Out of the defensive third in two passes
Netball · Set piece · 7 of your players and 4 opponents
A missed shot has gone out over the goal line you 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.
Opens on a netball pitch with the shape already drawn. Free, no signup.
The set-up
The Defensive backline throw-in happens at the far end of the court, which is why Playmaker draws the whole netball court rather than half of it. Goal keeper (7) stands on the goal line we defend, 9.5 m from the left side line, with the ball. Goal defence (6) breaks towards the left side line, about 3.7 m from the goal line. Wing defence (5) offers on the right, outside the goal circle she is not allowed into. The centre (4) holds the defending transverse line, about 10 m from the thrower.
Further up, wing attack (3) and goal attack (2) are spread through the centre third, and the goal shooter (1) waits in the attacking circle.
Their goal shooter stands at least 0.9 m from the thrower, their goal attack marks our goal defence, their wing attack marks our wing defence and their centre covers our centre. Each marker is drawn a little further from its player than real marking, so the pairs stay readable.
Why it works
The defensive third is where a turnover costs a goal, so the aim is to get out safely rather than quickly. Goal defence and wing defence give the goal keeper two options going wide, away from the crowded circle. Whichever of them receives has the centre on the transverse line as the next pass, and once the ball is in the centre third the attack can set up properly.
Going wide also keeps the ball away from their goal shooter and goal attack, who are the players most likely to intercept close to the post.
What to drill
- Two passes to the centre third. Animate goal keeper to goal defence to centre, then goal keeper to wing defence to centre.
- When it is covered. Draw both wide options denied and decide what the goal keeper does inside her three seconds.
- Spacing. Show the attackers why staying spread in the centre third gives the defenders room to work.
Open it in the designer and draw the breaks your defenders make.
Also known as
- backline throw-in
- defensive third
- goal keeper
- transition
- set piece
Shapes to look at next
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
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
Centre pass set-up
Formation · 14 players
All fourteen players where the rules put them at the whistle: our centre in the circle with the ball, the opposing centre free in the centre third, and everyone else waiting in a goal third with a defender goal-side of them. The picture every other centre-pass play starts from.
Read the setup
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
Put the Defensive backline throw-in 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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