Shoot Like a Pro - Netball Shooting Tips and Techniques
You can catch, throw, pivot and block like a pro, but when it comes to shooting that ball are you the team champ? Being able to shoot a ball is a specialised and important talent to have on a netball team. Out of tall the netball player positions, only the Goal Shooter (GS) and the Goal Attack (GA) have a chance at scoring for your team, and if you're one of them, you're going to want to have a pretty high success rate. In the three seconds allowed to shoot the goal, knowing you have proper netball shooting technique and practice on your side will be invaluable. Make sure you're the hero in your team by following these great tips for netball shooting:
- If someone is trying to block you, do your best to ignore them. If the goalpost is in your line of site then chances are they are not going to be able to intercept it.
- How you stand is very important. Balance is essential as you need a stable stance to shoot from. Height is also obviously a factor as it provides that much-needed advantage over other players. Standing roughly shoulder-width apart is usually the best option, but experiment with the stance that works best for you.
- How you hold the ball gives it spring, spin and power when you take your shot. Have your strong hand, or shooting hand, behind and under the ball. Cradle the ball with your fingertips, your fingers bent. This provides an extra boost and spin to your shot. Your other hand should be cradling the side of the ball, offering support. This hand is also used for aiming, so point it towards the net! Keeping the ball balanced in this position is essential.
- The squat. This is the first part of your shoot, building up potential energy for release and - hopefully - a goal. The power to shoot comes from your legs, the direction you shoot in is controlled by your arms and fingers. With the ball in position, bend your knees and squat down, keeping your back straight and your head high all the while. Keep your hands in the same position and your eyes on the goal. How low you need to squat is something to find out on your own. Experiment, but remember that it's all costing essential fractions of seconds.
- The shoot. This is when you release all that essential energy. Focus on the ring, in particular the back of the ring. Your shot comes when your body is extended. Your knees and arms will straighten and you will release the ball, but that's not all there is to it! As you release, spin the ball backwards on your fingertips by flicking your wrist, this will make the ball bounce back towards you should your shot hit the back of the ring.
- Follow through. Once you're released the ball, follow it towards the ring just in case it doesn't go in. You may just get a second chance.
Like everything, being an ace goal shooter takes a lot of practice. Shooting drills or netball are really the only way to achieve this. Practice until your focus and backspin become second nature.
Catherine Cox has achieved everything there is to achieve in netball: Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist, World Champion, ANZ Championship Winner and accredited Development Coach. Join Holding Court to gain access to the skills and drills Catherine has experienced throughout her 22 year playing career. For more information or to become a member, visit Netball Drills [http://www.holdingcourt.com.au]
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