NetballExplained

How to Do a Bounce Pass in Netball

Bounce pass technique in netball: one or two hands from waist or hip height, stepping forward, and bouncing it about two-thirds of the way to the receiver.

Written by Claire McDonald · Last updated

Hold the ball at waist or hip height, with one hand or two, in front of or to the side of your body. Bend your knees, step forward onto the front foot and push the ball down so it bounces about two-thirds of the way to the receiver, with your hand and fingers following its path.

The bounce pass is netball's answer to a defender with their arms up: a pass that goes under the pressure instead of over or through it. It's one of the four foundation passes in World Netball's coaching material.

Technique

A bounce pass under a defender's arms Side view. The passer releases the ball from waist height, stepping forward. A defender stands in front with both arms raised. The ball travels under the defender's arms, bounces about two-thirds of the way to the receiver and rises into the receiver's hands. About two-thirds of the way Defender 1 2
The bounce pass, side on.
  1. Hold the ball at waist or hip height, bend the knees and step forward onto the front foot as you push it.
  2. Aim the bounce about two-thirds of the way between you and the receiver, past the defender (shaded) and under their raised arms.

World Netball's coaching points:

  1. One hand or two. A bounce pass can be thrown with either, from in front of the body or from the side.
  2. Hold it low. Hold the ball as you would for a shoulder pass, at either waist or hip level.
  3. Bend your knees and step forward onto the front foot.
  4. Follow the ball. As you push it forward, your hand and fingers follow the path of the ball.
  5. Bounce it about two-thirds of the way between you and the receiver.

Getting the bounce point right

Where the ball hits the floor is what makes or breaks a bounce pass. Too close to you and a defender has time to step across after the bounce; too close to the receiver and it arrives low and awkward to catch. About two-thirds of the way across lets it rise into the receiver's hands.

When to use it

Use a bounce pass when a defender's arms are up between you and the receiver — most often feeding into the shooting circle, where the defender marking the passer is contesting a higher pass, or where a shooter is held close to the post. See feeding the shooting circle. It's also useful in tight spaces where a flat pass would be easy to pick off.

In open court, with no defender in the way, a chest pass is quicker and simpler.

How to practise

Practise into a stationary partner first to find the bounce point, then add a defender with arms raised at 0.9m from you, then a receiver who is moving. The circle feeding pressure drill puts it into a feeding situation.

Sources

All information on this page is given to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing (October 2026), after referring to the official sources below.

Common mistakes

  • Bouncing it too close to yourself, so a defender has time to step in after the bounce.
  • Bouncing it too close to the receiver, so it arrives awkwardly at their feet.
  • Using it in open space where a flat pass would be quicker.