 1st team captain Clare Jones commented, “The players would like to thank the High Performance Unit for the on-going support received and in particular the assistance provided in attending the international test match, which proved to be an invaluable experience for all involved. Video analysis is an essential part of training and will certainly help us to perform at our best this season.”

Exeter Vs Kent, Wednesday 24 October, 5pm start at the University of Exeter Sports Park.

For further information please contact Charlotte Hale C.R.Hale@exeter.ac.uk  .