Feeding the circle

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Netball drill · Age 9 and up

Most goals in junior netball come from a short, simple pass into a shooter who is standing still close to the post. That sounds easy and in a match it is not: the shooter has a goal keeper behind them, and the feeder is on the edge of a circle they may not step into. This drill teaches both halves. The shooter holds their space without contact, and the feeder puts the ball where only the shooter can take it.

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Time
12 minutes
Players
Groups of 4: C, WA, GS and a GK defending
Equipment
  • 1 ball and 1 netball post per group
  • Position bibs (C, WA, GS, GK)
  • The attacking third of a court, with the goal circle marked

Setup

  1. The goal shooter (GS) stands in the circle about 3 metres from the post, with the goal keeper (GK) behind them, between them and the post.
  2. The centre (C) stands in the attacking third, outside the circle, with the ball.
  3. The wing attack (WA) drives to the edge of the circle and the C passes to them.
  4. The GS steps across to hold the GK on the side away from the ball, and the WA feeds them for the shot.
  5. Rotate after five feeds. Every player feeds, shoots and defends.

Coaching points

  • GS: hold your space with a wide base and your body, not your arms. Hands up showing the target.
  • WA: keep both feet outside the circle. You can lean over the line, but you cannot land in it.
  • Feed the hand that is away from the defender, with a short flat pass or a lob over the top.
  • GK: defend the shot from 0.9 m once the ball is in the shooter's hands, or not at all.

On the run sheet: GS: hold the space, wide base, hands up, no contact. WA: on the circle edge, both feet outside, feed the hand that is free, short and flat

Progressions

  1. Add the goal attack and goal defence, so the feeder has two shooters to choose from.
  2. Let the GK play to win the ball, so the shooter has to hold for longer.
  3. Move the feed: from the baseline corner, from the top of the circle, from the side.

How it runs

The wing attack drives to the edge of the circle and the centre passes to them. The goal shooter steps across, holding the goal keeper behind them on the side away from the ball. The wing attack feeds a short pass into the shooter's free hand, the shooter lands, and shoots. The animation ends with the shot, and with the goal keeper 0.9 m from the shooter, defending the shot rather than the shooter.

Netball is a non-contact game, so holding space is done with the body and footwork, not with arms, hips pushing back, or holding. Start it with the goal keeper following and not trying to intercept, and only let them play for real once the shooter can hold without contact.

The rule it is practising

The goal circle and who may score. Only the goal shooter and goal attack may enter the attacking goal circle, and only they may score, from a catch made wholly inside it. The wing attack and centre feed from outside, and a feeder who lands in the circle is offside. The feed here is a short pass of about two and a half metres, which is still long enough for the short pass rule: there is room for another player's hands between the feeder and the shooter.

It also practises 0.9 m. A defender trying to stop a shot must stand at least 0.9 m from the shooter's landing foot. Junior formats such as Bee Netball and NetSetGO lower the ring, which helps with this drill, and keep the same circle rule. Check your league's version.

The mistakes to watch for

A shooter who drifts towards the ball and gives up the space under the post. Pushing back into the goal keeper. A feeder who lobs the ball high to a shooter who is fronted, or fizzes it in so hard it cannot be caught. And a feeder with a foot over the circle line.

More netball drills

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Page updated · Netball play designer · All drills

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