How to stop players catching with their fingers pointing at the ball?

Ian MarshCoach, England

Try and and teach them to create a W with their hands. This will provide a wide receiving area for them to catch the ball and will avoid them injuring their fingers (view of hands below is from behind, with thumbs touching in the middle).

W-hand shape

This drill has no description.

W-hand shape

This drill has no description.

Lee-annes NetballCoach, Australia

using the diagram for the correct hand position that alex has given you, try standing arm width to arm width in front of this player.  and with out stretched arms by you and them pass the ball to each other (concentrating on giving them to ball with outstretched W hands.  as they get use to this, take a step back and do smal short passes (once again making sure they are catching correctly).  keep increasing the distance until they have corrected this habit.  you may have to repeat it every training session for them to change their bad habit.  hopefully you will be able to correct this before they break their fingers and become scared to catch a ball.

Netball CoachCoach

The above answers are great but we often use unboiled eggs in a throwing/catching session! This soon teaches them to use "soft" hands and not to point their fingers! Just make sure you use an area that can be cleaned easily and that they wear old clothes! Don't tell them in advance. A fun session.

Lee-annes NetballCoach, Australia

thats funny robyn.  i had a dream about doing this with my team last night.  have heard of a number of coaches using this technique for this purpose.  tennis balls are good too.

Netball CoachCoach

sounds silly but i encourage 'jazz hands' and tell my girls to show the feeder the target i.e their hands - the jazz hands is a bit of a laugh but they do remember when i shout it out !

Sharon BakerCoach, England

I love the eggs and the jazz hands! I haven't noticed a problem with my teams, but I just have to get that egg session in regardless!