Training of defensive and semi-offensive cooperative defense strategies for handball teams

- Afterwards,

runs around the left cone (C), receives a pass from

into his running path (D), and eventually shots at the left side of the goal as instructed (hands, top, bottom) (E).

-

becomes the next defending player, runs around the cone at the 6-meter line (F), and steps forward towards the movement of

(H), who has started a piston movement on the right side (G).

- As soon as

has pushed

back slightly,

runs around the cone on the right (J), receives a pass from

into his running path (K), and shoots at the right side of the goal as instructed (L).

- And so on.

The players should perform a clear-cut defense action before they quickly adjust and start the shooting action.

No. 6: Stepping forward and moving backward on the left/right back positions

Difficulty level:

Minimum number of players: 8

Equipment required: 6 cones, 2 handballs

Setting:

- Define the running path with six cones as shown in the figure.

Course:

-

starts the piston movement on the wing position and passes into the running path of

(A).

-

does the same running movement in parallel towards the cone (B).

-

makes a piston movement in direction of the cone and passes the ball to

into his running path (C).

-

runs around the foremost cone and then back to the backmost cone (D).

-

makes a piston movement in direction of the goal and passes the ball back to

(E).

-

runs back again and around the foremost cone (F).

-

passes the ball back to the wing player and the course starts over.

-

,

,

, and

do the same course in parallel on the other side.

must coordinate his running movement in such a way that he is stepping forward as soon as

receives the pass and moves backward immediately after he passed the ball.

,

, and

must move back again immediately after they played the pass so that they are ready to start the piston movement for the next action.

2. Exercises on physical contact

No. 7: Pushing attacking players out of the 6-meter zone/Preventing a breakthrough

Difficulty level:

Minimum number of players: 8

Equipment required: In course 2: 1 cone and 2-3 handballs

Course 1 (figure 1):

- Make two teams.

- Both teams start at the 6-meter zone; one team defending, the other team attacking.

- Upon the coach’s command, the defending players try to push the attacking players out of the 6-meter zone as fast as possible by getting into physical contact (A) and controlled pushing movements (C).

- The other players try to stay in the 6-meter zone for as long as possible (B). They must not enter the 6-meter zone once they have been pushed out, however.

- Stop the time as soon as all players have been pushed out of the 6-meter zone.

- Switch tasks afterwards. Which team has pushed their opponents out of the 6-meter zone fastest?

The defending players may collaborate and develop strategies on their own.

The defending players should not push but rather force their opponents to move (get into physical contact and move their opponent away by using bent arms and doing quick steps).

Course 2 (figure 2):

- Make two teams.

- The attacking players have two handballs and start in the goal. The defending players start in the 6-meter zone.

- Make the field smaller with a cone, so that not the entire 6-meter zone is available for playing (see figure).

- Upon the coach’s starting signal, the two attacking players with the ball try to cross the 6-meter zone as fast as possible (A) and to leave it (C) (while holding the ball in their hands).

- The defending players try to stop the attacking players from breaking through and out of the 6-meter zone by collaborating and by getting into physical contact (B).

- If an attacking player manages to break through (C), he passes the ball to a teammate in the goal (D) who then also tries to break through.

- As soon as all players except the last one have left the 6-meter zone, stop the time and switch tasks.

- Which defense team manages to prevent the attacking players from breaking through for the longest time?

Define the playing field with a cone and according to the players’ level of performance.

The attacking players may play a return pass to the next player in the goal anytime if they don’t manage to leave the 6-meter zone. If this is the case, they must go back into the goal, however.

The defending players must maintain a one meter’s distance to the goal and must not interrupt return passes nor the attacking players from starting their action.

No. 8: Preventing an attacking player from breaking through 2-on-1

Difficulty level:

Minimum number of players: 8

Equipment required: 2 cones and one handball per team of 4

Setting:

- Define the finish lines with cones (see figure).

Course:

- The defending players play against a single attacking player (here

and

).

-

(

)runs towards the defense holding a ball (A). The attacking player may do any number of steps without dribbling.

- The defending players try to prevent

(

) from breaking through between the two cones defining the finish line (B).

- The defending players must cooperate and get into physical contact with the attacking player.

- If the attacking player breaks through (C), he gets a point.

- Each attacking player must try to break through on each side. Afterwards, change the defending players, so that each player has played defense once (twice for smaller groups).

- Which attacking player has scored highest?

The defending players must be willing to get into physical contact and to collaborate to prevent the attacking player from breaking through.

No. 9: Preventing an attacking player from breaking through 3-on1 or 2-on-1

Difficulty level:

Minimum number of players: 8

Equipment required: 2 cones, ball box with sufficient number of handballs

Setting:

- Make teams of three.

- Define the playing field with cones.

Course 1 (figure 1):

- One team of three starts as defending team, one team as attacking team, the players of the third team serve as feeders/receivers (

and

).

- The defending players play against a single attacking player (here

).

-

runs towards the defense holding a ball (A).

may do any number of steps without dribbling.

- The defending players try to defend against

and to prevent any further attacking actions (B).

-

has the following options for scoring:

→ Shot from behind the 9-meter line ->

gets two points for each goal.

→ Breakthrough and shot within the 9-meter zone (three points for a goal, two points if

manages to shoot at the goal).

→ Pass from within the 9-meter zone to one of the feeders/receivers (C), one point.

- If the defense players tackle

in such a way that he cannot do any further actions, he doesn’t get a point.

-

,

, and

each play two attacks (six actions for the defense). Afterwards, add up the points.

- Switch the tasks (

,

, and

become the defense players;

,

, and

become the attacking players;

,

, and

may take a break and serve as feeders/receivers).

- Each team plays defense one time and offense at least one time.

- Which defending team is best in preventing the attacking players from scoring?

Course 2 (Figure 2):

- The course remains the same; however, now there are only two defending players playing in a slightly smaller field (the defending team of two substitutes one player each after two actions).

The defending players must be willing to get into physical contact and to collaborate to prevent the attacking player from shooting, breaking through, or playing a pass.

The attacking players must move dynamically and must not dread to get into physical contact in order to score as many points as possible.

3. 1-on-1 defense play

No. 10: Ball familiarization 1-on-1

Difficulty level:

Minimum number of players: 3

Equipment required: 4 cones and 1 handball per group of 3

Setting:

- Make teams of three, each team having one ball and 4 cones.

- The players stand as shown in the figure.

Course:

-

passes the ball to

and immediately receives a return pass (A).

-

plays a slight banana pass over

to

(B).

-

turns to the wall, bounces the ball once or twice against it and catches it again (C).

- After his pass to

(B),

tries to get past

and into the space between the cones (D and E).

steps forward into the movement path of

and pushes him past the cone using his arms (F).

- After the action,

turns around at once, runs through the cones and to the other side (G), receives the ball from

, and immediately plays a return pass (H).

-

plays a slight banana pass over

to

(J) and the course starts over.

- Change the defending players after four to five rounds.

should adjust immediately after the first action (F) and start the subsequent action (G and H).

must not clinch or hold

during the entire action.

should use his arms as shock absorbers when defending against

and push

backward and to the side by proper legwork.

No. 11: Basic movements and 1-on-1

Difficulty level:

Minimum number of players: 3

Equipment required: 1 cone and 1 handball per group of 3

Basic setting:

- The players make teams of three; each team has one cone and one ball.