The shape
The thrower, the wing attack or centre depending on who is nearest, stands behind the sideline. The goal shooter holds on the post, the goal attack is on the near circle edge and the other of the wing attack or centre is on the far side of the circle edge. The wing defence sits on the transverse line as the safe option. On the throw the goal attack cuts short towards the ball and the far-side player cuts to the top of the circle, giving a near and a far option plus the goal shooter.
Roles
- Thrower (wing attack or centre). Gets behind the line quickly, looks at the goal shooter first, then the near cut, then the far cut, and plays the first free one.
- Goal attack. Cuts towards the thrower for a short pass, or spins into the circle if the marker steps in front.
- Goal shooter. Holds on the post and shows the hand. A direct pass from the sideline is the fastest route to a shot.
- Second attacker (centre or wing attack). Cuts to the top of the circle from the far side, arriving as the ball is released.
- Wing defence. The safe option on the transverse line if everything forward is covered.
- Goal defence and goal keeper. Stay back ready for the counter.
Strengths
- A direct pass to the post is a shot in one pass.
- Two cutters moving in opposite directions beat one-on-one marking.
- The safe option behind keeps the ball if the circle is crowded.
- Quick to take, so the defence has no time to organise.
Weaknesses
- A slow thrower lets the defence set and the three seconds disappear.
- The pass into the circle is easy to read if the goal shooter does not hold position.
- The cutters collide if the timing is off.
- Throwing straight back over the sideline gives the opposition the throw-in.
When to use it
Use it whenever the ball goes out over the sideline in our attacking third, from under 12s upward. It suits a goal shooter who can hold the post against contact and a thrower who decides fast. Go straight to the post against a goal keeper who likes to come off, and use the cutters against one who stays glued to the shooter. With younger players, make the first pass to the circle edge the rule.
What to coach in training
- Throw-in to the post: the goal shooter holds against a live goal keeper and the thrower delivers a flat pass to the hand within three seconds.
- Opposite cuts: the goal attack and second attacker cut in opposite directions on the thrower's cue. Walk it, run it, then add markers.
- Throw-in to shot: ten throw-ins from different points along the sideline, scoring one for a shot within two passes and two for a goal.
Works well against
The set-up works well against a defence marking one on one, because the shooter on the post and two opposite cuts give three problems at once. It also handles a goal keeper who steps off the post, since the goal attack cutting in punishes that. A zone in the circle needs the ball to go to the circle edge first and the shooters to move the zone before the final pass.
