Happy landing? How does position impact on landing strategy in netball

Abstract

Youth netballers experience high injury levels attributed to chosen landing strategies. This study determined positional impacts on landing strategy, through investigating the distribution of landing strategies and identifying strategy differences that predict performance. Eighty-four (84) female netballers (age 16±1years; height 173±7cm; mass 68.5±10.3kg) were analysed during 12 games. Landing strategies were investigated by position (n=7). Dependent variables were zone, pressure, height of pass, jump type, landing platform, stability and balance (Sportscode Elite; Hudl, USA). Intra-observer reliability agreement was acceptable (κ=0.776, p<0.001). Descriptive data were presented using medians and inter-quartile ranges (IQR).The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to determine positional landing strategy differences, with a Bonferroni correction. The binary logistic regression identified the variables that best predict better player grade. Dependent variables were significantly differentiated by position (p<0.05; 0.0001). Logistic regression highlighted that ‘catch both hands’, ‘Jump-turn in air-land’, ‘balance step’ and ‘land neutral feet outside shoulder width’ were significant grade predictor factors (p<0.05). Knowledge regarding safe landing strategy is beneficial to netball coaches and trainers aid session design and develop conditioning strategies for injury reduction and performance improvement using a position-specific perspective.