26th May 2026

5 fun netball warm-up games

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A good warm-up can completely change the energy of a netball session.

Yes, warm-ups help prevent injuries, but they should also be fun, engaging, and get players switched on before training or a match. After all, nobody gets excited about jogging endless circles around a court.

The best warm-up games build skills, teamwork, confidence, and communication while getting players moving and match-ready at the same time.

Here are five fun netball warm-up games to try at your next session.

1. passing relay race

equipment needed: netballs

Split players into small teams and line them up. Players must pass the ball down the line using different passing techniques such as:

chest pass
bounce pass
overhead pass

Once the ball reaches the final player, it travels all the way back again.

Simple? Yes. Competitive? Also yes.

This game is brilliant for warming up hands, improving passing accuracy, and getting everyone communicating early in the session.

progression ideas

Want to make it more challenging?

players must jog into space before receiving the pass
introduce a defender to add pressure
time each team for an extra competitive edge
make players use only their weaker hand

You’ll be surprised how quickly a “simple warm-up” turns serious when teams start racing each other.

2. 2-second chaos

equipment needed: cones or markers, netball

This one gets chaotic very quickly, hence the name.

Set up a marked area where players must pass the ball within two seconds. No holding onto the ball allowed. Meanwhile, defenders try to intercept and force mistakes.

This game is fantastic for improving:

reaction speed
quick decision-making
movement off the ball
confidence under pressure

It also helps break the habit of players holding onto the ball until the final second during matches.

And honestly, the panic when someone realises they only have two seconds left is half the fun.

3. shadow work

equipment needed: none

This drill is simple but surprisingly intense.

Players work in pairs. One player is the attacker and the other is the defender. The defender must “shadow” the attacker’s movements without making contact.

The attacker’s goal is to lose the defender and create space.

The defender’s goal is to stay close, react quickly, and stop them getting free.

This is excellent for improving:

marking skills
footwork
defensive reactions
body positioning

netball coach tip

Encourage defenders to:

stay low
react quickly
watch their opponent’s body movement rather than staring at the ball

Because let’s be honest, the ball can be highly distracting.

4. numbers game

equipment needed: netball

This warm-up keeps everyone alert because nobody knows when their number is about to be called.

Here’s how it works:

assign every player a number
call out numbers randomly
those players sprint onto the court
the group must complete passes while avoiding interceptions
every player involved must touch the ball

Fast, competitive, and usually ending in a lot of shouting.

make it more challenging

call multiple numbers at once
add defenders
set a target number of passes to complete
reduce the space available

This game is brilliant for communication, teamwork, and getting players thinking quickly under pressure.

5. end zone challenge

equipment needed: cones and a netball

Set up a small court with end zones marked by cones.

Teams score by successfully passing the ball to a teammate standing inside the end zone. Think of it as a simplified version of match play without the pressure of shooting.

The end zone can represent the defensive third rather than the shooting circle.

This game encourages: