Score More Than Just Goals - Coaching for purpose

Coaches talk about it all the time: "Make better decisions!" But how often do we actually coach it? In the fast-paced world of netball, decision-making separates the good from the great. The ability for players to read the game, make quick choices, and adapt under pressure is a skill that needs practice—just like passing or shooting. The best players are the best decision makers. 

Netball isn’t played in straight lines. The best players scan, move, communicate, and adapt. That kind of intelligence can’t be built through static drills alone—it needs game-like scenarios, purpose, and the chance to think under pressure. When we coach with decision-making in mind, we move from just teaching skills to developing players who can use those skills in the right moment.

Play With Purpose: Start Every Session with a Game

One of the biggest coaching hacks (and most powerful) changes you can make is to start your session with a game. If you started training with games every week, players would run from the car to your session, they would also start game day faster because you don’t wait 20 minutes into a game to make decisions. 

Play multiple games as players arrive by adding Netball MatchPlay Cards to different courts, as players move between courts they play out a different team challenge or pick a player for a preselected player challenge. 

Coaches who believe in empowering players will always win in the long run. I would also add players know more than you think they do but if you never create the opportunities for them, how do you know? - Jack Rolfe, Founder of The Coaching Lab

Each deck is packed with team and player challenges designed to bring purpose to your play. Whether it's communication, spacing, timing, or off-ball movement, these cards give every player something to focus on during the game. Saving you from shouting “PASS, SPEED or MOVE” because that doesn’t help anyone. 

Using Netball MatchPlay Cards to add team challenges gives purpose and meaning to the game. Simply playing games doesn’t mean players are learning, add bonus points and challenges to the game and you see learning happening. 

• Add different challenges to areas of the court 
• Set a specific challenge to one player 
• Play out a game scenario with team challenges 

Score More Than Just Goals:

Great coaching isn’t just about teaching the game. It’s about creating environments where learning sticks. With Netball MatchPlay Cards, you’re not just playing—you’re building smarter players, stronger teams, and more purposeful sessions.

If you're a netball coach looking to create more competitive, engaging, and purposeful training sessions, adding scoring systems and bonus points is a game changer. Time and score challenges promote player decision making. Scoring systems keep players mentally switched on. Whether they’re on the court or on the sideline, everyone’s tracking the game, knowing their contribution could swing the score.

With Netball MatchPlay Cards, you can score beyond the scoreboard to create a game within a game.  Suddenly, your players are thinking, not just playing. Whether you're working with beginners or performance squads, Netball MatchPlay Cards help you to challenge players, coach mixed ability groups and become a great teacher of the game. 

• Use bonus points to engage players in certain actions 
• Add Netball MatchPlay Cards to change players mindset 

So next time you hit the court, remember: Start with a game. Play with purpose. Score beyond the scoreline. Become a game changer and shop Netball MatchPlay Cards here.