2.03 SHOOTING
(e) TYPES OF SHOT FOR ASSISTING PLAYERS
Practising different forms of shots from an assisting position
Pairs per korf, always one player fixed by the post and one player in front. Change functions each minute or so.
A. The assist player is six metres from the korf and the shooter is under the korf. The shooter moves away quickly behind the korf, gets the ball and shoots immediately. The assist player collects.
B. As A, but the shooter pretends to shoot from distance, lets an imaginary defender jump by and shoots underhand: a sort of underhand penalty shot from about five metres behind the korf. The assist player collects.
C. The organisation is the same, but now a defender is introduced (put pairs of pairs together). The defender’s job is to determine which possibility the attacker gets. If s(he) reacts too late, on purpose, a distance shot is taken by the attacker. If the defender over-commits, the attacker takes the underhand shot.
These exercises form the basis of creating chances around the post (for example, as a reaction to front defence).
D. Exercise as B, but the shooter moves away sideways from the post, requiring a 90-180 degree turn before shooting. In the learning stage, this exercise can be performed stationary with the shooter standing five metres to the side of the korf and the person giving the pass a few metres in front of the korf. The pass has to be played to the outside hand and the shot is an overarm one.
E. As D, but now the attacker has a defender who over-commits, allowing the underarm shot to be taken.
F. The shooter stands at the “ideal” assist position, about a metre in front of the korf. The defender is between the attacker and the post but not really defending (thus with hands held low and not attentive to the ball). The shooter throws the ball two-handed over his/her head into the korf.
This can only succeed when the defender fails to pay attention and therefore must be done discreetly. The attacker cannot re-position, or look behind, prior to shooting.
G. The shooter stands about half a metre behind the korf with the defender in front. The defender defends properly with hands held high and facing the attacker. The attacker, who has the ball, makes a fake pass over the head of the defender as if passing to someone in front of the korf. The defender reacts by turning to see where the pass went, thereby lowering his/her hands and adopting a front defence position. As soon as this happens, the attacker shoots from half a metre behind the korf.
H. The assist player stands about five metres in front of the korf. S(he) shoots but, on purpose, slightly over the korf. The shooter, who is under the korf, collects the ball, taking a quick step backwards and shoots with a flowing movement.
I. As H, but now the person shoots while jumping under the korf. The timing is very important. In fact, this requires more a flick of the ball than a shot. It is similar to a set-up in volleyball.
J. The assist player is seven metres in front of the korf and once again shoots too long on purpose. The rebound player allows the ball to pass over his/her head, runs after the ball and shoots with a half-turn.
Situations such as described in H, I and J are often apparent in match situations, especially where the defender of the shooting player is particularly concerned with what is going on elsewhere in the division. The exercise is well-suited to those players who particularly enjoy rebounding.