How To Defend a Holding Shooter in Netball - The Cylinder Concept

This is such a useful defensive tip because every netball defender will come up against a holding shooter (far too regularly 😒). Some shooters love nothing more than planting themselves near the post, holding strong and waiting for the feed. Rude, honestly, but effective.

In this video from High Performance Netball, Silver Fern Kate Burley explains how to defend a holding shooter by using the cylinder concept. Rather than stepping away from the shooter and trying to contest from a square position, the defender needs to turn their hips, match the body angle of the GS and challenge the pass within that same space. That gives the defender a much better chance of getting up for the intercept instead of watching the ball float over their head into the shooter’s hands. 

What makes this so helpful is how simple the explanation is. The cylinder idea gives defenders a clear picture of where they need to be, how their body should face, and why their footwork matters before the ball is even released. It is not just about jumping higher or being more aggressive. It is about arriving in the right position, setting the hips properly and creating a clean contest that actually puts pressure on the feed.

Use this in a defensive training session when working on circle defence, holding shooters, body positioning and intercept timing. Start slowly with the shooter holding, the feeder delivering into the circle and the defender focusing only on hip angle and contest position. Once the movement starts to click, build it into more realistic circle defence work with different feeds, stronger holds and live attacking options. It is a great netball defence drill for GDs and GKs who need a practical way to defend a holding shooter without giving away unnecessary contact.