Full Court Press Meaning in Netball

A full court press is a defensive strategy where players mark opponents across the entire court. This tactic begins immediately after a goal or when the other team gains possession. Every athlete stays within arm’s length of their direct opponent to stop forward progress. The goal is to force a mistake or a long, risky pass. A team uses a full court press in the final minutes to regain the ball. This high-energy approach requires excellent stamina and communication from all seven players. Defenders must track their opponents carefully to avoid leaving any player unguarded. One real-world example shows a team defending every pass from the baseline to the opposite goal circle.