Footwork drill · 14 seconds
Attacking Centre Pass
A centre pass drill, from Sportplan, worked across the centre third and the attacking goal third. It is the attacking team's first three seconds from a centre pass, and the whole thing turns on where GA and WA stand before the whistle goes: right up on the transverse line and close together, near the middle of the court. Standing tight is the point, because it drags GD and WD into the middle with them and leaves the width open. On the whistle both come off the line at the same moment and split to opposite sides, so the Centre has two options instead of one. The first pass goes flat and in front of WA, who has to take it standing wholly inside the centre third: caught anywhere else it is a free pass to the other team. WA lands, turns and gives it straight back to C, who has stepped out of the centre circle and is moving up the middle. C feeds GA at the circle edge, and GA feeds GS, who has held her position inside the goal circle, to shoot. Nobody carries the ball anywhere, every one of those is a pass, and every receiver is already running when it arrives. Seven players, one ball, no cones, the court's own lines are the drill, 10 minutes.
Instructions
- C starts with at least one foot wholly inside the centre circle. GA and WA stand tight together on the transverse line with GD and WD marking them, and GS holds her position in the goal circle
- Both attackers come off the line at the same moment and split to opposite sides, so the C has two options instead of one covered player
- The first pass has to be caught inside the centre third. Taken anywhere else it is untouched, and the other team get a free pass
- WA gives it straight back to C, C feeds GA at the circle edge, GA feeds GS to shoot. C cannot follow it into the goal circle
- Stand tight before the whistle. It pulls both defenders into the middle with you and leaves the width open
- Neither attacker may be in the centre third before the whistle goes. That is breaking, and it hands the other team a free pass
- Run it from both sides of the court, and swap GA with WA and the two defenders each time through
Progressions
- Defenders live rather than static. Change the order so GA goes first and the defence cannot read it. Let the opposing C go for the interception.
Adapted from Sportplan, with the rules checked against the World Netball rule book.
Building netball lineups in seconds
Set your team sheet, plan the rotations, and share it with the squad before you leave the car park.
