The shape
The opposition have a throw-in from behind our goal line, so their shooters are already beside our circle and the ball is a metre from the post. The goal keeper stands between the thrower and the goal shooter, a step off the circle edge so she can see both. The goal defence takes the goal attack on the open side of the circle and the wing defence closes the wing attack on the far sideline. The centre sits at the top of our defensive third in the lane back to their centre. Our wing attack and goal attack drop to the transverse line and the goal shooter stays near the far post. Everyone holds for one count after the throw, then contests the next pass.
Roles
- Goal keeper. Faces the thrower with the goal shooter on her back, arms up to shorten the lane into the circle. Intercepts only a lobbed ball; otherwise holds and defends the shot.
- Goal defence. Fronts the goal attack at the circle edge so the first pass has to go wide, then doubles the shooter once the ball is in the circle.
- Wing defence. Shadows the wing attack along the sideline and stays goal side, even if it means giving up a pass away from the circle.
- Centre. Picks up their centre at the top of the third and blocks the pass back out to the middle of the court.
- Wing attack and goal attack. Hold on the transverse line so there is an outlet the moment the ball is won.
- Goal shooter. Stays near our attacking post. One long pass turns a defensive restart into a shot.
Strengths
- Every option close to the post is covered, so the restart usually goes wide or backwards.
- The thrower is stuck behind the line until the ball is played, so the defence is briefly seven against six on court.
- Simple to teach and does not depend on reading a complicated attacking move.
- A pass forced back to their centre resets the whole attack and buys time.
Weaknesses
- A shooter who holds the post and takes a high ball is very hard to stop from this close.
- Defenders who crowd the circle edge give away contact and obstruction penalties right where they hurt.
- Two tall attackers rotating on the circle edge pull the goal keeper and goal defence apart.
- If the centre drifts into the circle, the pass back out is free and the attack restarts with space.
When to use it
Use it for every opposition throw-in from behind our goal line, at any age group. It suits a goal keeper who can defend the post one on one and a goal defence comfortable fronting the goal attack. Against a tall shooter who wins everything in the air, bring the wing defence to the circle edge and leave the wing attack free: a pass to the pocket is less dangerous than a lob to the post.
What to coach in training
- Six against six from a back-line throw-in in the defensive third, one point for a defensive possession and two for an intercept, so defenders learn to hold rather than lunge.
- Goal keeper and goal defence against goal shooter and goal attack on the circle edge for ten throw-ins in a row. Count how many end in a shot.
- A count-of-one drill: the thrower releases, the defenders freeze for one beat, then contest. It stops the early movement that gives away obstruction.
Works well against
It copes well with the standard throw-in where the goal attack leads to the circle edge and the goal shooter holds, because both are marked front-on and the only free pass is wide. A side that rotates shooter and goal attack through the circle, or drives the wing attack along the baseline, needs the wing defence tighter and the centre ready to drop.
