The following 12 netball drills are aimed at improving shooting technique from a stationary position as well as using movement such as side steps, lunge and cut back.

Stationary Technique

The aim is to learn correct shooting technique in order to accurately and consistently score goals.

Organisation: 1 post, 1 ball, 1 shooter. Take up a stationary position close to the post. Use the techniques listed in the coaching points to perfect your shooting skill. 

Coaching Points

Ready Position

• Feet in a comfortable forward facing position, not too far apart
• Balanced position, with equal weight on both feet and hips facing the front
• Ball held by dominant hand and high above the head. Fingers point back and are slightly open, ball sits in your hand.
• Second hand is placed at the side of the ball to steady its position
• Elbows slightly flexed, lined in the direction of the post.

Execution

• Focus on a point above the ring to give height to your shot
• Power through the ankles by pushing up through slightly flexed knees
• Maintain balanced position
• Flex elbows not allowing the ball to drop behind your head
• Wrist flicks as the ball is released off the fingers in order to create a backwards spin
• Fingers follow the ball on a high trajectory towards the post, dropping in to the ring
• Aim to drop the ball through the net without it touching the ring

Stepping Forward

The aim is to use the correct shooting technique in order to accurately and consistently score goals whilst balanced on one foot, gaining a position which is closer to the post

Organisation: 1 post, 1 ball, 1 shooter. Take up a stationary position close to the post. Move forward onto 1 foot, lifting the other off the ground and using the correct shooting technique shoot for goal whilst maintaining a balanced position on this leg

Coaching Points

• Ensure your non-landing foot moves forward and the landing foot is lifted in the air
• Take up your balanced shooting position before stepping forward

Ready Position

• Feet in a comfortable forward facing position, not too far apart
• Balanced position, with equal weight on both feet and hips facing the front
• Ball held by dominant hand and high above the head. Fingers point back and are slightly open, ball sits in your hand.
• Second hand is placed at the side of the ball to steady its position
• Elbows slightly flexed, lined in the direction of the post.

Execution

• Focus on a point above the ring to give height to your shot
• Power through the ankles by pushing up through slightly flexed knees
• Maintain balanced position
• Flex elbows not allowing the ball to drop behind your head
• Wrist flicks as the ball is released off the fingers in order to create a backwards spin
• Fingers follow the ball on a high trajectory towards the post, dropping in to the ring
• Aim to drop the ball through the net without it touching the ring

Progressions:

• Practice stepping on to both legs
• Sprint towards the post to receive a pass
• Add a 2nd stage defender
• Ask other people to distract you during this process e.g. shouting, nudging, or visually in order for you to maintain concentration and balance

Stepping Back

The aim is to step back in order to avoid interference from a defender.

Organisation:  The shooter takes up a shooting position close to the post. Then steps back to execute the shot on her non landing foot lifting her landing foot from the ground.

Coaching Points

• Maintain balance on one foot.
• Use correct high shooting technique.
• Follow the ball towards the post after release.

Progressions:

• Practice on both legs and from different angles around the post.
• Sprint towards post to receive a pass.
• Bring in a defender.
• Ask other people to distract you during this process e.g. shouting, nudging, or visually in order for you to maintain concentration and balance

Stepping to the Side

The aim is to step to the side in order to avoid interference from a defender.

Organisation: 1 post, 1 ball, 1 shooter. Take up a stationary position close to the post. Move sideways onto 1 foot, lifting the other off the ground and using the correct shooting technique shoot for goal whilst maintaining a balanced position on this leg. 

Coaching Points

• Ensure your non-landing foot moves sideways and the landing foot is lifted in the air
• Take up your balanced shooting position before stepping to the side

Ready Position

• Feet in a comfortable forward facing position, not too far apart
• Balanced position, with equal weight on both feet and hips facing the front
• Ball held by dominant hand and high above the head. Fingers point back and are slightly open, ball sits in your hand.
• Second hand is placed at the side of the ball to steady its position
• Elbows slightly flexed, lined in the direction of the post.

