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!