3.01 COLLECTIVE DEFENCE
(a) “ONE TO ONE” DEFENCE
Exercises focusing on “one to one” defence
Four attackers against four defenders in one division.
For about three minutes it is always the same team that attacks. If the defence wins the ball, then they just give it back to the attackers. A new attack then begins from in front of the post. After three minutes change roles.
A. The attacking team attack as they want. The defenders are told to follow their personal opponent as closely as possible – strict “one to one” therefore.
B. With the strict one to one defence, the defenders will not win the ball very often. They are therefore instructed to talk a lot. If there is a shot, there must be a shout of “shot” or “rebound.” Any defender who is then close to the korf must turn to see where the ball will land. Thereafter, a quick decision is required to decide whether or not it would be possible to win the ball. If so, the defender sprints to the post to win the ball. If not, the defender turns back quickly to once more follow his/her personal opponent.
C. As A, but now the defenders get a further instruction to make the assist for a running-in shot impossible. This requires front defence. In addition, the defenders must hinder as strongly as possible to make the giving of the pass for a running-in shot as difficult as possible.
D. Without letting the defenders know, tell the attacking team that one or two of their players should not shoot. They will only assist the other attackers. The defenders’ task is to defend as well as possible. The objective is for the defenders to understand the way that the attack has been told to play and that they adjust to this. The defenders of the supporting attackers should gradually realise that they can pay less attention to their direct opponent and more to the main attackers.
E. Talking: The defenders’ task is to warn each other of dangerous situations. These warnings must be quick and concise. For example, “low assist” (i.e. close to the korf) instead of “look out team-mates, my opponent is in front of me close to the korf.”
Many players do not like to talk and will not talk consistently throughout the game. However, verbal communication is justified at most levels of korfball for the following reasons:
1. To warn the division that the ball is in the assist position.
2. To warn that the ball is being played to a dangerous shooter so that the defender can try to intercept the ball by turning or blocking it with his/her arms. Perhaps more important, the defender can go close to the attacker since, with the ball on its way, there can be no risk of a running-in shot.
3. To advise that your personal opponent has got past you and that your colleague must switch to your defender.
4. To advise that possession has been gained by the defending division, shifting the emphasis on moving the ball to the attack.
F. Exercise in “switching.” The defenders are told to allow their opponent to go past them from time to time. If this happens, they must shout for the other defender to switch. The first defender then tries to move close to the attacker of the second defender as quickly as possible. The attackers try to profit as much as possible from the situation. Otherwise the exercise is as A.