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

Introduction

A good defense is a prerequisite for modern team handball. The intention is not only to prevent goals but also to actively win the ball and subsequently initiate a fast attack. The offense should permanently be put under pressure and forced to make mistakes.

The exercises in this collection initially deal with the individual basics of defense play. Individual and position-specific training marks the starting point for subsequent cooperative defense play and allows for choosing the appropriate defense system. The basics both include exercises on legwork, 1-on-1 defense and covering the pivot in combination with fast adjustment to subsequent actions as well as blocking and anticipating on the wing positions of a proactive defense system.

The second part of the collection deals with cooperative small group defense play and focuses on handing over/taking over attacking players along the defense line (width of defense) and on making agreements when defending against the pivot.

The third chapter introduces cooperative team defense in 6-0, 5-1, 3-2-1, and 4-2 defense systems along with possible variants.

Get inspired by the exercises, develop your own defense concepts, and make use of the individual strengths of your defense players for optimal cooperation.

Publishing information

1 st English edition released on 15 Aug 2018

German original edition released on 09 Mai 2018

Published by DV Concept

Editors, design, and layout: Jörg Madinger, Elke Lackner

Proofreading and English translation: Nina-Maria Nahlenz

ISBN: 978-3-95641-215-8

This publication is listed in the catalogue of the German National Library. Please refer to http://dnb.de for bibliographic data.

The work and its components are protected by copyright. No reprinting, photomechanical reproduction, storing or processing in electronic systems without the publisher's written permission.

Key:

Cone

Ball box

Small gym mat

Balance bench

Pole

Bib

Foam noodles (foam beams)

The exercises are divided into the following difficulty levels:

:This exercise can be done both by beginners and well-advanced players and is intended to develop basic defense skills.

: This exercise requires some experience but may be done by players of all age groups with appropriate adaptation.

: This exercise is more complex and requires proficiency in the basic skills.

: This exercise is very complex and should be done by well-trained players in the competitive areas only who fulfill the athletic requirements. Four stars are awarded to exercises also when a specific defense system is required that should be practiced by older age groups only.

Category: Individual basics
1. General exercises on legwork and basic defense movements
No. 1: Basic defense training with ropes

Difficulty level:

Minimum number of players: 4

Equipment required: 4 cones and 2 ropes (without handles) per team of 2

Setting:

- The players make groups of 2.

- Define one playing field per group with cones or use existing field markings on the floor.

Course 1 (A):

- Each player has a rope folded once or twice and put it into the waistband of his pants on the backside.

- Upon the coach’s whistle, the pairs start simultaneously, and each player tries to pull out the rope of his opponent’s pants.

- If a player succeeds before the coach whistles again (after 20 seconds), he gets a point. The other player must do 10 jumping jacks.

- After the first round, one player of each team changes to the next field clockwise and the course starts over with new pairs.

- Who has scored highest in the end?

Course 2 (B):

- Only one player per team has a rope folded twice and put it into the waistband of his pants on the backside.

- Upon the coach’s whistle, all the players without a rope start simultaneously and try to steal their teammate’s rope as fast as possible.

- If a player succeeds, he calls out “STOP”.

- The player who first calls out “STOP” gets a point.

- The players without a rope change to the next field clockwise and the course starts over.

- As soon as all the players without a rope have played one time against each player with a rope, the player who has scored highest wins the game.

- Now switch the tasks, i.e. the players without a rope in the first round now take the ropes; the other players try to be the first stealing the rope in each field.

Course 3: (C):

- Put a folded rope on the floor in the center of each field.

- One player per field starts as the defending player, one as the attacking player.

- Upon the coach’s whistle, the attacking players try to pick up the rope as fast as possible.

- The defending players try to prevent this for as long as possible.

- After 20 seconds, the coach whistles again. All attacking players who managed to pick up the rope and all defending players who successfully defended the rope (rope is still on the floor) get a point.

- Now switch the tasks (attacking/defending player) in each field.

- After the second round, one player per field moves to the next field clockwise and the course starts over with new pairs.

- Who has scored highest in the end?

No. 2: Goalkeeper warm-up shooting with defense legwork

Difficulty level:

Minimum number of players: 8

Equipment required: Sufficient number of handballs

Setting:

- Two players start as the defending players, the other players stand at the 9-meter line, each holding a handball.

