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Maths in netball: practice repetitions

Netball Maths

Maths in netball: practice repetitions

Count sets of practice moves as equal groups.

Quick answer

Maths in netball: practice repetitions means counting how many times you do the same move in sets. This helps you understand equal groups, repeated addition, and basic multiplication.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand how to count sets of practice moves in netball as equal groups, so you can add them up quickly and know how many repetitions you’ve done. Success signs:

You can count equal groups of netball moves
You can add them using repeated addition
You can multiply them using simple times tables
You can solve a problem like: “If you do 5 passes in 3 sets, how many passes is that?”

Why this matters

In netball, players do the same moves over and over during practice. Counting these repetitions helps you know how much you’ve trained, and it helps coaches plan practice sessions. This maths also helps you understand how many times you've done something, like how many jumps or passes you’ve made. You use this same thinking when you count your pocket money, how many toys you have, or how many friends you've invited to your party.

How it works

When you play netball, you often repeat the same move many times. For example, you might do 4 passes in one set, and you do that set 3 times. This means you have 3 groups of 4 passes. To find the total, you can add 4 + 4 + 4 or multiply 3 × 4. Both give you the same answer: 12 passes. Let’s break it down:

First, decide how many times you do the same move in one set.
Then, count how many sets you do.
Finally, multiply or add those numbers together.

Examples you can see

Let’s look at some real netball examples that use equal groups. Example 1: Passing practice You do 5 passes in each set. You do 4 sets.

Set 1: 5 passes
Set 2: 5 passes
Set 3: 5 passes
Set 4: 5 passes

That’s 4 groups of 5 passes. You can add them: 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20 passes. Or multiply: 4 × 5 = 20 passes. Example 2: Jumping practice You jump 3 times in each set. You do 6 sets.

Set 1: 3 jumps
Set 2: 3 jumps
Set 3: 3 jumps
Set 4: 3 jumps
Set 5: 3 jumps
Set 6: 3 jumps

That’s 6 groups of 3 jumps. You can add them: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 18 jumps. Or multiply: 6 × 3 = 18 jumps. Example 3: Shooting practice You shoot the ball 2 times in each set. You do 5 sets.

Set 1: 2 shots
Set 2: 2 shots
Set 3: 2 shots
Set 4: 2 shots
Set 5: 2 shots

That’s 5 groups of 2 shots. You can add them: 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 10 shots. Or multiply: 5 × 2 = 10 shots.

Try it as a mini adventure

Netball Practice Challenge You are a netball player practicing your moves. Here’s your task:

Set 1: 4 passes
Set 2: 4 passes
Set 3: 4 passes
Set 4: 4 passes

How many passes did you do in total? Now, let’s try a harder one:

Set 1: 6 jumps
Set 2: 6 jumps
Set 3: 6 jumps

How many jumps did you do in total? Try this with your family: You can use toys or blocks to act out these practice sets. For example, if you have 5 blocks in each set and you do 3 sets, you can build 3 towers of 5 blocks each. Then count them all together or multiply to see how many blocks you used.

Common mistakes

Mistake: Counting the number of sets, not the number of moves in each set.
Why it happens: You might get confused and think 3 sets of 4 means 3 + 4 = 7.
Fix: Remember, it’s 3 groups of 4. So it’s 4 + 4 + 4 = 12 or 3 × 4 = 12.
Mistake: Forgetting to count the total number of groups.
Why it happens: You might count 5 passes in each set but only do 2 sets, not 3.
Fix: Write down or say how many sets you do, then multiply that by the moves per set.
Mistake: Adding wrong numbers.
Why it happens: You might accidentally add 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12, but then say 4 + 4 + 4 = 12.
Fix: Double-check your addition or use multiplication to check your work.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:

Playing along with your practice sets using blocks, toys, or even your fingers.
Asking questions like: “How many times did you do that move?” or “How many sets did you do?”
Using a timer to make it more fun: “Do 3 sets of 5 jumps in 2 minutes!”
Encouraging you to write or draw your sets to help you see the groups clearly.
Practising with different numbers to make it more interesting. For example, 4 sets of 6 moves or 5 sets of 3 moves.

Practice questions

You do 4 passes in each set. You do 3 sets. How many passes is that?
You jump 5 times in each set. You do 2 sets. How many jumps is that?
You shoot the ball 6 times in each set. You do 4 sets. How many shots is that?
You do 3 passes in each set. You do 7 sets. How many passes is that?
You jump 8 times in each set. You do 2 sets. How many jumps is that?

Answers:

3 × 4 = 12 passes
2 × 5 = 10 jumps
4 × 6 = 24 shots
7 × 3 = 21 passes
2 × 8 = 16 jumps

FAQ

What is a practice repetition in netball?

A practice repetition is when you do the same move over and over again during training. For example, doing 5 passes in one set, then repeating that set.

Why do we count repetitions?

We count repetitions to see how much we’ve trained. It helps us know if we’re improving and helps coaches plan better practice sessions.

How can I use this maths in my everyday life?

You can use this maths when you count how many times you do something, like how many times you jump rope or how many laps you run. It helps you keep track of your progress.

Can I use multiplication instead of adding?

Yes! If you have 4 sets of 5 moves, you can add 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20 or multiply 4 × 5 = 20. Both give the same answer.

What if I make a mistake in counting?

That’s okay! You can double-check by adding again or using a different method. It’s part of learning and getting better at maths.