Fourteen players, three thirds, one whistle
Netball · Formation · 7 of your players and 7 opponents
The picture every centre pass starts from: our centre in the circle with the ball, the opposing centre in the centre third, and the other twelve waiting in a goal third with a defender goal-side.
Opens on a netball pitch with the shape already drawn. Free, no signup.
Where everyone stands
At a centre pass, the rules decide the picture before any coach does. The centre taking the pass stands in the 0.9 m centre circle with the ball. The opposing centre may stand anywhere in the centre third. Every other player waits in a goal third until the whistle, and the first pass has to be caught in the centre third.
The Centre pass set-up template draws exactly that, on the full 30.5 m court. Our goal shooter (1) is 4 m out from the post, inside the goal circle. Goal attack (2) and wing attack (3) stand right on the attacking transverse line, 6.4 m apart across the court, ready to drive into the centre third. Wing defence (5) waits just behind the defending transverse line, goal defence (6) a couple of metres further back, and goal keeper (7) inside the circle we defend. Our centre (4) is in the middle of the court with the ball.
The opposition, goal-side
All seven of theirs are drawn as squares. Their goal keeper, goal defence and wing defence stand goal-side of our shooter, goal attack and wing attack, and their wing attack, goal attack and goal shooter wait in their own attacking third against our defenders. Their centre is free in the centre third, off our centre's shoulder.
Each defender is drawn about 2 m goal-side of the player they mark. Real marking is closer than that — a body's width — but two players drawn on top of each other read as one blob with two numbers, so the gap is widened on purpose to keep the picture readable.
What to drill on Tuesday
- Start legal. Walk the squad onto these spots before every centre pass drill. A goal attack who drifts into the centre third before the whistle is a free pass to the other team, and the diagram shows where the line is.
- Draw the first lead. Drag the goal attack or wing attack into the centre third and play it back. The question is always who goes first and where the space is.
- Swap the picture. Save a copy, flip the ball to their centre, and talk your defenders through the same set-up from the other side.
Open it in the designer and use it as the starting point for every other centre pass play.
Also known as
- centre pass
- starting positions
- thirds
- seven a side
- set piece
Shapes to look at next
Centre pass overload right
Attack · 11 players
Wing attack and goal attack stand together on the right of the transverse line, with the goal shooter drifted left at the top of the circle. Two defenders crowded into one channel get in each other's way, and if they both stay right the empty left side is there for a re-cut.
Read the setup
Centre pass split lead
Attack · 11 players
Goal attack and wing attack start at opposite ends of the transverse line, so their defenders cannot help each other, and the wing defence sits in the middle of the defensive line as the safe back option. The centre has two first-pass targets as far apart as the court allows.
Read the setup
Centre pass defence: front the leads
Defence · 11 players
Their centre pass. Our wing defence and goal defence stand on the ball side of the players they mark, right on the transverse line, so the straight lead to the circle edge is taken away and the first pass has to go long, wide or backwards. The goal keeper stays goal-side of the shooter.
Read the setup
Attacking backline throw-in
Set piece · 11 players
The ball has gone out over the goal line we attack. Goal attack takes it beside the post, the goal shooter holds on the far side of the ring, wing attack waits on the edge of the circle and the centre comes high as the safe pass. Their goal defence has to stand 0.9 m off the thrower.
Read the setup
Defensive backline throw-in
Set piece · 11 players
A missed shot has gone out over the goal line we defend. The goal keeper throws in, the goal defence breaks for the side line, the wing defence offers on the edge of the circle and the centre holds the transverse line, so the ball can be worked out of the defensive third in two passes.
Read the setup
Sideline throw-in, attacking third
Set piece · 11 players
Wing attack throws in from the right side line in the attacking third. Goal attack leads hard towards the thrower, the goal shooter holds in the circle for the second ball, and the centre stays back on the transverse line so there is always a pass that cannot be intercepted.
Read the setup
Put the Centre pass set-up on a pitch
It opens with the shape already drawn. Move the players your team does differently, drag the runs, and send your squad a link that animates.
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