- Dodge their opponent
- Step around and in front of player if possible
- First fake a lead, then go straight out in the opposite direction
- Receive a bounce pass out in front or to the side of the player, using outside arm to avoid being picked up for contact
- Hold their lead then drop back
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GS (Goal Shooter) - At a centre pass, GS is to stand within her goal circle with the defending GK. GS is partly responsible for shooting her teams goals, working cooperatively with the GA. GS is not allowed to leave the goal third on any condition, and is mainly based in the circle, leading out for any passes into the circle.
GK (Goal Keeper) - Goal Keeper is to defend the GS, and try their best to prevent the opposing team from scoring goals. They use a unique goal circle defending technique, with one hand up defending the ball and the other used for balance. They are to put their weight on one foot so as to capture their balance and lean in towards the shooter without falling inwards. They would then be called for obstruction. GK is to stick to the GS and attempt to get the ball and take it back down to the other end, but without leaving the centre third.
GA (Goal Attack) - GA is much like a GS, though allowed to travel further. GA is able to travel across the centre third as well as the goal third, goal circle included. They are expected to do a lot more running around and a lot more attacking than the GS, and to lead for the ball at a centre pass.
GD (Goal Defence) - GD is the opposite of GD; they are to defend the shooters of the opposing team. They are to stick to and defend the GA of the opposing team, and try to block GA lead at the centre pass to prevent them from getting the pass and sending it down to the goal circle. GD should try to keep the goalies from the other team out of the goal circle as much as possible.
WA (Wing Attack) - WA is situated behind and to the left of centre of the attacking centre third line for a centre pass. WA is expected to lead for the ball as the whistle blows, and mainly help out within the centre third to help bring the ball down to the attacking end for goals. WA is not allowed in the goal circle, though they are to stand on the ring and help out the shooters.
WD (Wing Defence) - WD is to defend WA of the opposing team. WD is to try to block any passes used in the centre third as well as those in the defending goal third, and try to bring the ball down their own end. Like WA, WD is not allowed in the goal circle, and is to try to block the lead of the WA at the centre pass.
C (Centre) - C must be fit enough to be able to run up and down the court all game chasing the ball from both ends. C must keep the ball rolling from defence to attack end and vice versa, helping out the goalies by standing ready on the circle. The C player must take the centre pass in the middle of the circle when a team scores a goal or at the beginning of a new quarter or match.
- One-on-one defending of the player without the ball is the technique used in netball to prevent the ball from being delivered to the player on the opposing team. The defending player is to try to read the pass of the player with possession of the ball and do their best to see that person gets held time, or to see the ball being thrown to nowhere in particular, making it easy for the defending team to gain possession by chasing it up. Another technique is zoning, where the players of the defending team position themselves the best they can so that they can all defend a certain area of the court, and prevent any pass from being thrown into the other team. To ‘block the drive’ is to try to prevent the other players from driving down the court with the ball. This can be prevented by the defending team sticking to their players and trying not to let them into where they wish to go to seek further passes.
- Today’s goal shooting action is simple and effective. The shooter is to stand with legs shoulder width apart, legs bent. With arms above their head, they are to support the full weight of the ball on the palm of their shooting hand, with the other hand resting on the side of the ball to prevent it from rolling off. As the shooter bends further down for extra power and balance, the ball is lifted off the supporting hand using only the fingertips to give it the push it needs to be lifted up into the air and down again into the net. It is important to visualise the ball going through the net as it is shot, so as to give the player extra accuracy. This action is successful in today’s style of play as it provides players with balance, accuracy and lift.
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When the ball goes out of court, the team that did not touch the ball last takes it from the outside line of where the ball left the court. The player who takes the ball should have their foot up to the line, but not on it, or they would get picked up for it and it would be an immediate turnover. The player who takes the pass must be allowed in the third that it is being thrown from, even though it is outside the court. As soon as the ball leaves the players hands, they are allowed back on the court. Normal defending rules apply (three feet) whilst the pass is being thrown.
- a) Before the whistle at the start of the game, the red WD goes into the centre third and then receives the centre pass from the red centre.
This would be called as breaking on the WD. The blue team would take the pass from the centre third line where the WD had broken.
b) The blue GS lands on the right foot, steps onto the left and releases the ball.
This is fine. Players are allowed to take that one step, so this would not be picked up.
c) The red GK stands directly in front of the blue GA who has the ball and tries to intercept the shot from a distance of 50 cm.
The umpire would call this as obstruction, and the GK would be forced to stand beside the GA (or whoever wishes to take the pass) whilst the ball is thrown. The GK is then free to move.
d) The blue WA jumps into the air to catch a high pass and accidentally knocks the red WD in his/her efforts to get the ball.
This would be called as contact, and the blue WA would need to stand aside while the WD (or whoever wishes to take the pass) passes off the ball.
e) The red centre is taking a penalty pass with the blue centre who had contacted the red WA, standing alongside. The blue centre puts up his/her hands and tries to intercept the pass.
The blue centre is not allowed to defend, so the pass would need to be taken again with the centre this time standing inactive along side.
f) The red GD overbalances on the centre third line and falls into the goal third at the red team’s shooting end.
This is called as offside, and the other team is to take the pass at the point in which the GD overbalanced. GD does not need to stand aside for this.
- The following program is that of a centre player of a serious netball team. This pre-season fitness conditioning program is designed to improve the fitness needs of a centre player, which are:
- Cardiovascular fitness
- Muscular endurance
- Muscular power
- General skill development.