Lob Passing practise

Lee-annes NetballCoach, Australia

i once did a drill for my U12 team for this. the key to a successful lob pass is for the shooter to be defending from behind, but to one side that is closest to the goal post and then when the lob is passed hold in that position until the ball is at the 12oclock position directly above their head and is now on its downward drop, turn around 90degs so that the shooters should is in the center of the back of the defender, then a quick sidestep towards the post (and the location of where the ball is dropping to) and never taking your eyes off the ball, reaching up to where the ball is dropping while turning in the air to have your back to the defender on landing, to ensure they must contact you if they wish to interfer with the balls path.

have a stationary defender, have the shooter practise the blocking defence from behind, the turn and keeping the shoulder at the back of the defender, footwork to move towards the pass, and the jump and turn, all with an imaginary ball. once they get the movement right (feel free to break that down into smaller pieces if they are struggling to get them). once they have the movement correct, add the pass from a consistant lob, that reaches its peak just behind the shooter. remembering that the higher the pass the longer it takes to come down and the longer the player has to hold to defend the space, but once the ball is at the 12 oclock position that is when the shooter should turn to defend with her should behind the defences back and watch the ball as it comes down, and time the sidestep, jump turn and land facing the goal ready to shoot. once she has this movement down pat then the defence is to start defending back, and this is where the shooter needs to zone/block the space ready for the lob, and keep that space behind her free. once she has it down pat, then you can consider adding in the split landing to gain even more space if necessary.