8 Netball Tips To Improve Your Goal Shooting

Your Goal Shooter (GS) or Goal Attack (GA) bib is washed and raring to go, you’ve got spiffy new netball shoes and even trimmed your sparkly nails to be netball ready.

Team it all up with our 8 netball goal shooting tips and you’ll be primed to play in confidence and mentally equipped under the pressure to shoot with instinct come your next competitive match. 

Posture

Your stance is critical to transferring adequate power into your shots. Power is generated primarily from your legs - the ‘spring’ of your knees as you bend them in preparation for the shot, then as you straighten them to propel the ball upwards towards the goal.    

Stand with your hips and feet shoulder width apart for balance and to create an even distribution weight, maintaining a steady form and stability while keeping your back straight.   

Your body - feet, elbow and wrists - should be facing in the direction of the goal, and depending on your landing after gaining possession of the ball, this may mean you need to pivot on one foot to create the ideal stance in preparation for the shot. 

Grip

Whereas power is generated from your legs, the direction and precision of your shot relies on your upper body, and most critically your grip.

Cradle the netball on your fingertips of your shooting hand, while your non-dominant hand can be used for support and balance on the side of the netball, without applying force to it. The netball should be held above your head, with your elbow close to your forehead.  

Straighten your forearm simultaneously with your knees with your elbow acting as a lever, and with your arms extended and the ball at its highest point, flick your wrist to create backwards spin on the ball.

As you release the netball, follow through with your fingers (like you’re reaching to touch the top of a box on a shelf) to guide it upward and improve control as it spins. 

Concentrate

Focus on the ring and put the distraction of your blockers to the back of your mind - don’t give them the satisfaction of psyching you out!

Because you don’t have the ‘safety net’ of a backboard in netball, it’s beneficial to keep your eye on the back of the rim - some players like to visualise a witches hat standing on the goal and aim for its tip, helping you judge the distance and the power required.

Mental cues like ‘Up’, ‘Lift’ or ‘Steady’ can help guide your body in preparation to release the ball, but you may prefer to keep it simple – take a breath, then take the shot. Do what works for you.  

The netball should reach a steep upward trajectory, a high arc above the ring (picture an upside down J) as opposed to a straight throw, allowing it to fall smoothly into the net and keeping your blockers out of reach.  

Don’t Rush

Use the 3 seconds you have to shoot or pass the ball to your advantage. Once your shooting technique is second nature, this is plenty of time to compose yourself and take care in your shots.  

Fake The Shot

Your blockers, Goal Keeper (GK) and Goal Defence (GD) will do what they can to break your focus, interrupt your line of sight with the ring and intercept the ball mid-flight.

Don’t hesitate to trick them at their own game. Fake a shot - with any luck, they’ll pounce at the opportunity of the (pretend) shot, giving you an opening to shoot with purpose.  

Go For The Rebound

If you’ve flicked your wrist to generate backward spin on the ball before release, it should rebound back on a missed shot - not that you’d miss!

This gives you the opportunity to spring into action and catch the ball before your blocker, giving you a second chance to score a goal - so be ready! Fast reaction time is key.  

Borrow A Second Pair Of Eyes

There’s no mirror on the court, so a second pair of eyes from your coach or team mates certainly comes in handy to critique your stance.

Schedule in one-on-one sessions with your coach – they’ll have a wealth of information to fine tune your technique and will provide valuable shooting pointers.  

Practice, Practice, Practice

Do it everyday if you can, even if it’s squeezing half an hour in before grabbing a coffee as you head out to work.

Of course, the more practice the better - as one of only two players able to score a goal, you may even want to arrive to your official team’s practice early or stay late to specifically focus on shooting.

Practice shooting from different areas of the goal circle at varying distances and under a range of conditions, and incorporate netball shooting drills into your routine. Invite your team mates to act as your defenders during team practice, even when you're panting and fatigued to mimic the physical and mental stresses of a competitive match.    

Happy shooting!