How to Do a Shoulder Pass in Netball
Shoulder pass technique in netball: side-on stance, weight on the back foot, stepping into the throw, and extending shoulder, elbow, wrist and fingers.
Stand side-on to the receiver, feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent and weight on the back foot. Take the ball back behind your shoulder — one hand stays on it, or both for the two-handed version — with the opposite foot forward. Step forward, transfer your weight to the front foot, and push the ball out by extending the shoulder, elbow, wrist and fingers in sequence, following through in line with the throw.
The shoulder pass is netball's distance pass — the one for moving the ball quickly up the court or across it. It's one of the four foundation passes in World Netball's coaching material, with one-handed and two-handed versions.
One-handed technique
World Netball's coaching points:
- Stand side-on to the receiver.
- Feet about shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent and your weight on the back foot.
- Take the ball back. Hold it in two hands, and as you take it back behind your shoulder ready to pass, one hand stays on the ball. Keep the elbow bent.
- Opposite foot forward. The foot opposite your throwing arm should be in front — left foot forward for a right-handed pass.
- Step and transfer. Move your weight from the back foot to the front foot as you step forward.
- Push the ball out in sequence, extending the shoulder, then the elbow, wrist and fingers.
- Follow through with your hand, fingers pointing in line with the throw.
Two-handed version
Everything is the same, except that as the ball goes back behind the shoulder, both hands stay on it.
When to use it
Use a shoulder pass when the distance is too far for a clean chest pass — moving the ball quickly through the centre third, switching the play across court, or getting the ball away fast after a turnover (see the fast break transition drill). It's a staple for players covering ground quickly, such as the Wing Attack.
Because it covers more distance, it's also in the air longer — so place it into the space ahead of the receiver, away from the defender, rather than at where they are now (see how to pass).
Common faults
- All arm. The power should come from stepping and transferring your weight, then extending in sequence — not from whipping the arm alone. This matters even more for younger players still building strength.
- Wrong foot forward. The foot opposite the throwing arm should be in front; the same foot forward blocks the step and weight transfer.
- A long wind-up. Taking the ball far back telegraphs the pass and slows the release, which matters with only three seconds to pass (see held ball). Keep it compact: back, step, release.
How to practise
Build distance gradually: start a short way from a partner, then move further apart as the technique holds. Then pass to a moving receiver, and finally add a defender contesting the lane.
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.
- World Netball: Foundation Coaching Card 2 — Passing Skills — one- and two-handed shoulder pass coaching points.
- World Netball: Foundation Coaching Manual — "Passing Skills".
Common mistakes
- Throwing with the arm alone instead of stepping and transferring the weight forward.
- Same foot forward as the throwing arm, which blocks the body's rotation.
- A big, slow wind-up that signals the pass.
- Using a shoulder pass at short range where a quicker chest pass is safer.