‘If I had a Penny’                                
         ( For each time I said this!)

 

   The coaching of handball skills requires full engagement with youngsters in the court. It involves talking , listening,  demonstrating, devising imaginative drills, and much more. Each coach will have his/her style and approach-but a common thread will be communication and most of all, repetition. What follows is one coach’s  collection of  most frequently repeated  instructions in the coaching situation

 

Underhand

  1. Face the sidewall.
  1. Always swing down; Up/Down not Over /Back; Keep the swing simple, with arm only slightly bent; Don’t swing around; Movement is forward.
  1. Contact the ball at the bottom of the swing, at, or close to, the centre of the tummy.
  1. Always keep the elbow in; Don’t shovel!  Swing should graze across the tummy and end at the opposite upper-arm area, palm facing inwards, body still facing the sidewall.

 

Overhand

  1. Face diagonally –or even forward.
  1. Open the shoulder, bring forward the elbow [release the forearm and wrist]
  1. Contact the ball at the top of the stroke.

 

Backwall

  1. In-Out-Down. Move in to Backwall; Change weight to move outward, facing      sidewall, arm upraised; Swing down to contact ball in a forward movement.
  1. Move in sufficiently far to enable outward movement and centre- body contact.
  1.  Move the front foot forward! In the outward movement from the backwall it       is crucial  to use the front foot rather than to stretch to make contact with the ball.
  1.   If it goes in at an angle it will come out at an angle.

General

12. Hands slightly cupped; fingers together.

13.Let the ball down!- it applies to all three strokes and to the backwall.

14. Attack the Ball! Move forward through the stroke,changing weight from back to   front foot. When you have to, move back far enough so that you are moving forward to contact the ball .

15.Eye on the ball for good contact.

16. Footwork, Footwork, Footwork. To be in position to play the proper stroke, good footwork is essential.

17. Stay on the toes!

18. Forget about the ball-just concentrate on getting the stroke right.

19.You can’t make a hole in the wall –use your off –hand.

20. Timing,  rhythm and flow.

21.Do this at home-with a soft ball or without a ball.

22. Practice, Practice, Practice

 

 

But the most important communication of all will not be an instruction, nor will it be a criticism or correction, however sensitively done.

It will be a word of encouragement

So-

23. Well done! –where execution of  the stroke is basically correct, even if contact isn’t good.

24. Well done !-at every opportunity.