Execution

• Focus on a point above the ring to give height to your shot
• Power through the ankles by pushing up through slightly flexed knees
• Maintain balanced position
• Flex elbows not allowing the ball to drop behind your head
• Wrist flicks as the ball is released off the fingers in order to create a backwards spin
• Fingers follow the ball on a high trajectory towards the post, dropping into the ring
• Aim to drop the ball through the net without it touching the ring

Progressions:

• Practice stepping on to both legs
• Sprint towards the post to receive a pass
• Add a 2nd stage defender
• Ask other people to distract you during this process e.g. shouting, nudging, or visually in order for you to maintain concentration and balance

Cut back

The aim is to deceive the defender by making a forward drive then cutting back towards the post.

Organisation:  One feeder on the edge of the circle, one shooter and one defender. Shooter sprints towards the feeder quickly changes direction and cuts back towards the post to receive an overhead pass.

Coaching Points:

• Shooter must make a positive move towards the feeder.
• In order for her to change direction effectively, the shooter must plant her front foot firmly to push off, whilst turning hips in the new direction.
• Keep body upright during change of direction.
• Ensure the cut back is towards the post.
• Ensure ball from feeder is accurate and away from the defender.

Progressions:

• Practice changing direction on both feet, resulting in turning to your left or right. As seen on the video.

The Lunge

The aim is to use a lunge in order to prevent the defender from intercepting the ball.

To use a lunge in order to prevent the defender from intercepting the ball.

Organisation:  One feeder on the edge of the circle, one shooter and one defender. Shooter holds off the defender then lunges forward to receive a bounce pass from the feeder.

Coaching Points

• Shooter must hold a front position facing away from the defender.
• Shooter should lunge forward as far as possible without dragging rear foot.
• Maintain balanced position during lunge.
• Ensure ball from feeder is accurate and away from the defender.

Progressions:

• Practice leading with both left and right legs.

Circle Rotation Level 1

The aim is to co-ordinate the movements of 2 shooters in order to balance the shooting circle.

Organisation:  2 players (shooters), 4 cones arranged in a diamond formation in the centre of the shooting area. 1 shooter begins at the front of the diamond whilst the other player is positioned at the back of the shape – this player has “eyes at the back” and therefore responds to the movements of the front player. Movements can be forward, backwards and on the diagonal of the shape. Movements should create balance within this area, with no 2 players on the same side of the shape at any time.

Coaching Points

• Use a number of movement patterns e.g. side step, slip step, and in a variety of directions, keeping your foot base small
• Keep head still and facing front, turn hips and feet in the direction of your movement
• Use arms to maximise speed of movement
• Keep body upright

Progressions:

• Build speed to maximise intensity
• Circle Rotation Level 2 drill

Circle Rotation Level 2

The aim is to co-ordinate the movements of 2 shooters in order to balance the shooting circle and receive a pass from a feeder.

Organisation: 4 players (2 shooters, 2 feeders with 1 ball on outside of shooting area). 4 cones arranged in a diamond formation in the centre of the shooting area. Shooters take up position at 2 points of the diamond. Movements can be forward, backwards, and on the diagonal of the shape. Movements should create balance within this area, with no 2 players on the same side of the shape at any time. Feeders pass the ball between themselves until a pass can be made to a shooter who is making a move towards the post. 

Coaching Points

• Use a number of movement patterns e.g. side step, slip step and in a variety of directions, keeping your foot base small
• Keep head still and facing front, turn hips and feet in the direction of your movement
• Use arms to maximise speed of movement
• Keep body upright
• Ensure feeder passes an accurate and well timed ball to shooter
• Shooter should be attacking the ball and not standing still to receive the pass

Progressions:

• Build speed to maximum intensity
• First pass from feeder is to a shooter moving away from the post, shooter then feeds to partner who is driving towards the post.
• Circle Rotation Level 3 drill

Circle Rotation Level 3

The aim is to  co-ordinate the movements of two shooters in order to balance the shooting circle and receive a pass from a feeder whilst under the pressure of a defender.

