Systematic development of handball offense concepts: Game opening with variants and continuous playing options

By Jörg Madinger and Felix Linden

This is the second time Felix Linden (A-License and certified DHB young talents’ coach for competitive areas) gives insights into his understanding of diverse and focused handball training in the book series of handball-uebungen.de. Based on crossing of the center back and the pivot (circle) – which is part of almost every team’s repertoire in various forms – Felix Linden explains how you can create different game situations by using simple extensions and hence overcome defense systems with many variants. The individual training units deal with essential elements such as pulling apart a 6-0 defense system, authentic piston movements, pulling out a defense player, different shooting options, and decision-making. All training units focus on decision-making processes in particular. The training units comprise the standard playing structures with continuous playing options on both sides, variants with a second pivot and position switching as well as a variant for outnumbered game situations.

Within the last few years, several counteractive defense measures have been developed in order to interrupt the back position/pivot circle. Consequently, it is important to practice different situations with regard to the back position/pivot circle. The last chapter shows various defense measures and provides an idea of which variants should be played in each situation.

This book contains the following training units:
- Game concept – Crossing of the center back and the pivot – Part 1
- Game concept – Crossing of the center back and the pivot – Part 2
- Game concept – Crossing of the center back and the pivot plus second pivot from the wing position
- Game concept – Crossing of the center back and the pivot plus second pivot from the back position
- Crossing of the center back and the pivot in outnumbered situations

• Language: English
• Publisher: DV Concept
• Release date: Aug 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9783956412189

Book preview

permission.

1. Training units

1.1 Game concept – Crossing of the center back and the pivot – Part 1

Description:

Following warm-up with two ball familiarization exercises, this training unit introduces crossing of the center back and the pivot as the basic action already during the goalkeeper warm-up shooting and a subsequent series of shots. Afterwards, the players practice how to make decisions when the ball is passed to the back position players. This is followed by a further small group exercise and eventually the final team exercise during which the players should directly implement a first variant when playing the initial pass.

Difficulty: 

The training unit consists of the following key exercises:

- Warm-up/Stretching (individual exercise: 10 minutes/total time: 10 minutes)

- Ball familiarization (10/20)

- Ball familiarization (10/30)

- Goalkeeper warm-up shooting (10/40)

- Offense/Series of shots (15/55)

- Offense/Small groups (10/65)

- Offense/Small groups (15/80)

- Offense/Team (10/90)

Training unit total time: 90 Min.

Key:

Cone

 Attacking player

 Defense player

 Ball box

 Foam noodles (foam beams)

 Upper part of a large vaulting box

Equipment required:

- 2 foam noodles (foam beams)

- 1 upper part of a large vaulting box

- 2 cones

- 2 ball boxes with sufficient number of handballs

No.: 1-1 Warm-up/Stretching (10/10)

Course:

- The players each have a ball and run along the lines on the court floor (A).

- While doing this, they perform different running moves as instructed by the coach:

  → Dribbling the ball with the right/left hand.

  → Dribbling the ball with the right/left hand alternately.

  → Sidestepping while dribbling the ball.

  → Hopping and handing over the ball from the right to the left hand (and back) above the head.

  → Running backward and moving the ball around the hips in circles (see figure).

- The coach whistles after a while and defines a target which the players must touch (e.g. goal post, center line (B), a corner of the playing field, a green line, something red (not worn by the player himself) etc.).

- The players sprint and try to fulfill the task as fast as possible. 

- The last player must fulfill an extra task (10 quick jumping jacks, 10 push-ups etc.).

- Afterwards, the players perform stretching/mobilization exercises together.

No.: 1-2 Ball familiarization (10/20)

Setting:

 has a ball and stands in the center of the circle.

Course:

 plays double passes with the players (A, B, C, and D).

- Before a player may receive a ball (A), he must clap his hands one time, then catch the ball, and pass it back again (B).

- If a player misses to clap, or if a player fails to catch the ball, he must sprint to the center line (E)  

and back (F).

 may also feint a pass (G) and pass to another player instead (H).

- If a player claps even though he does not get the ball, he must also sprint to the center line (J).

Variant:

, one of the players undertakes the task in the center.

- For large groups, divide the players into two smaller groups.

 (or the player in the center) should try to fool the players standing in the circle as often as possible.

No.: 1-3 Ball familiarization (10/30)

Setting:

- Define the running path with cones.

Course:

 bounces the ball against the gym wall (A) and afterwards runs around the remote cone (B).

 catches (D) the ball bouncing back from the wall (C), immediately throws it against the wall as well (E), and also runs around the cone.

 catches the ball bouncing back from the wall (F), and so on.

 Position the cone in such a way that the players can start the next round shortly after they ran around the cone and do not have to wait before catching the ball. For larger groups, divide the players into several groups.

 The players should bounce