Netball Centre Pass Set Play For The GS

This netball centre pass set play is a clever little reminder that sometimes the best attacking move starts with making defenders think, 'Hang on, why is she there?' The GS begins unusually high on the transverse line, alongside the other attackers, before sprinting back towards the circle as the WA receives the centre pass. If the GK follows the GS out, the space under the post opens up quickly and the long pass into the circle becomes a very tidy scoring option.

There is an obvious catch, though. Most experienced GKs will not happily follow a GS all the way to the transverse line. Many will hold back, protect the circle edge and try to stop the GS re-entering. And if a GK does chase the GS once, they are probably not falling for it twice.

That does not make the play useless. Far from it. With a few extra layers, it becomes much more interesting. For example, the GS could use her high starting position to set up a screen on the GD, giving both the GA and GS the chance to sprint hard into the circle together. Suddenly the GK has two attackers to deal with, the defensive unit has to make a quick decision, and the attack has created the kind of movement and uncertainty that makes a centre pass set play far harder to shut down.

Use this in training as a starting point for attacking conversations rather than a one-and-done trick play. Practise the basic timing first, then add defensive variations so your attackers learn to read what the GK and GD actually do. It is a useful netball centre pass set play for developing timing, deception, circle entry, attacking movement and decision-making under pressure.