Section 1

• 1 The Basics

THROWING AND CATCHING

• 1.1a Throwing and Catching
• 1.1b Passing and Following the Ball
• 1.1c Basic Exercises in Pairs
• 1.1d Developing Basic Exercises in Pairs
• 1.1e Circuit with Several Assist Players
• 1.1f Working in a Square
• 1.1g Some Exercises for Groups of Three
• 1.1h In Groups of Four with a Fixed Assist Player to the Side
• 1.1i Throwing and Catching with a Quarter or Half Turn
• 1.1j Circle Exercises
• 1.1k Cross Running
• 1.1l Group of Three with a Defender
• 1.1m Exercises by a Line
• 1.1n Target Throwing and other exercises for Accurate Passing
• 1.1o Ball Tricks
• 1.1p Exercises Against a Wall
• 1.1q Hitball

Section 2

• 2 Individual Korfball Skills

Section 3

• 3 Korfball

Section 4

• 4 Miscellaneous

• Home

1.1 THROWING AND CATCHING

(m) EXERCISES BY A LINE

Throwing and catching exercises next to the line of a division

One ball between four, each group of four works by a line about 15 metres long.

Why these exercises? Korfball rules say that the ball must be played inside the lines of the division, or outside provided that the player does not touch the ground outside the division. Balls that seem to be going out of the division can be kept in. This does not so much require a special technique as a feel for timing. This must and can be trained.

A. An exercise to save a ball which seems to be going out of the division. The ball is thrown just outside the division by the fixed assist player, A. The players run alongside the line and must jump, taking off from the right side of the line, and play the ball back to the assist player, before moving to the back of the queue. The assist player throws the ball each time a little bit further outside the division. It quickly becomes apparent that a number of players are capable of saving a ball that is a metre outside the division. It is a question of timing and a bit of daring.

B. The same exercise but now the players return the ball to a second assist player (this requires a quarter turn in the air outside the division).

C. In exercises A and B the players run along­side the line. Now they run perpendicular to the line. Again A throws the ball outside the division. The players must try to:

1. Keep the ball in play: it does not matter how or where the ball lands.

2. Play the ball back to assist player A.

3. Pass the ball on to a second assist player B.

4. Throw the ball back into play to the queue of players at C.

Note that in the above exercises the ball is always played with the right hand. After certain time, therefore, ask the players to change sides so that the ball has to be kept in play with the left hand.

D. An exercise to keep in play a ball rolling towards the sideline (works very well in pairs or two balls for each group of four). Both the assist player and the worker stand about 10 metres from the line. The assist player rolls the ball so quickly towards the line that it will definitely go out of play unless the worker moves very quickly to catch it. The worker must try to keep the ball in play. This might happen by the worker picking the ball up and returning it with a jump to the assist player but this suggests that the ball was not thrown fast enough towards the line. The intention is that the worker stops the ball with his/her hand while sprinting. The worker must now try to ensure that (s)he stops before the line or, if this is not possible, should let go of the ball, come to a halt beyond the line, step back inside the line and only then pick the ball up.

E. An exercise in jumping in front to intercept. At­tacker A1 plays the ball to team-mate A2, who is stationary just beside the line. Defender D2 must try to spring in front of A2 and, without touching the line or the pitch on the other side of the line, catch the ball and pass or flick it to defender D2. Remember that the fist may not be used and change functions regularly.

F. As E, but with a more difficult pass played (higher, lower, further from D2 etc)

G. To make it more realistic, attacker A2 will also try to catch the ball, thereby imitating the game situation. Be careful that it does not become too rough; the idea is not to cause injuries. This is, in any case, an ideal exercise to teach players to fight for the ball where body contact is frequently unavoidable.