Organisation: 5 players (2 shooters, 2 feeders with 1 ball on outside of shooting area, 1 defender). Cones can now be removed. Shooters take up position at 2 points in the shooting area. Movements can be forward, backwards and on the diagonal of the space. Movements should create balance within this area, with no 2 players on the same side of the space at any time. Feeders pass the ball between themselves until passes can be made in to the shooting area, away from the defender. Shooters should work themselves towards the post for a shot at goal.  

Coaching points:

• Use a number of movement patterns e.g. side step, slip step and in a variety of directions, keeping your foot base small
• Keep head still and facing front, turn hips and feet in the direction of your movement
• Use arms to maximise speed of movement
• Keep body upright
• Ensure feeders are opening their vision in to the circle when passing between themselves. All passes should be accurate and well timed.
• Shooter should be attacking the ball and not standing still to receive the pass
• Defender must be active in the sense of choosing a shooter to defend, switching players at any point

Progressions:

• Build speed to maximum intensity
• Steadily add defenders
• Overload defenders (have more defenders than attackers in order to make them work harder for the ball and space)
• Build up into a 4v4 game situation, adding the condition of the amount of balls to be passed before a shot is taken

Holding Space

The aim is to effectively hold space under pressure of a defender.

Organisation: 3 Players. 1 static feeder with 1 ball stands behind  the goal line, 1 defender  and 1 shooter (worker). The shooter  receives a pass from the feeder whilst holding space from the  defender and then takes a shot.

Coaching Points

• Ensure passes from feeders are accurate and well timed.
• When driving towards the post keep eyes up, focusing on the ball.
• Stand closely behind defender and put hand back to reach for the ball.
• After receiving the ball, steady your breathing whilst taking up a  balanced shooting position.
• Exhale when executing the shot.

Progressions:

• Defender moves to intercept ball.

A Fan of Shooting

The aim is to shoot accurately under the pressure of having worked hard for the ball.

Organisation:  

3 players – 2 static feeders with 1 ball each standing behind the goal line and 1 shooter (worker). 5 cones are placed around the circle edge which the shooter sprints to and from, receiving a pass near to the post in order to make a successful shot.

Coaching Points

• Ensure passes from feeders are accurate and well timed, enabling the shooter to drive on to the ball
• Use arms to assist a good sprinting technique
• Plant front foot upon reaching the cone, push and pivot on this foot whilst turning hips and head round to facilitate a quick change of direction, maintaining an upright body position
• When driving towards the post keep eyes up, focusing on the ball
• After receiving the ball, steady your breathing whilst taking up a balanced shooting position. Exhale when executing the shot.

Progressions:

• Increase the amount of cones
• Player doesn’t receive the ball every time they reach the post, therefore must move again to a different cone
• Change the order of movement to the cones
• Feeder call a coloured cone for the shooter to move towards

Vision

The aim is to use a turn in the air in order to open your vision and passing options around the shooting circle.

Organisation: 4 players – 3 feeders positioned in a triangle around the shooting circle, 1 worker (shooter). Worker drives towards feeder to receive a high ball whilst turning in the air, landing so that they face the post. The worker then quickly passes to another feeder, sprinting towards the post and receiving the ball again in order to shoot for goal.  

Coaching Points

• Ensure the passes from the feeders assist the worker in carrying out the drill accurately
• To complete a turn in the air successfully hips and head must twist quickly after taking the ball at height
• Land in a balanced and upright position, enabling you to release the ball quickly
• Make a clear sprint using your arms for maximum speed, towards the same side of the post as your feeder
• Shoot for goal using the correct shooting technique

Progressions:

• Practice throwing from both your left and right hands
• Add a defender
• Add more defending players around the area to make a modified game incorporating the condition of a turn in the air for the shooter