How to Catch in Netball
Catching technique in netball: hand position, timing your run, and how the catch sets up your footwork.
Catch with both hands out in front of you, fingers spread, and move toward the ball rather than waiting for it to arrive — the foot that lands first as you catch becomes your landing foot under the footwork rule.
Catching looks simple, but it's the moment that sets up everything that follows — your landing foot, your balance, and how quickly you can move the ball on.
Technique
Reach both hands out toward the ball with fingers spread and thumbs angled toward each other, forming a wide, stable target. As the ball arrives, "give" slightly with your hands and arms — absorbing the pace of the pass rather than catching it rigidly — and bring the ball in toward your body.
Move to the ball
A common beginner habit is standing still and waiting for the pass to arrive. Moving toward the ball — even a short step — makes you a harder target for a defender to intercept and puts you in control of where you land, rather than being dictated to by wherever the pass happens to reach you.
The catch and footwork
Whichever foot touches the ground first as you catch the ball becomes your landing foot — see footwork for the full rule on what you can and can't do with it afterward. Deciding in advance, where possible, which foot you want to land on lets you catch and immediately move into a strong position to pass or shoot, instead of scrambling to sort your feet out after the ball has already arrived.
Catching under pressure
In a crowded circle or a contested pass, focus on getting your hands to the highest or earliest point you can reach the ball, even if that means an awkward or one-handed catch — a secure but late catch is often worse than an early, slightly untidy one, since it gives a defender more time to close in.
Where to go next
Catching, footwork and pivoting are best practised together, since in a real match they happen almost simultaneously. See passing drills for structured practice that combines all three.
Common mistakes
- Waiting for the ball to arrive instead of driving toward it.
- Catching with stiff, flat hands instead of 'giving' with the catch to absorb the ball's speed.
- Not deciding which foot to land on until after the ball has already arrived.