Course:

- starts on the left wing position, makes a step forward and touches the ball held by , quickly moves back to the 6-meter line, makes a step forward again and touches the ball held by , etc. (A).

- starts the course a bit delayed on the right side (B).

- A soon as has touched the ball, approaches the goal and shoots at the left side of the goal (C).

- Afterwards, shoots at the right side of the goal (D), once has touched the ball.

- The other players subsequently shoot at the left and right side of the goal alternately (E) and as instructed (top, bottom, middle).

- As soon as has touched each handball, he receives a pass from the coach (F) and also shoots at the left side of the goal (H); receives another pass from the coach (G) and shoots at the right side of the goal and as instructed (J).

Change the defending players for the next shooting round.

Make sure that the defending players move back to the 6-meter line after they touched the ball and before they start running towards the next ball.

The shooting players should try to create a rhythm for the goalkeeper and make sure that he is able to reach and save the shots. They probably must delay their action a bit after the defending player has touched the respective handball.

No. 3: Actively stepping forward towards the ball holder 3-on-4

Difficulty level:

Minimum number of players: 2

Equipment required: 9 cones, 1 handball

Setting:

- Put four cone goals diagonally in the corners and one cone into the center of a suitable playing field (see figure).

Course:

- makes a piston movement towards the gap between the two cones (A). steps forward actively into his movement path (B) and slightly pushes him back.

- passes to (C) who makes a piston movement towards the gap between the cones (D) and feints a stem shot. steps forward into the movement path of (E) and slightly pushes him back.

- passes to (G), who makes a piston movement towards the gap between the cones. steps forward into the movement path of (H) and slightly pushes him back.

- In the meantime, has moved back and touched the cone in the center (F). passes to who starts the piston movement (J) and steps forward into the movement path of (K), etc.

Variant:

- Allow return passes. The three defending players must clearly agree upon who is in charge of the respective attacking payer.

The players who do the piston movement must give the defending players sufficient time to get into physical contact and then play a quick pass into the running path of the next teammate.

The defending players should step forward quickly and then move back towards the cone in the center immediately.

Switch the defending players at regular intervals.

No. 4: Reaction training with actively stepping forward towards the ball holder

Difficulty level:

Minimum number of players: 8

Equipment required: One cone and one handball per team of 4

Setting:

- The players make teams of 4.

- Put one cone per team on the floor.

Course 1:

- , , and stand next to each other while keeping a distance to the cone ( might stand a bit further in the back); stands next to the cone (see figure) plays the initial pass to (A), who makes a slight piston movement (B) and feints a stem shot.

- steps forward into the movement path of (C) and gets into physical contact while maintaining a defending body posture (one hand towards the opponent’s throwing hand, the other hand towards his hip) and slightly pushes back.

- passes to (D). The three attacking players keep playing quick passes (F and G) while runs around the cone (E), with passes from to and vice versa being allowed. runs forward, his view is not in direction of the attacking players.

- As soon as turns around at the cone, the player who is about to receive the ball next, makes a slight piston movement and feints a stem shot (H). steps forward towards his movement path (J) and slightly pushes him back.

- Afterwards, runs around the cone again and the players repeat the course several times.

- After eight actions, the players switch positions.

- The other teams of 4 do the drill in parallel.

must check who has the ball once he has arrived at the cone in order to step forward towards the respective player.

Course 2:

- The basic course remains the same.

- After the initial pass, makes a slight piston movement (B), steps forward into his movement path (C) and pushes him back.

- passes to (D), and the attacking players may keep passing freely.

- now moves backward to the cone while observing the attacking players.

- As soon as one of the attacking players bounces the ball once, makes a piston movement, and feints a shot (K), immediately changes his running direction, runs forward (L) – even if he had not arrived at the cone yet –, steps forward towards the attacking player’s movement path and pushes him back.

- After eight actions, the players switch positions again.

No. 5: Stepping forward and moving backward during the goalkeeper warm-up shooting

Difficulty level:

Minimum number of players: 8

Equipment required: 3 cones, 2 ball boxes with sufficient number of handballs

Setting:

- Position three cones as shown in the figure.

Course:

- starts to dribble and feints a stem shot (A).

- steps forward into the movement path of and slightly pushes him back (B).

- 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.