2.04 ASSISTING
(a) EXERCISING IN GROUPS OF THREE
Exercise in giving the assist for running-in shots from close to the korf
Groups of three per korf with a ball and a cone. In rotation, the taker of the running-in shot rebounds his/her own shot and assists the next player.
A. One player under the korf with ball, the other two standby the cone 10 metres from the korf. Running-in shots are taken but with the emphasis on the assist. The ball should be passed so that it is easy for the shooter. The ball should not be played too high, too fast or even too soft. The exercise is not about who can score most quickly, so do not make a match of it.
B. As A, but now the running-in shots are taken “with ball.” After the rebound, the ball is passed to the shooter who returns it and sprints to the post for a shot. This requires the assist players to give a quick assist.
C. As B, but now the cone is placed a couple of metres closer. It becomes apparent that the assist player has too little time to catch the ball normally and then give the pass. The ball must therefore be “flicked” to the shooter.
D. The assist player is now defended, thus there is only one player in front of the korf. Otherwise the same exercise as A. The defender’s job is to make the opponent’s pass difficult, and a little body contact is therefore not out of the question. After the shot, the assist player becomes the shooter, the defender the assist player and the shooter the defender.
Korfball is a sport where contact is controlled – such contact is the rule rather than the exception, especially in situations like D. The assist player has to ensure that the defence player cannot touch the ball. This requires that the body be placed firmly between the ball and one’s opponent. All other methods (such as holding or moving away the defender’s arm, playing the ball prematurely, sticking out one’s behind etc.) are fouls or, at very best, less effective. Not bad is moving the body forward when giving the pass. Another very real possibility is given in E.
E. As D, but now give the pass with a bounce (only suitable indoors or on a hard field).
F. As D, but now the defender takes a lot of risks. As soon as the opportunity presents itself, the assist player takes his/her chance by turning to shoot.
G. The players in front of the korf take running-in shots or veering-off shots following an early signal from the assist player. The assister does not try to shoot but change tasks after, say, one minute.
H. As G, but now the assist player has a defender.