Netball is a team sport in which teams of seven players attempt to move the ball down the court and score by shooting the ball through a hoop. Players may only take one and a half steps, meaning a player can take one step and then lift their second foot if desired. The key to scoring goals with your shots is to practice proper form to shoot an arching shot with back spin on the ball.

Turn to face the goal so your shoulders, hips and feet are square to the goal, with your feet a comfortable width apart.

Rest the ball on the finger tips of your dominant hand and bend the hand back so the back of your hand is parallel to the ground.

Place your non dominant hand against the side of the ball to help aim it and control it.

Squat down while keeping your back and neck erect. The depth of the squat will vary by player, so experiment with different depths to find the least amount of squatting required for maximum height on your jump, as extra height makes your shot harder to defend.

Bring your hands back so the ball is over your head as you begin to straighten your legs to jump. Jump off the ground and extend your arms as you leave the ground.

Flick your dominant wrist forward to put backspin on the ball as you release and shoot the ball in an arcing motion. Don’t try to shoot the ball just barely high enough as it reaches the hoop. Instead, the ball should reach 1 to 2 feet above the goal at its highest point and pass through the goal on its way down.

Attacking is crucial in netball. To attack you need to have high levels of coordination, be aware of the situation around you and have skills in developing good tactics on the court. Great players have the ability to create an attack out of nothing except having the ball and are able to do this from any position on the court.

An effective attack locates and exploits the weaknesses in defence and is able to turn a defensive situation into an attacking situation. The attacker must be able to dictate the play and the opposition has no choice but to react. This will mean that they are too busy to focus on scoring.

The most lethal attack is one that is able to throw the defence off balance. Typical attacks include:

• A long pass into an open zone
• A multi player attack which pins down the opposition in defensive groups
• The sudden attack from defence which upends the field positions

An attack needs to be planned, so that other players on the team are able to support it. Mixing up your passes can help your team to control the pace of the game and out smart the opposition. Try not to always look for the long pass or throwing from the wing, try cutting inside and creating a short bounce pass.

The one-handed shoulder pass is generally a long, straight pass, and is great for covering distance. When performed well, it can elude any pesky defenders standing in between you and your fellow team members, and can get the ball to your shooting end with speed. While the technique may seem uncomplicated, getting it absolutely right can help to minimise unforced errors and, ultimately, lead to a better performance on court.

Preparation

For power and control, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Bend your knees for maximum control and to allow your body to ‘spring’ up after the pass. Cradle the ball in your throwing hand, resting it on your fingertips.

Pass

Take your hand with the ball back, at shoulder height, past your body. Step forward with your opposite foot. Rotate your hips as you whip the ball through, bringing your weight forward onto your front foot and fully extending your throwing arm. Keep your eye on the target, using your shoulder, elbow, wrist and fingers to direct the pass. The pass should be hard, fast and direct.

Practice 

With a partner, in a grid space, practice:
• 10 throws with your right hand
• 10 throws with your left hand

Encourage children to:
• throw the ball as they would a tennis ball
• step onto the foot on the opposite side of their body to the throwing arm
• step towards the catcher as they throw. 

Karen Byers, Sportsmart

Netball is a game of skill, pace and flexibility – but one very important aspect is shooting accuracy. Whether you are a Goal Attack or Goal Shooter, or you are just keen to try your hand at shooting, breaking the motion down into steps allows you to focus on technique at each point in the shot. Here are five basic steps for shooting a netball:

1. Align your body to the netball post so your whole body faces the post

2. Ensure your feet are shoulder-width apart – this helps with balance

3. Hold the ball in both your hands and stretch your arms straight above your head

4. Bend your knees and elbows then release the ball and push it upwards as you straighten

5. Flick with your wrists as you let go of the ball – this give it some backspin to give the shot more control.

Achieving greater accuracy takes practise – so keep at it for better results! 

Sportsmart Moorabbin Bat and Ball Manager, Tom Kilpatrick